Imagine a world without communication technology and devices during this Covid-19 pandemic. It’s a chaotic world. It’s like going back into old times with distress, isolation, suffering, and not knowing how to continue living. However, that’s not the case anymore with the emerging Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs). Today we have many ICT solutions, platforms, devices, innovative infrastructure, planning, and strategic framework that has kept the world going especially during one of the worst pandemics mankind has witnessed in the 21st century. The Covid-19 pandemic has changed the pace and scope of digital transformation and the tech sector has seen significant growth and influence. We have tentatively entered a new period of recovery, but will the innovative and agile nature of digital technology support a more inclusive approach to this recovery?
ICT is made up of different forms and tools including forms of computing, the internet, telecommunications, digital media, mobile phones, systems, software, hardware, and security which have all played a role in aiding global economies during the pandemic. In terms of our personal lives, what we do, when we do it, and how we do things all come from the result of information. The pandemic has altered the trajectory of the way we do things and knowing how to do it. Without the use of information technology, life during the pandemic would have been hard to navigate as ICT platforms and devices acted as an informative and educational resource in helping us navigate such territory. But has most importantly given us access to information. From a business and economic perspective, these ICT solutions have helped save certain businesses but for some, it has been a downward spiral as a result of the lack of ICT operations and functioning.
Critical Areas of Society That Were Impacted by ICT Solutions During the Pandemic:
Communication
The world has witnessed a digital transformation with the help of critical ICT solutions with all communication technologies, including the internet, wireless networks, cell phones, computers, software, middleware, video-conferencing, social networking, and other media applications and services. This enabled users to access, retrieve, store, transmit, and manipulate information in a digital form in real-time. The convergence of media technology such as audio-visual and telephone networks with computer networks through a unified system of cabling (including signal distribution and management) or link systems, has helped the world to constantly communicate and keep countries and communities connected.
Healthcare
The Pandemic has transformed the innovation of technology that is changing the scene of the world and driving us towards a refined specialised place. The arising ICT Solutions gigantically had a positive impact on the healthcare sector. It helped improve access to medical information and data, with the patient overload in hospitals – online systems allowed tending to patients quicker and more accurately, healthcare professionals could access patients’ cases anywhere at any time.
ICT Solutions have remarkably helped the world in Healthcare Education, Hospital Management systems, Medical Research, Telemedicine, and Health Data Management. The biggest benefit is the electronic storage of medical data where seamless access to this data was crucial for doctors for treating patients infected with the coronavirus.
Medical Research
The use of ICT has gained a prominent position in medical research with the world coming to a standstill during the pandemic. This aided researchers to develop vaccines. Medical professionals can now hold textbooks, drug formularies, disease guidelines, and general research on their mobile phones, iPads, or tablets which get updated regularly.
The COVID-19 epidemic poses an enormous challenge to the global health system where governments have had to take proactive measures of approach in prevention and control. The global health informatics community has actively taken action to leverage health information technologies for epidemic monitoring, detection, early warning, prevention and control, and other tasks.
Vaccination Drives
The basic pillars of any virus response include detection, containment, and treatment; the first two are where ICT can have the greatest impact. With the existing infection data and artificial intelligence (AI) tools processing large volumes of information to hyper-local interventions. Detecting and containment also helped in allocating scarce resources such as testing kits, ICU beds, and doctors, thus allowing increased efficiency while simultaneously reducing the overall burden on the health system.
ICT helped us adapt to this new reality. The vaccination drives are successful in inoculating huge numbers of the population in several countries across the globe using ICT solutions.
Education
ICT plays an important role in enhancing the education of pupils. Kids remained at home all through the “lockdown” period but were still encouraged to keep up with their curriculum by home learning and online classes conducted by schools. Teachers were urged to help this adjustment by ensuring eye-to-eye showing techniques and utilising innovation like online instructive platforms and advanced video frameworks. Numerous educators telecommuted and had to use ICT solutions and platforms to communicate and enhance learning methods.
Kids were continuing their day-to-day school and learning activities by communicating on ICT platforms with ICT solutions through their ICT devices such as laptops, tablets, and smartphones.
Logistics
The Covid-19 Pandemic situation impacted global markets and ways of working to human interactions and even the way we spend our leisure time. All sectors across various industries were impacted and so has the way of doing business. Changes such as how to service clients, how to manage the minimally functional supply chains, how to minimize the effect of Covid-19 spread through the workplace, storage, lockdowns, inventory, and digital channels, and how to keep their workforce engaged and operational in general.
ICT Solutions has emerged as one of the key sectors that are helping navigate this situation. At the same time, it is one of the key sectors affected in terms of spending.
Electronic Media
ICT platforms have improved the way the world stays connected with news from across the globe. The pandemic has changed people’s use of digital communication methods as many of us were getting health updates through electronic media via different news channels and social media platforms. ICT tools and devices helped us in staying up-to-date with the latest updates on the pandemic situation making our lives better than the way we imagined.
Information and Communication Technologies today with computing and information technology, broadcasting, telecommunications, and the internet made a positive impact in the Covid-19 pandemic situation. These devices have been the most commonly used ICT platform across the globe keeping all interconnected and for some, it’s not just a solution but a sense of security.
Businesses
While tech giants may have hit pause on certain developments as a result of the affected economies, the adoption of cloud service has been impacted positively as well as areas such as security, big data, AI, IoT. While most businesses have had to deal with current losses due to the strain on infrastructure networks, reduced consumer spending, supply chain disruptions, and all-around financial strain, the ICT industry has been one of the few that are still standing and even stronger than before. This is only because of how ICT solutions provide an innovative and dynamic platform for business continuation.
DigiRev’s ICT services and consulting are aimed at providing companies with the advice that they need to effectively manage their technologies. If you have been impacted negatively as a result of the covid-19 pandemic, allow us to help you navigate and rise above everything that has come as a setback. We pride ourselves in digital ICT solutions to ensure you’re prepared for anything, including a pandemic. Contact us today and get your company back on track or get ready to take it further.
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