How technology affected business in 2021

Nowadays, a business can’t exist without technologies. Dramatic scientifical shifts of the past few decades made many processes more efficient and increased productivity. Sure, the pandemic triggered another large leap in technology development.

Non-contact air travels

Airlines and airports implemented non-contact methods of interaction with passengers wherever possible. Using mobile applications instead of check-in desks helped avoid queues and crowds.

More airlines started to send notifications of flight delays or cancellations in advance. They implemented non-contact check-in and luggage labels printing. You also can pre-order food for your travel.

Virtual offices instead of real ones

Remote job is becoming the norm. More companies started offering new and unusual solutions for this format of work. For example, Dropbox became the virtual-first company in its niches. It refused to use the old office spaces and preferred virtual workplaces instead.

This decision was unexpected because Dropbox signed the largest lease in San Francisco history in 2017. Now the company will no longer rent this space.

Other companies created virtual offices. Workers can walk around the spaces, attend meetings, have a cup of coffee, and talk to colleagues there. Sine Wave Entertainment launched the Breakroom product of the virtual world for remote workplaces in April 2020. The company decided to provide 3D offices.

Among their clients are such companies as Virgin Group and Torque Esports. And an Italian energy company Enel brings the employees’ avatars together in virtual conference rooms where they can chat using augmented and virtual reality.

The experts believe that big offline offices became all water under the bridge.  It is the time of the work distribution.

Shop virtualization goes on

The digital fashion trend and virtual wardrobes have become incredibly popular. Fashion houses can show their collections, and brands can create mind-blowing spaces with a unique design using digital virtualization.

For example,  Fabricant, a Dutch virtual fashion house, creates unique outfits. This company is actively promoting digital-only fashion. Their clothes can be used or traded only in virtual realities.

The pandemic caused a dramatic decrease in the number of car dealerships visitors. So innovative companies have changed the buying patterns via online dealer centers. In Australian Volkswagen, customers can visit the virtual showroom.

Thus future buyers can see a car online in different contexts, open and close doors, interact with the interior, and make a buy, of course. Ford launched a similar AR service for virtual showrooms. It allows reviewing new car F-150 inside and outside in augmented reality.

Shops without customers

Retail stores faced buyers’ intent to limit contacts while shopping.  So more and more companies are launching shops without buyers.  For example, in September 2020, Whole Foods Market opened a shop closed to the public in New York. It implies only delivery and takeaway.

Walmart also reorganized its four stores for e-commerce purposes. Other companies are implementing similar solutions.

Thus, make-up stores have already offered buyers virtual make-up. The mirrors allow you to “try on” lipstick, and artificial intelligence can help you choose the eyeshadows best matching your skin tone.

Development of delivery and electric transport technologies

Thanks to the growth of e-commerce in 2020, delivery services have been booming and prospering. In January 2021, companies presented their latest delivery vehicles at the Consumer Electronics Show exhibition. Skyward and UPS Flight Forward organized delivery done with drones.

Cenntro Automotive Group presented the electric car City Partner to drive around the city and deliver goods to customers. General Motors launched new business directions for the delivery BrightDrop. It is a whole ecosystem of electric transport.

The delivery service FedEx was the first customer, and it received Bright Drop EV600 electric vans.

The growing popularity of chatbots

In 2021,  chatbots that accompany customers from the selection of goods point to buying and delivering the product have become much more frequent. Most super apps use AI algorithms to expect and guess customers’ intents.

The need for IT specialists grew in 2021. The demand for IT specialists is high. There are few experienced developers with hard and soft skills on the market right now. If you have the necessary skills and experience, you can find job opportunities for IT developers on Jooble.

Undoubtedly, technology transformed the way people used to run businesses in 2021. There are pros and cons for clients and companies. Technology saves time and simultaneously ensures environmental benefits. And let’s not forget that technology cares for our health.