How Tech Industries Proved Essential
In Lockdown
It’s no secret that the world has been changed drastically by the COVID-19 pandemic. Apart from thousands of lost lives, many industries such as hospitality, travel, and tourism have been hit hard as people are afraid to leave their homes. However, with the majority of people being stuck indoors, the tech industry took over and became the greatest hope for getting life back to normal.
It was a critical period for technology companies to demonstrate the value of their products and services and make them indispensable. This article will provide insights into the numerous tech industries that proved essential in lockdown and how they have helped to keep life running.
I. Zoom
Zoom has become an indispensable tool for people to stay connected during COVID-19. Its user base grew significantly, exceeding 300 million daily active participants in April 2020. This growth is in large part attributed to the company’s massive push of offering its services to educational institutions, who have turned to Zoom to help keep classes running during the pandemic. Zoom provides an easy-to-use platform for video conferencing, and its presence has been felt far and wide, from classrooms to corporate boardrooms, to living rooms where family members who cannot gather in person can still stay connected.
II. Delivery Services
Delivery services have been essential for keeping people safe and fed during the pandemic. Delivery services such as Grubhub and DoorDash have helped countless restaurants stay afloat, allowing them to continue to bring in sales and meet customer needs despite the numerous lockdowns. On the more socially conscious end, food delivery services such as Uber Eats and Meals on Wheels have provided disabled, elderly, and underserved communities with access to food and basic supplies when going out or leaving the house was simply not possible or safe.
III. Online Grocery Shopping
Another tech industry that has seen a massive increase in usage during the pandemic is the online grocery shopping industry. Companies like Amazon’s Whole Foods and Instacart have enabled customers to get their groceries from home, thus bypassing the need to physically go to the store and potentially expose themselves to risk. In the early days of the pandemic, when stockpiling was rampant, e-grocery services took off and enabled people to get their groceries without having to wait in overcrowded stores or worry about running out of something.
IV. Streaming Services
Streaming services have provided people with something to watch, listen to, and read while being stuck at home. Despite the inevitable dips in viewership, streaming became a great pandemic pastime, and Netflix reported a large increase in streaming hours in 2020. Other streaming services such as Hulu and Spotify have also seen significant growth in their user base, as people look for new movies, songs and podcasts to engage in while stuck at home.
V. Online Education
The pandemic also highlighted the importance of online education. As schools closed during the pandemic, students and teachers are having to rely on digital platforms to continue classes and coursework. Learning management systems such as Moodle and Canvas, which allow for asynchronous recording and delivery of digital content, have become extremely necessary for the continuation of education. Even after the pandemic, digital education looks to be a mainstay, as it offers more convenience than its traditional counterpart.
VI. Cloud Computing
Cloud computing is another technology that has become essential in the pandemic, as it allowed businesses and organizations to access their data and software remotely. This has enabled businesses to remain agile and flexible in a time when physical interaction was avoided. Companies like Amazon, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud Platform have allowed businesses to still function as they find new ways to make their services accessible while also maintaining their security.
The COVID-19 pandemic revealed how indispensable the tech industry has become in modern life. During the lockdown, tech companies demonstrated their value and provided essential services and products to people who were stuck at home. From Zoom, delivery services, online grocery shopping, streaming services, online education, and cloud computing, tech companies have shown that digital resources are vital for everyday life and for keeping people connected and informed. As we transition out of the pandemic, these tech services and platforms are sure to stay and become an even greater part of our lives.
