The development of technology has accelerated during the nineteenth century. Modern autos, steam engines, light bulbs, and telephones have all altered how society functions. Instantaneous communication, accessible energy, and ease of transportation have paved the road for the economy to boom and open up new avenues to explore, exponentially boosting the speed and breadth of technological progress. But nothing has ever had such a deep influence as the internet’s invention.
This breakthrough not only gave rise to a plethora of new, cutting-edge technologies such as cellphones, smart watches, and personal computers, but it also soon displaced a number of others. Smart tech provided several advantages by merging the use of telephones, calendars, maps, and even radios, rendering them practically obsolete as these gadgets were more portable, efficient, and were often even better at doing what the older technologies were solely intended for.
A Technological Mutation Amidst the Outbreak
Technology once again took another big leap, perhaps not so much in progress, but more so in direction, when the COVID-19 pandemic abruptly uprooted the world that we came to know. Academic institutions, business corporations, malls, churches, bars, game centers and even stores were forced to limit or shut down their operation to prevent the spread of the novel disease.
However, these dire times created something new that continued to persist even after the lockdown had already ended. With face-to-face (F2F) interactions indefinitely suspended, leading tech companies found an urgent demand for something that can act as a substitute for in-person meetings. The likes of Zoom and Google Meet rapidly grew in popularity and usage as the world sought whatever it could find to regain a semblance of normalcy.
These online synchronous meetings allowed academic institutions to conduct online distance learning, allowing students to continue their education without delay and avoiding the bankruptcy of universities. E-commerce companies such as Amazon and eBay surged during this time as almost all potential customers were stuck at home. Many physical stores quickly realized the new trend and adopted online platforms to be able to reach this new type of customer base.
Over time, almost every industry followed the same digital footsteps and enacted their own online storefront to better their chances of surviving the pandemic’s economic recession. This moved business conferences, shopping sprees, classrooms, and even informal conversations to cyberspace.
Transcendence to Cyberspace
Nowadays, the thought of the once anxiety-inducing nightmare coronavirus is nothing but an afterthought. However, the changes it has induced have lingered. Even now, e-commerce continues to flourish as people have grown accustomed to the idea of staying in the comfort and safety of their home as they shop online.
What they once did as a necessity to ensure their safety has now become a desire for convenience. They no longer have to travel distances to canvas prices, browse for wares, queue at the counter, and haul their spoils all the way back to their abode. This behavior has prompted many to transition to online businesses where they make significant efforts to promote their brand online.
However, there are caveats, and one is that shopping online can be risky as customers may not be able to verify the quality of a product or service or the integrity of a store. As a result, interested consumers will have to be resourceful and peruse the reviews available online, like those of Trustpilot for grocery stores, 360 Reviews for home services, and CasinoReviews for iGaming, to name a few.
These sites have expert teams to verify the legality of a given platform or product and to provide additional information that might assist customers in choosing the best option for them, such as legitimacy, security, product or game selection, quality, and user and professional reviews.
Additionally, advertising online can be more difficult as the online marketspace is cramped with competition. Due to the lack of geographical boundaries, e-market platforms are more likely to monopolize, making it harder for beginners or those with little resources to compete with industry goliaths.
The lockdown appears to have accelerated the shift to e-commerce, but it will continue to exist and thrive even if people are no longer confined to their houses. The accessibility, variety, and efficiency of online markets are advantages that conventional stores just cannot compete with for the time being, and businesses must adapt or risk being left behind.
