Prioritize digital innovation to hit the ground running post-COVID

As we commence the decade, still waging war with the coronavirus pandemic, that's causing havoc all over the world, hitting society at large from all angles as people are trying to figure out what to make of the new world where people randomly get ill and die, schools close indefinitely, healthcare systems are overloaded, employees are losing their jobs, most businesses have either already closed or are on the brink of bankruptcy, financial systems, and stock markets are unstable and countries are left having to spend huge amounts of money on providing the kind of reliefs that governments need to deliver during these testing and uncertain times.

Naturally, as a result of the nature of this pandemic, digital innovation has been placed at the center of not only advocacy around the coronavirus and how it's treated but even how we cope with all of the imbalances we face as a result of covid 19.

At this point, it should clear to anyone that sells or intends to sell a product or service that their business model should be what many now coin "Pandemic proof". These are the kind of businesses that are likely to survive the next decade. Such businesses will also have the edge in dictating the policy and possibly the culture of the future. Amidst these developments, the way we perceive situations and respond to them is completely up to us.

This is very well stated in a newsroom release from Standard Bank, "Digital has always been one of the biggest opportunities within the area of financial services, and this has become more pronounced amid challenges posed by covid-19."

Those who are able to also make accurate predictions on the future using artificial intelligence and other data-oriented means will have the edge as we open up the economy again the transition will not be easy and the effects will be heartfelt however on the bright side digital and information technology has the potential to address the problems we face in a more efficient, and at a faster rate than any previous time in our near or distant past.

The rate of our technological progress and digital connectivity and the profound breakthroughs and expansion in artificial intelligence illustrates that it will likely be easier to bounce back from this pandemic than it would have been in the past, however in order to be on time and catch this decade the right way, you need to be innovative and provide value. The ability to be innovative and flexible will go a long way in the next ten years. Buying into automation and systems also be a good investment.

To make the next ten years the best you will need to be ready to let go and take a leap of faith, change is difficult but constant. as Hong Luo and Alberto Galasso writes, "see risk-mitigating innovation everywhere the virus spreads."

Align your passion and purpose to serve in such a way that is pandemic proof. Also, start thinking critically about the kinds of problems we will be facing in a world post-COVID 19 and how you can help solve them. To thrive in this decade you will need to provide solutions.