2020 & 2021 zoomed by, and we are now beginning in 2022. Covid19 pandemic is has shaken many sectors in an unprecedented way. Some sectors thrive, but most face much uncertainty. Overall, the key takeaway from the previous year entering into 2022 are:
- Honing abilities to embrace change;
- Shifting to a collaborative focus, and
- Infusing the company culture with a new purpose.
Hybrid working CX
Covid-19 drove changes in consumer behavior so rapidly, and we witness the massive surge in e-commerce penetration in 2020. It is still going strong as the world has slowly opened up.
What began as a necessity for safety has turned into disruption and evolution. It changes the way we work, eat, shop, and live. Digital tools have their merit with the situation. From organizing a team ZOOM meeting to project management using ClickUp to ordering food delivery using Grabs food. Companies that have adopted this swiftly and effectively earlier on prove to be on the advantage side. Digital transformation has become a must rather than a need for some industries. Brands need to learn how to take advantage of the situation.
The rise of the gig economy
We noticed the ‘great resignation’ last year. The reasons for quitting or dropping out of the labor force vary. The top reasons cited by experts continue to be lack of adequate childcare and health concerns about Covid, now exacerbated by Omicron. There are just as many reasons to suspect that many quit searching for better work opportunities, self-employment, or, simply, higher pay.
We foresee more people trying out gig and remote work, especially with more younger people entering the workforce. In their book, The Human Cloud, Matthew Mottola, and Matthew Coatney argue that traditional full-time employment will be a thing of the past, as organizations shift to hiring people on a contract basis – with those contractors working remotely.
Flatter, more agile organizations
Compounded with the above changes, work organization needs to adapt to the changes and take advantage of the new environments. Traditionally, organizations have been very hierarchical and rigid in their structures. A hybrid working environment and freelance workers (gig workers) can benefit from the flatter, more agile structures that allow the business to reorganize teams and respond to change quickly.
This is the age of flatter organizational structures, more like flexible communities rather than a top-down pyramid structure.
Being true and authentic
Today’s consumers are seeking a more meaningful connection with brands. And this need for connection has given rise to authenticity as a business trend in its own right. Authenticity helps to foster human connections – because, as humans, we like to see brands (and business leaders) display important human qualities like honesty, reliability, empathy, compassion, humility, and maybe even a bit of vulnerability and fear. We want brands (and leaders) to care about issues and stand for more than just turning a profit.
JV with fellow peers
We live in a time where pretty much anything can be achieved by outsourcing. The global business world has never been so integrated. Moreover, it is an excellent job because it is great to work together to solve critical business challenges. Indeed, it will become increasingly difficult to succeed without really close partnerships with other organizations in the future. In practice, this means greater supply chain integration, more data integration and sharing of data between organizations, and even cooperation between competitors.
Source: INC, Financial time Forbes, Entrepreneur,Humanresourcesonline, Theguardian
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