Tech Defining Our New Normal: 6 Technologies Helping Us Adapt to a Global Pandemic

Returning to a pre-pandemic “iPostal1” is an aspiration of the past as COVID continues to reshape how we interact with work and leisure. The way society functions and the processes that people relied on for decades are becoming obsolete in the era of new technology and remote-first living.

Digital mailboxes

Online shopping kept the economy afloat when people couldn’t venture into brick-and-mortar establishments safely. Unfortunately, the increase in deliveries also meant a rise in porch piracy and package theft. 

That’s not to say that consumers have to make do without their essential mail, however. Tech solutions like the digital mailbox from allow consumers to route their mail through a secure location. From there, you can view your mail and decide what happens to it remotely, protecting you from both accidental transmission and theft. 

Contactless payments

Cash was king before the pandemic, but that’s likely to change as people become wary of contact spread. The contactless payment method is here to stay, from scanning barcodes to hovering a debit card over the reader. 

Remote learning

Many children struggled with the transition to remote learning, but many thrived in a familiar home environment. College students were able to save on housing costs as they remained at home during the semester. 

Remote learning has been crucial in continuing education, even in the most challenging circumstances. The remote learning trend is likely to continue after the pandemic, particularly for students with long commutes or limited mobility. 

Remote work

Many businesses would never have entertained the idea of remote or hybrid work before the pandemic. The mandatory quarantines have shown industry leaders that remote work can be a boon for productivity and overhead reduction. Without paying for leases and office furniture, leadership can allocate funds to areas like growth, employee appreciation, and outreach.

Not every business can use remote work, but the pandemic has shown us that the benefits outweigh the challenges for many sectors. 

Telehealth

Staying healthy is as vital as ever, but many are limiting their in-person visits to medical providers. Telehealth gives immunocompromised people the opportunity to consult with healthcare professionals without endangering themselves. 

Telehealth services ease the burden on overcrowded hospitals and doctor’s offices without allowing non-COVID health concerns to fall by the wayside. Mental health services are also critical as the pandemic took a toll on everyone’s emotional stability. 

Robotics

When people can’t work, technology steps up to help fill the labor gaps and keep the economy alive. Companies like Amazon used drones to deliver packages and even walk dogs in some cases. 

Robots are becoming increasingly common in a post-COVID world. Hotels use them to deliver room service, and other companies use them for disinfecting surfaces. Robotics has long been used in the manufacturing industry to assist with the workload, and that usage will only increase as people maintain social distancing. 

Conclusion

Though we won’t return to life before the pandemic, these technologies prove that the post-pandemic future is bright. Using the same tools that brought us through early quarantine can help us adapt to post-COVID life and work.