The world is turning more digital every day and some people are not happy about it. In the aftermath of Covid, as the world attempts to return to some form of normal, we have come out the other side a little battered but still going. Throughout the pandemic, there were certain things that we changed and have no desire to go back to the old ways. Here are some of the ways that the world has changed and become more digital and that we don’t want to give up again.
Using our cards instead of cash
It is hard to believe that 2 years ago, cash was still king. As awareness around germs and how the disease spread by handing cash, we all embraced using our cards. Many banks were forced to issue contactless cards to bank accounts that they wouldn’t normally give them to. They also removed a lot of the limits that were on cards so you didn’t have to hit the minimum requirement before you used it. This saved people money by allowing them to tap their cards for tiny amounts. As restrictions start to lift, we can’t imagine going back to using cash, we are still happy to tap our cards to buy stuff.
Working from home
When the world went into lockdown, there were people who worked in offices that found themselves having to work from home. At first, it was tough, but over time we learnt to love it. Not only did we save time by not travelling to work, but we could also enjoy the simple pleasures of using our own mugs for coffee and the privacy of our own bathroom. As much as we all missed the office and the people, when it came down to it, we preferred spending time at home. We all proved that we could work at home and do it well. Our employers noticed as well, and many of them are not rushing to get us back to the office. In the future, there will be a hybrid system in place to allow people to nip into the office for a day or two, and then work the rest at home.
Working for ourselves
If you were one of the people who couldn’t work from home but couldn’t go out to work during the lockdowns, there is a chance you were bored. There is only so much binge-watching we can do, and many of us decided to start up our own businesses. This includes learning some new skills as we launched ourselves into the business world. At this stage, you might be wanting to take this hobby business that you started when you were bored to the next level. You might need to look into SEO prices to ensure that your website or digital business is running as well as it can be. SEO can be tricky and it can be worth your while hiring some experts to help you. This way, you won’t have to go back to your old job.
Ordering food
Food is a wonderful thing and it is also necessary for our survival. So, imagine our horror when we couldn’t nip out for a cheeky Chinese anymore. Thankfully, the internet had use covered. Ordering our food online, paying for it with our bank cards, and having it delivered to the front door became the saviour of the weekend. If you are not a people person, you probably enjoyed having them knock on the door, leave the food on the doorstep, and walk away. As time went on, different businesses joined in and changed how they got the food to us. McDonald’s started an order service that allowed you to order on the app and have it brought out to your car. And delivery drivers found them the newest key workers as they delivered our meals with a smile behind their masks.
Buying clothes
On the back of our previous point, we would like to talk about clothes. It is true, we probably didn’t need to buy as many clothes as we did when we were in lockdown but there was no harm in having a private fashion show in the hallway from time to time. It was our kids that needed clothes, and the internet delivered. Not only did a lot of companies drop their delivery fees, but they also offered to extend returns and discounts. The business was booming for these guys. If your kids needed shoes, you could order a food gauge to measure their feet before you ordered their shoes. The online stores that were established probably got a huge boost of business but it also forced many other retailers to look at their existing business models and offer better online services.
Home delivery
For years, disability charities have been campaigning about getting better resources and help from businesses. One of these things has been better home delivery services. We often take for granted how easy it can be to get out and grab whatever we want. Now, we have a better selection of delivery options available to us as the industry expands. As businesses tried to keep themselves in business, they opened up and offered a better home shopping experience. Not only was this great for us, but it also benefited the wider community and those who have trouble getting out of the house for the essentials, including food and basic items for their homes.
Online schooling
Ok, let’s be clear, nobody was a fan of homeschooling. Unless you had planned on homeschooling, nobody liked having this dumped on us. However, there was a massive plus. When we are sick or the kids are sick, we now have an option for them. This point kind of fits in with working from home too as you can all spend the day in the house, the kids on a Zoom call with their teacher and getting their classwork processed digitally, meanwhile we can be in the home office working from home. We think it is fair to say that nobody wants the kids to be cut off from their friends like this again but it is great that they have an option to attend class digitally if they are unwell.
Digital banking
Our first point was about using our bank cards but we feel that digital banking deserves a mention. We have discovered that it is possible to run your finances completely online if you don’t use cash. However, if you do have cash, you can avoid human contact by paying it in at an ATM so that it goes into your account. A lot of online banks saw a big boost and interest in what they do. A lot of people were concerned that older folks would not cope with the changes, but it didn’t take them long to catch on. Now our grandparents are flashing the plastic and using their iPads to watch their balance in real-time. If the old folks are happy with the digital world, then who are we to complain?
As you can see, there are a few things that have leaned into the digital world and we hope they don’t lean back out again. The big question is, are there other ways that we can lean into this lifestyle that make our lives easier and more interesting? Only time will tell as the world continues to adapt to a time that has seen huge changes. We can’t wait to see what they think of next.
