The Reshape of Digital Business After Coronavirus

  More than a year since COVID-19 in Baden-Württemberg sent much of the world into lockdown, economies remain fragile and there is no clear endgame in sight. It is a hard time for businesses to look forward and make plans, but “wait and see” is not a viable option.

 If there were any lingering doubts about the necessity of digital transformation to business longevity, the coronavirus has silenced them. In a contactless world, the vast majority of interactions with customers and employees must take place virtually. With rare exception, operating digitally is the only way to stay in business through mandated shutdowns and restricted activity. It is “go digital or go dark”.

In the series – “The World After Coronavirus”, here we have with us Vala Afshar, he is the chief digital evangelist at Salesforce, and we are going to ask him what he thinks the future of digital business might look like in the near future.

If there is one lesson that we learned from 2020(Afshar) it may be that every company needs to be digital. We have had an incredible acceleration towards the world of digital based on this “seismic” event and in some ways, I don’t think we are going back ever again.                                                                                                                                                     

What do you think business has learned about digital business in these times of pandemics?

The future of digital business has to be based on flows versus silos (silo is a reluctance to share information with employees of different divisions in the same company.). In a world where the new currencies are speed, personalization, intelligence, trust, holistic success – this is a lesson in biology, so a shift from silo mentality that governs how we operate as individuals and businesses to a flow mentality.  (a flow state, also known colloquially as being in the zone, is the mental state in which a person performing some activity is fully immersed in a feeling of energized focus)                                                                                                            

The future of digital business is more like “living systems” which are all flow based and designed to circulate and share resources. So, in business we have to think very much like how do we capture insights with the purpose of co-creating value at the speed of need. The lesson in 2020 for some, well some of us are privileged I would say, is realization that work is no longer a place. You have companies now that have announced that their employees don’t have to ever come back to the office, they can work from home forever- some Silicon Valley technology have already stated that. How you engage with customers? You can imagine how even sales professionals have to conduct business where they are not meeting the customer, they are not at lunch, they are not in a networking event, they are not in a golf course, they are conducting business purely in a digital format. We, as human beings, we establish trust, our sense of response mechanism are based on physical interaction. So, to be able to achieve trust that is a lesson that we are all learning in this pure digital format.

Would it be fair to say that in these grave economic times, digital emerges as the winner?

I think every business, every single business will be a digital business. Last month (April 2020) for the first time ever in the US there were more online groceries purchases than in person. So, you will see for example E-commerce, digital commerce which last year was only 16 percent of total commerce, I believe that in the next 3 years we will see probably 50% of our commerce as digital. So, when I look at the most valuable companies in the world, market share, they are all 8 of the top 10 are technology companies and I would argue all of them are software technology companies with which data underpinnings, so I would say if we fast forward to 2030 in my opinion, I am not a futurist but my opinion would be, if you look at the top 30-40 most valuable companies in the world there will all be technology companies. There will all be companies that have leveraged artificial intelligence, additive manufacturing, distributed ledger, internet obtains, quantum computing. For you to compete in a hyper-connected knowledge and economy for speed and personalization or the most arguably, the most important currencies you have to have a strong technology underpinning.

 What do you think consumers of digital business have learned or digital business has learned about its consumers?

• If I was a start-up founder pitching to you 11-12 years ago and I said, “I have an idea, my idea is strangers getting into strangers’ cars, so they can go from point A to point B”. Dominant logic at that time would have said “no stranger is going to get into stranger’s car” and, you know, that’s a 70-billion-dollar company now. Dominant logic may have been that distant learning is decades away as a dominant form of educating or future, also that telemedicine is 10 years away as well. So, I think the lesson learned should be that we need to adopt as educators as consumers as working professionals, we need to adopt the beginner’s mindset. We need to recognize that the ability to learn, unlearn, relearn and to change yourself is a superpower.

The coronavirus is permanently reshaping the way we live and work. Some of the behaviors developed in crisis—including wide-scale digital adoption—will outlast the pandemic, well after restrictions on activity are lifted. To stay competitive, organizations must respond to these behavioral changes and meet emerging customer demands. Digital transformation is more necessary during this crisis, not less. But that does not mean it will look the same as it did before the pandemic. Resources—both in terms of talent and money—will likely be constrained. Digital initiatives may need to be reprioritized based on relevance in the current environment. As Mr. Afshar says every business is slowly but surely becoming digital one. I can not agree more with him that we HAVE to adopt a different mindset for the future. We MUST adopt the beginner’s mindset and unleash our superpowers to adapt to changes in the world, because world is changing every minute, every second, it is changing even when I write this for you, when you read it. Covid is here to stay for a long time, but we can adapt to it as intelligent creatures and learn to live with it, overcoming it and changing our perspective for a better future.

MVS Pharma GmbH is an innovative pharmaceutical start-up company, research in the area of reducing viruses and bacteria with Covid 19 aerosol protection on a plant basis, ensuring the purity of supplements and the stability of the ingredients during storage. Aleksandar Videv is an article writer, who deals with ideas for the future with/or after Covid-19….with viruses and bacteria, and aerosols of plants for humans.

Online Education During Coronavirus: Perspectives, Problems And Solutions

 With more than a 1.5 billion youth to be affected by school and university closure, the world has globally faced online education – the possibilities that it offers, and challenges it put us through every day. 

Although the list of educational applications, platforms and resources seem to be infinite, problems still appear, because there are an amazingly big amount of people involved in this process. 

While good education is a must and we can’t afford the luxury of skipping it, we just have to stay focused and up-to-date with the new technologies the coronavirus has forced us to accept as a substantial change of our lives. 

You know the saying that there are always at least two sides to each story. Well, in our case it looks like we’re having  three of them and they’re all worth being heard. 

Please pay attention that they’re seen through the eyes of young UNICEF reporters, aged 16/17. They all submit to a volunteer initiative on giving young people the space to share their own views on topics important to them.  The work of the Young Reporters during COVID-19 pandemic is partly funded by USAID.

• Students Version

According to those, online education is not a valid substitute to the real  school/university one at all. While virtual classes and breaks between them are not as the real classroom’ based, time is clearly neither for students to develop a knowledge that’s memorable, nor for teachers, who rash through the lessons, like it’s a rodeo. 

In other words, it’s not a win situation although grades, got through online testing are quite convincing sometimes. Yet, the question of online cheating still remains.

It also appears that digital era didn’t come to all of them and some students are struggling with no connection or a bad one, plus they have only smartphone or no technical device at all. The latter look like the worse nightmare during the pandemic, because many people just got unemployed and can’t afford to buy such necessity tech. 

And in online testing, when the Internet collapse, which is often, because the system is  burning down and overcrowded, there are the answers recorded before the crush that matters. In that case it really isn’t fair, and it doesn’t correspond with the efforts and maybe mistakes, made afterwards.

• Parents Version

As a summary, we can say that here the problems emerge, due to the lack of 2 essential things – time and money. Both are never too enough, and there’s always more that you can add, if you could. 

But since the coronavirus happened, parents with students of a lower class are just destined to be on the computer screen forever, if they want a proper educated offspring. They need to pay attention whether the kid’s distracted or have some troubles using online platforms and assembling knowledges. 

And if they’re home office, it’s somehow OK, but if they still have to go to work outside the house, then it goes messy running through job and domestic duties.

Another thing is some parents are just not familiar with modern technologies. Though they are supportive and want to help, the only possibility is asking their relatives and friends, which is annoying and clearly slows the educational process. 

Money are the issue that includes the 3 categories of people, part of the distance learning situation. From the parental side, they’re unable to buy a technical device to do the job successfully, or they can’t afford an Internet. Let’s face it, poverty comes in our way more than it’s been before and since COVID-19 thrives, economics bleed.

• Teachers Version

Believe it or not, teachers have a big burden to bear, because they have grades to fill, curriculum to pass and a school year to finish. They’re are mostly unprepared for what’s happening right now, because nobody trained them or gave them the necessary tools to deal with the existing circumstances. If we’re being true to ourselves, educational system is not ready for online purposes and is still not well adjusted to them. 

While some of the teachers are digital freaks, others are just from a generation that has nothing in common with online activities. Trying to apply something it never mattered to him/her  in someone’s life is actually disturbing. That explains why exactly online education during the pandemic outbreak leads to lots of mental issues and  and there’s when psychological help  comes in a deep need.

Homeworks assignment and online test grades are also under question, because noone can be sure if it’s a team effort or a personal one. Teachers just have to thrust and sometimes thrust is doubtful for a reason.

So, whats seem to be the big conclusion over here? No matter if you’re a K-12 student or a university one, a parent or a teacher,  you’re certainly having a tough time in all this rotation from home to school vise versa. And it’s pretty normal, as  the situation is neither stable, nor a short-term one. 

While modern technologies and online communication is already a normal part of our lives, being in a virtual classroom is not the same as using your mobile as a source of entertainment. It’s not that there’s no fun in distance learning, like it’s supposed to be. Both reasons for being ‘on the web’ are just far too different. 

But let’s be positive on it and try to find out some practical and easy to apply solutions to the most common problems we seem to meet during the online education:

1. Accessability issues

Although the decisions about this are not entirely ours to make, there are still some things that can be achieved. Since a governmental policy, securing Internet access and devices needed for the purpose of online education, is not available, vulnerable families are having hard times.

What we can do, is search for low-cost Internet assistance, that’s suitable for us and presented in our country. With so many as local, as national Internet providers, there must be some good offers, just standing under our noses and waiting for anyone to grab them.

Even if that’s not exactly true for you, you can always attend to free wi-fi and ask for more downloadable content, like video lessons recorded or assignments and handouts. 

Public and school libraries with a free wi-fi are also an option, if not closed for the pandemic. Just keep on trying, searching, asking for help and let other be familiar to your situation.

2.Time management skills

Now if the first one didn’t lie in you hand, the second is all up to you. You have to pull yourself together, no matter how. Following a routine can actually do an excellent job. It’s important for you to be in a schedule of your own and stick to it straight. 

Regardless of the reason for difficulty, solutions such as removing every distraction object, creating a school space, and wisely using unstructured time can be miraculously helpful.

3.Isolation

This rather psychological issue is still highly affecting motivation and learning progress not only among all parties included in online education, but in every human being throughout the COVID-19 crisis. AS we’re a different person, facing the same problems, there is no universal advice here. 

But if it’s one thing for sure that’s suitable for all of us, it’s called sharing. Virtual study groups, teaching communities and all places, where communication and feedback still exist, comes in hand.

Now as we assume this, it becomes crystal clear online education is hard either for teachers, parents and students rather equally. No matter of age in this situation, it’s vital for us to have plenty of social interactions which will help our mental and emotional health. 

We must join in our effort to learn, to help, to ask the right questions and answer the right answers in the right places. Staying active is as important, as staying safe and positive and we might be sure to end all coronavirus issues. 

JUST REMEMBER WE’RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER

MVS Pharma GmbH is an innovative pharmaceutical start-up company, which researches in the area of reducing viruses and bacteria with plant based aerosols. Their special formula ensures the purity and the stability of the used ingredients during storage.

Liliya Ganeva is an article writer, who explores all the actual, up-to-date COVID-19 information, and the possibilities for producing aerosols made out of plants against respiratory viruses and bacteria.

The Future of Nation State after Covid Crisis

 Before Covid-19 in Baden-Württemberg, there were three trends occurring in the world that challenged the Westphalian notion of nation-states with complete sovereignty over citizens within their borders. The Westphalian ideal is the pattern of nation-states, with a rule of law defined by geographical borders that emerged out of the Thirty Years War in Europe and replaced a patchwork quilt of overlapping medieval loyalties with more solid blocks of unitary rule under the rule of a sovereign.

Our guest today is Tom Tugendhat. He is part of the UK parliament and he joins us straight from UK. We will ask him how the Nation State may be altered after Covid-19.

        –The Nation State is a concept, which many people know as a 200-300 years old in many ways. I think in some ways it is reasserting itself and, in some ways, redefining itself. One of the areas we are going to see evolve in a post-covid world. The Nation State has been reasserting itself already. We have certainly seen countries like UK leaving the European Union, we have seen the rhetoric coming out of the white house and indeed the actions. When it goes further afield we’ve seen Germany was very slow to assist Italy. France was banning the export of various medical products- even to Italy in the early days. So, we are seeing different national identity. Even the US, we are hearing of state boundaries becoming the boundaries between States.

So, we are seeing very different form of national identity emerging maybe a more solid form from what we have been used to for a long time. That is one area where, the fear of the other that a virus, a pandemic can prompt a along with the failure of international institutions from the WHO of the UN right down to many regional bodies has struggled to respond. That has given a greater legitimacy to a real local identity.

What might that mean for foreign policy and the practice of foreign policy?

-There is a possibility that this changes the way we do foreign policy quite markedly, because nation states like to view each other as equals, even if that is not always true. So, countries like UK will start, I suspect, to try and push themselves in a way to see themselves as equal with the world, rather than being a part of a regional organization. I suspect that will also come from many European and many countries around the world. Well, the question is, of course, with how many you truly can be equal and whether your partners will accept it. Now, some partners may do, France and Germany I suspect would do. India is an open question, China appears to be less of open question and whether the current administration of the US would see anyone else as equal is, well, not open to very much question at all.

When you and your colleagues meet back again once all of this is behind us , on the other side of Covid, what do you think will be the biggest foreign policy questions will be wondering about?

        – The longer the Covid crisis lasts the more it will be a new world and at the moment will be picking up more of the old one.

The extended it lasts the more we will have seen organizations like WHO will have not answered the questions we needed as early as we needed them and even regional organizations like the European Union and many others around the world will have been found wanting. The extensive therefore this lasts, the more radical as it were the change will be. And that is where we come back to the question of nationalism and national identity, because we are going to have to think again about what the building blocks are of the future. Which is that we will be much more part of a national structure looking to work together than what has evolved the last seventy years into international structure that has started to, in some ways, seek to frame debate rather than be framed by national debate.

This is where, it is very difficult to say, is this the explosion of a supernova that burns brightest before it goes out and this is the end of nationalism or is this quite the reverse. Is this the end of internationalism?

Ultimately, while the world responds to COVID-19, a key question for world leaders is whether 2020 be the year that COVID-19 re-empowered national sovereignty—or is it the year that nation-states proved ineffective in responding to the pandemic, and citizens from around the world opted instead for something different that spans geography?

One thing is certain: we live in interesting times.

MVS Pharma GmbH is an innovative pharmaceutical start-up company, which researches in the area of reducing viruses and bacteria with plant-based aerosols and Covid 19 aerosol protection. Their special formula ensures the purity and the stability of the used ingredients during storage.

Aleksandar Videv is an article writer, who explores the scientific and fictional ideas about Covid-19 future impact in Baden-Württemberg with/or after Covid-19….  and the possibilities for producing aerosols made out of plants against respiratory viruses and bacteria.