AS OFFICES resort to flexible working arrangements, companies are being forced to speed up their move toward digital technologies.
The spread of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) is making companies fast-track their digital transformation to create or modify workflows, processes and customer experience with the use of technology.
Companies are improving their websites so customers could connect with them without going to their offices. Automated or artificial intelligence chat robots that answer simple customer inquiries can replace physical contact. Social media accounts are being pushed to their audiences as a way to continue the relationship.
The Covid-19 community quarantine or lockdown of the metropolis includes advice for people to stay home, work from home and resort to virtual meetings. Flexible arrangements include working outside the office and using messenger groups, teleconferencing, electronic transmittal of data and other programs to remain productive.
Digital transformation has been a keyword for corporations for years now but the pace of change differs from one entity to another.
Companies are realizing they are behind in their preparations. The Covid-19 has caught up with their plans to take the road to digital transformation. Companies are scrambling to update social media accounts, websites and chat groups to keep connected and continue operating.
Access to servers, databases and computer systems are being hurried to allow people to continue working from outside. Information and technology departments of companies are relaxing rules to adapt to the situation.
Then there’s internet speed. As more people connect to the internet, bandwidth would become a challenge. Data transfer or the upload and download of information would eat into available bandwidth and impact on connection speeds.
The more digitally transformed the company, the better its chances of surviving the storm. Digital technology provides companies with new and creative ways to overcome business paralysis without exposing their personnel to health risks.
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What to do while on community quarantine? As more cities and provinces impose a community quarantine, Filipinos are left with nothing much to do while inside their homes.
First advice of the experts is to stay healthy. Rest, clean up and do some exercises at home. It’s not a vacation but a time to build on your health and that of your loved ones. The reason local governments have imposed a curfew on minors and a liquor ban for the duration of the quarantine is to prevent people from using this period to be merry and get drunk.
Second advice is to use online resources to read up, connect or network with people or talk to friends and relatives in faraway places to find out how they’re coping.
There are many suggestions, primary of which is to binge on movies or shows. Add reading books to the list to get something positive out of this quarantine.