Think ahead: Digital innovations during the pandemic should be more than just quick fixes

This seems like a no-brainer. But is it really?

When the onset of the pandemic necessitated the temporary closure of physical stores and offices, businesses and companies scrambled to optimize their digital operations. Since digital technology has long been a part of most businesses, this was challenging… but not impossible.

Let’s take the food industry as an example. We were already used to restaurants offering delivery services for their own products. Over the past few years, however, companies that capitalized on online food delivery service began to dominate the game. Because they presented access to a variety of restaurants through a single website or application, consumers became more likely to avail of their services.

This business model became popular during the pandemic. Many restaurants struck partnerships with these companies, which ensured that they could still serve customers even when their storefronts and dining areas were closed to the public. I’m sure you have your favorite delivery app by now and can attest to the wonders of getting food delivered from different restaurants every day. 

In the entertainment industry, the digital shift is more dramatic and – dare I say – more difficult. Content production in this industry was generally done offline before the pandemic. But to follow safety protocols, most producers opted to shoot their content virtually. Because of this, Zoom-style productions became a trend.

Virtual concerts and fan meetings also received the spotlight during this period. To continue interacting with fans, artists and musicians utilized different online platforms to stream their concerts. While it was wildly different from the concert experience we were all used to, it provided a major perk: unlimited front-row seating capacity. 

Months into the pandemic, the need for digital innovation is something that has been addressed by most, if not all, thriving businesses and corporations. I’m sure that at this point, you are thinking of digital innovations you have executed in your own line of work. 

PLDT Enterprise is one of the organizations that shifted most of its customer meetings, seminars, and physical events online – including its most awaited annual event, the Philippine Digital Convention. Carrying the theme, “IMPACT”, this year’s fully virtual PH Digicon, which will be held on October 28 to 30, aims to inspire attendees to embrace the call of making a positive impact on society through the adoption of innovations and technologies set to define the new future of work.

If there’s one thing 2020 has taught us, it’s that utilizing digital technology and implementing digital solutions are the keys to a well-performing business amid the pandemic. The PH Digicon will focus on this.

This digital convention, which is free and open to the public, will be composed of plenary and breakout sessions as well as networking opportunities and fellowship nights. It is poised as a venue where delegates can learn firsthand from global business executives and world-renowned leaders. With session topics ranging from transformational leadership to cryptography technologies, the convention aims to help businesses understand how various technological innovations can be utilized to create new strategies in the digitized business landscape.

The highlight of the event will be its plenary session – a venue where delegates can learn invaluable insights from global business executives and world-renowned leaders. These include Cisco President & CEO Chuck Robbins, NTT Research President and CEO Kazuhiro Gomi, Nokia President & CEO Pekka Lundmark, CEO of Salesforce Industries David Schmaier, and Founder & CEO of goop, actress, and author Gywneth Paltrow who will be this year’s celebrity headline speaker, among others.

Moreover, it will also feature virtual event spaces where delegates can network and connect with fellow delegates in the virtual lobby and a networking lounge where they can meet, connect and socialize. There will also be an exhibit hall, where delegates can explore the booths of the world’s leading technology companies and discover more about their products and services.

In preparation for the much-awaited annual event, I ask you to consider this: are your new business decisions merely short-term solutions? Are they based on the thought of achieving sales goals while waiting for the pandemic to end? Of course, we want to go back to the time when the pandemic was not a concern. But we cannot go back in time and halt the progress that has been made digitally because of it. We must consider that while these efforts may be fit for the current time, they should also be complemented by long-term digital solutions that are already in the business’ pipeline. 

This is the time for business owners to think of the solutions they are administering as the first steps towards a long-term digital expansion. 

The pandemic has already changed the way we work and there is no way we can go back to our pre-pandemic setups. The future of business is digital. Knowing that digital technologies are available for use, thinking ahead should be the priority for businesses.

However, this is easier said than done. Should the food industry give up on physical stores? Should the entertainment industry stick to virtual shoots and the limited number of stories that can be made with these? Or are there new technologies that have not yet been considered?

PLDT Enterprise iterates that adapting to the changes brought by these unprecedented times should begin with a thorough knowledge of what impact businesses want to make. By defining their impact, businesses can make effective and lasting solutions for the benefit of society. 

Stay tuned for more details on PLDT Enterprise’s Philippine Digital Convention 2020. Register for the event for free through its official website. – Rappler.com