How has technology played a role during the Covid-19 pandemic.  Are we moving forward in a

positive way?  What happens post Corona and how will our society change?  We recently had the opportunity to sit down with Shawn Vij, Global Business Leader and best-selling author of Moral Fiber.

 

APN Staff:   You have spent many years working for large technology companies in Silicon Valley.  How do you see technology play a role in keeping society moving in a time of quarantine & lockdowns?

 

 Shawn:  Technology has always been an enabler to society.  From remote work to shopping to school to payments, we are seeing how COVID has accelerated and highlighted these scenarios to the front of the line.  For example, we are seeing a rise in collaboration tools such as audio/video chat and live meetings.  As Microsoft’s CEO, Satya Nadella recently stated that Microsoft Teams usage has increased to more than 75 million daily active users.  In fact, there is a rise in all these players such as Zoom, Google Meet, Cisco WebEx and Skype.  A new norm is being established and will make a serious dent on how we work in the future post COVID.  We will be asking ourselves the real need of travel for business meetings.  Does the social interaction on camera enough to drive business outcome?  Only time will tell.

Another area that is accelerating is distance learning.  Many schools and universities have started offering online courses.  Over 191 countries announced closures impacting over 1.5 billion students.  We will start to see a transition for the long-term on distance learning.  My teenage nephews and nieces are now studying from home.  In fact, they are taking standardized exams (administered by College Board) from home as well.  For schools and Universities to thrive, they will need to quickly learn how to get online faster than their students.  The use of technology between Baby Boom Educators and Gen Z will be no more.

We are also seeing online shopping transition quickly.  As retailers and restaurants get hit hard, the ones that survive are gravitating quickly to online shopping and hybrid models (e.g. takeout, curbside pickup).  Obviously, leaders like Amazon and Flipkart have a head start.  The longer the pandemic the more challenges retailers will face.  Most are faced with short-term financial decisions on cost containment and liquidity.  Bailout funds are running out and the small businesses would be lucky to survive in these challenging times.

Lastly, we will see less cash and more digital and contactless payments (e.g. cards, e-wallets).  Anyone who is associated with a bank will have access to credit and/or debit cards which leverage other digital vehicles such as Apple Pay, Amazon Pay, Google Pay, PayPal, etc.  When I worked at Visa back in the year 2000 we were pushing for mobile payments.  Today, we have the technology, internet availability, devices and global markets calling on each of us to move to a cashless society faster than ever.

 

APN Staff :  What do you think are the biggest challenges as these new scenarios play out?

 

Shawn:  We will soon learn if these new norms will sustain post COVID.  Will we be a society that will go back to the way it was or will enough time have passed where we have conditioned a new mindset and behavior.

Working from home will bring on new challenges such as how does one manage distractions at home, reliable wifi, not being able to unplug, staying motivated and most importantly security / privacy.  Remote learning will require a certain level of tech literacy to operate, as well as good internet connection.  Educators and students will both have to learn and embrace a new way of teaching and learning outside a standard classroom.  Retailers that thrive post COVID will have strong online presence and the agility to address the next virus that comes our way.  Retailers such as Amazon who had the foresight years ago to acquire Whole Foods leveraging grocery delivery will be the ones that lead the future.

There will be many challenges that come as we transition to a new norm.  The question is whether we stick to the new normal or do we slide back to the way it was.  Either way, technology has enabled us to be more creative in the way we live our every day’s.  Just imagine not having any of these technologies & tools when the virus hit us.  For example, the 1918 influenza pandemic killed an estimated 50 million worldwide.  There was no Facebook, Twitter, Skype, Internet, grocery delivery, digital payments, etc.  The world still advanced but the question remains at what speed.  More importantly, we need to continue to question how are these technologies today making our lives better as a society.

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Shawn Vij is an accomplished business leader who has over 25 years of Industry and Consulting experience. He has worked in various leadership positions for Ford Motor Company, Ernst & Young, VISA, Deloitte Consulting, Microsoft, and Intel Corporation. He holds an MBA from Purdue University, an MS in Engineering from the University of Michigan and a BS in Mechanical Engineering from Michigan Technological University. Shawn was raised in the US Midwest and now resides in the Pacific Northwest.

Instagram @shawnvij

His new book is Moral Fiber – A Practical Guide to Living Our Values.

Publisher:  wileyindia.com