Is the future already here…?

Posted on November 28, 2020 by Chris Warburton

We are all now getting very used to being on video and video calls.

In conversation this week the topic came up and discussion turned to how we used to see people on video calls on TV before but it never really took off (remember The Big Bang Theory)… this was of course before the pandemic… now it seems second nature…. it was a hidden trend waiting for the trigger.

“The future has arrived — it’s just not evenly distributed yet.” – William Gibson

All of this got me thinking… what is the next trend, the next change, hidden in plain sight, one just we haven’t noticed yet….?

It also linked to a couple of interesting conversations around messaging and communication too.

Looking at my desktop there is a proliferation of messaging platforms I now have to monitor… Email, Skype, Teams, Slack, Messenger, WhatsApp, LinkedIn, etc. Each are vying for my attention… and most are trying to create a closed loop ecosystem… THEY want to be the single point for everything communication related… this is to own the customer relationship and no doubt their data too.

Gradually this is Omni-channel arriving…. increasingly however it is feeling fragmented across multiple platforms and apps.

As a consumer there are of course only so many platforms you can actually manage… and for business, it represents a wider problem… which platform and how many platforms do I focus on…?

Some businesses undoubtedly will try to manage all of them and there are already some consolidator hubs popping up… Others, however, seem to be bucking this trend and concentrating on just a few.

With the network effect… platform consolidation… a few will dominate… with WhatsApp and WeChat out in front.

The demise of email has long been discussed… but is this the real start of change… a trend to get ahead of… maybe, but certainly one to watch.

“Welcome to the real world” – Morpheus

Meanwhile back in the real world many people continue to struggle financially through this crisis.

This was also brought into sharp relief this week, via the Debt Advice sector, listening to some of the struggles people are having.

Assistance is undoutbedly at hand with support from businesses (eg payment deferrals), and the government (eg furlough) all having helped many.

Source: ONS

Still, benefits claims have dramatically increased… with many people claiming where they never have before…. it is reaching levels last seen in the 1980s.

With so many people being touched by this crisis one way or another, awareness has been transformed. The stigma of discussing financial difficulties fading and many more people are finding it easier to empathize and discuss the issues involved… Maybe just maybe this could be a future trend too.

If we can all be more transparent and in someways honest about our financial situation, this could lead to better understanding and outcomes for all… hopefully so.

Have a good weekend everyone… @chris_w_tweet

Key Stories this week

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Back to the Future – new beginnings?

Posted on November 22, 2020 by Chris Warburton

The good news this week, COVID cases seemed to start to moderate here. The new restrictions have been in place for a while now and it looks like we will hear more about next steps this week… so fingers crossed for year-end.

Observations for the week.

  • The video calls have continued to be as popular as ever. There was a bit of a debate this week on how it is changing the dynamics of things. Undoubtedly many are missing face to face meetings, however, some are also finding video calls, with more frequent contact, can actually help build stronger business relationships… this development will be interesting.
  • Also a gap is widening on the attitude to the future. Some are clearly really starting to embrace the situation… rather than living in expectation we will go back to the way it was before… new restrictions, they just carry on… with minimal impact… feels a positive move for now.
  • Workwise, more boxes also returned from the office to home. The ‘home office’ is starting more and more to have a permanent feel about it… I mean I know we have been like this for a while but definitely starting to feel like it is normalising now.

Have a good week everyone… @chris_w_tweet

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(Good News)2 on vaccine development

Posted on November 20, 2020 by Chris Warburton

There has been plenty of good news the last few weeks regarding progress with COVID vaccine development. Early signs are promising, with big pharma massively starting to scale production and countries readying for delivery of vaccines to their population.

All in all the speed of vaccine development vs normal timeframes has been amazing. In an interesting article on the radio, it was explained this was driven by not only by the nearly unlimited funding nor the cut regulatory approval times, but importantly by the vast pool of people happy to be part of testing programmes… Even in pharma, it seems like this pandemic episode will have re-written benchmarks for delivery timeframes.

… New technology and ways of thinking seems to have a habit of developing in times of great challenge, change and upheaval… it also appears to be no different this time around too, as with these new vaccines new mRNA technology/research has been deployed. This development offers hope not just for COVID but also for other ailments, including types of cancer. It is a potentially very exciting development indeed.

Of course, we are not quite there yet, and it could be 2022 before we see public mass vaccination programmes… and even then the virus could mutate… but it is a good start, good news and some needed cheer.

Economically, the pace of new dramatic headlines seems to have slowed somewhat. More on homeworking, online shopping, the exodus from cities are still there, together of course with the financial stress for many, which continues.

However, more subtle fundamental changes are also starting.

Bill Gates, who spends his time (and money) thinking and investing into the future (equally with Melinda Gates I should add), caught the headlines with his view on business travel… only 50% of business travel (and only 70% of office life) will return.

We may indeed be living in the new normal today and adapting to this new way of working now may be critical for the future. Those that can adapt will strengthen, whilst those expecting a return to the world of 2019 less so… it is time to move on, be flexible and adapt it feels.

Key stories for this week

Have a good weekend everyone… @chris_w_tweet

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