The new Coronavirus impacted the entire world and put society in shock due to its spread and ease of contagion. The economies of the countries were shaken and the labor market suffered losses. The most diverse areas were affected, including Information Technology (IT).
In this post, we will explain what the impacts of the pandemic were and the changes that occurred in the segment. In addition, we will talk about the challenges that were overcome and the trends that were strengthened in this scenario.
Want to understand how the Covid-19 pandemic impacted the IT industry? Here, you will discover the department’s key role in the economic recovery. Read on!
The impacts of the pandemic and the key role of IT during the crisis
The Coronavirus crisis was so big that it provoked changes in most sectors. Initially, it interrupted the growth cycle of the IT market, causing a drop in business profitability. This was due to the loss of income and the rising unemployment rate.
On the other hand, the measures of withdrawal led people to stay at home and, with this, many paradigms were broken. Companies have adapted and made room for remote work in the most diverse departments. Some of them are already checking the possibility of transferring the operational to the home office and broaden the knowledge of their employees.
Many entrepreneurs are still looking for lower cost solutions, such as the leasing of a technology park. The leaders of the IT sector are involved in the strategic decisions of managers, and need to ensure the operation of the remote model through appropriate internet connection and adequate equipment.
The challenges that were overcome within the sector
Several challenges had to be overcome in the IT industry as events were postponed and many technology industries went out of business. Imported products and equipment began to be in short supply and slow customs interfered with the lead times for many orders – even the countries that manufactured software were affected.
Companies that had sufficient hardware faced challenges in getting their operations integrated. Managers decided to invest in up-to-date management systems, automation projects, and Artificial Intelligence (AI) to make repetitive tasks easier to accomplish.
Communication, collaboration, and workflow tools were adopted as indispensable to achieve transparency and information accuracy. In some cases, it was necessary to purchase and install peripherals, such as printers.
Faced with this, IT professionals had to find ways to solve the demands without going to the employees’ homes. Many employees did not have quality connections at home to participate in videoconferences, and companies had to contract 4G services.
Measures taken to overcome challenges in the crisis
Faced with the ease of contagion of the Covid-19 virus, companies adopted quarantine to prevent its spread. With employees in their homes, adaptations were made so that they could continue with their routine activities. The adaptations were necessary because the operations of a business cannot stand still.
The IT professionals are responsible for avoiding serious failures and making the home office work efficiently. The IT teams were selected and support to the most relevant departments was prioritized. The software used was reviewed to ensure that employees had access to all the resources needed to maintain productivity.
Applications were defined to facilitate team communication, message exchange, and data storage. Companies had to buy or rent appropriate equipment and provide internet installation for the home office to be successfully implemented. Numerous tests were conducted to increase security in remote work.
The trends that have strengthened in the crisis scenario for the industry
In Covid-19’s crisis scenario several technologies have become trends in the market. IT has assumed a strategic role in companies of all industries and accelerated the digital transformation phenomenon within organizations. To face digital disruption, multidisciplinary teams have been formed and functions are no longer performed in isolation.
Technology Deployment
Technological implementation must be carried out in all areas because all businesses are becoming digital, especially in the service sector. Even traditional banking institutions that have consolidated their processes over the years have had to adapt. They are reducing the number of branches, although they cannot operate 100% digitally.
Instant payments
Banks have moved to instant payments, which became known as PIX after the adoption of Open Banking. This way, their customers can solve almost everything with a cell phone, and institutions do not need to have so many physical branches. They can invest in virtual environments and facilities for their users.
Cybersecurity
With the arrival of the pandemic there was a significant increase in data breaches due to internal incidents. Several companies have suffered financial losses due to virtual attacks carried out by hackers.
Some happened due to the lack of knowledge of employees, who unwittingly allowed the criminals access. For this reason, technological measures were adopted, such as facial biometrics, to increase digital security.
After the Coronavirus crisis, companies started to adopt strict standards, with security policies, antivirus, firewalls, and cryptography. Thus, digital transformation has become essential for the growth of companies, and technology has changed the ways in which people interact and connect. Employee health should now be a priority for all managers.
Do you understand what the impacts of the pandemic have been on the IT industry? The Information Technology sector plays a key role in the recovery of companies after the crisis, technological innovations are excellent allies in solving issues related to remote work. This shows that collaborative tools are indispensable in this new reality, as are the professionals in this area, who have become key players.
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