Keep up with the innovative tech transforming business
Tech Brew keeps business leaders up-to-date on the latest innovations, automation advances, policy shifts, and more, so they can make informed decisions about tech.
As we’ve heard ad nauseam, the coronavirus pandemic has accelerated pre-existing tech trends. Today I’ll be unpacking the changes most likely to stick around post-pandemic.
COVID-19 speeds up automation. Execs from Boston Dynamics and Brain Corp. told the Brew in Q2 that they’ve seen surges in demand for robots that can do dull, dirty, and dangerous tasks. A new dominant use case has emerged for robots: cleaning/disinfecting stores, airports, hospitals, and subway systems.
Officials cut red tape. U.S. agencies have been quick to dispense waivers and emergency approvals in highly regulated product categories...such as the U.S.’ largest drone delivery service and an automated resuscitator device. Some U.S. states waived in-state licensing requirements for health care providers, which enables telemedicine. Speaking of which...
Healthcare gets partially digitized. The telemedicine adoption curve was pushed up by years. Telehealth visits could top 1 billion this year, per Forrester, which initially expected just 36 million for 2020. Also on the health-away-from-the-hospital front, researchers are trialing wearables to detect COVID-like symptoms.
Physical retail shifts online. This is Retail Brew’s Halie LeSavage’s beat, but rising e-commerce sales are still worth mentioning here. Just as malls are being replaced by online fulfillment centers, more cloud kitchens and mini-warehouses are popping up across cities with the rise of food/grocery delivery.
- This shift requires more last-mile delivery, which tech companies are looking to automate (think sidewalk delivery bots).
Splinternet and decoupling aren’t just memes. France, Australia, India, the EU, and the U.S. have drawn up plans to reshore tech manufacturing and prevent foreign acquisitions (the M&Nay measures are mainly aimed at China). Washington continues to up the pressure on Huawei, and India banned TikTok and 58 other Chinese apps.
Americans finally embrace cashless payments. U.S. consumers say they’re much more likely to use contactless payments going forward.
- Related side note: China is piloting its digital yuan, while Facebook pared down the ambition of its Libra launch plan.
Surveillance and biometrics get more controversial. Earlier this year, more surveillance in public life (via thermal cameras and biometric entry) seemed all but inevitable. But Americans are skeptical of surveillance measures for containing COVID-19. That skepticism is unlikely to fade, with mounting backlash against facial recognition and biased algorithms.
+ What’d I miss? Reply and let me know.