Tech for Good: How Technology Can Make a Real Difference, Not Just in Business – But the World

When we reflect on technology’s impact on the world over the past century, it’s natural to think of broad, sweeping societal shifts—everything from movements like the Industrial Revolution to huge moments in popular culture. For our parents or grandparents, that may have been the arrival of color TVs. Many of us can recall our family’s first personal computer, video game system or smartphone. We tend to think of tech through the lens of making our work more productive or our home lives easier (or lots more fun).

When you think about just how profoundly tech has changed the world, the average person’s mind might not go toward software, data and cloud computing. But for those of us who obsess over enterprise software, our eyes light up when we think about the sheer power of technology to tackle enormous, complex challenges. Nothing brings that to life more than the extraordinary events we’ve all lived through these past two years. During this time, I’ve been awed—and quite inspired—by tech’s sometimes-hidden power to do amazing things that benefit all.

Tracking a pandemic

Think back to last year, when simply getting a handle on where and how fast the virus was spreading seemed insurmountable. Pen, paper and phone calls clearly weren’t the answer to track the global spread of COVID-19. To execute contact tracing at the needed scale, enterprises, organizations and governments needed to lean hard on platform technology. If there was ever a moment for Big Data to shine, this was it.

We saw this in countries and states across the globe, as contact tracing apps were rolled out, and hospitals leaned on software to keep track of supply chains for PPE. A great example was NASA, which utilized an app to help thousands of employees navigate a return to the physical office, all while incorporating the latest, ever-changing guidelines from the CDC.

Similarly, the Austrian Red Cross unveiled The "Stopp Corona" app to anonymously and automatically log potential contact points between people, allowing government officials to rapidly address potential outbreaks. This app was the first functioning COVID-19 contact tracing solution in Europe.

?Helping get shots in arms

By 2021, vaccines arrived, although with varying access around the world. And, as with contact tracing, the global rollout of vaccines represented a monumental effort of immense complexity. Yet again, we saw the capacity of technology to help us solve a very human problem on display. For example, the AVAX vaccine management solution was developed to help governments, communities and the private sector work together to accelerate vaccine rollouts by streamlining functions from scheduling and administration to analytics and reporting. The customizable solution on Microsoft technology is designed to help administer hundreds of millions of vaccines around the world, and was rolled out first in the Philippines, in partnership with one of Asia's largest health service providers, Zuellig Pharma.

Diversifying the workforce?

Of course, there are very few challenges requiring the level of logistical gymnastics of a global pandemic. But when we are talking about addressing inclusion and diversity in the workplace, for overlooked minority talent, the cause surely couldn’t feel more urgent and vital. It’s true that most major enterprises are taking steps to factor inclusion and diversity within their recruiting and hiring practices. But when you’re dealing with deep-seeded issues and unseen biases, it’s too much to ask to rely solely on human judgement – however well intentioned. For example, unconscious bias has long been recognized as a challenge for recruiters, even those trained to hire objectively. Thus, this is another example of where the right software and digital platforms can help crunch data objectively, unearth patterns most people can’t see and help drive real improvement in how society functions. Indeed, technology is slowly helping make the world more of a place where everybody has a fair chance to succeed – we just need to keep pushing forward.

A terrific example of this is AWARE (the Accenture Workplace Accountability Resource Experience built upon Oracle technology). The central idea behind AWARE is that companies need to be able to pore through the deep pools of hiring data they have and visually showcase and identify trends. Instead of relying on anecdotes and topline numbers, leaders can now get a true view of their workforce’s makeup. They can use this data to figure out where and why certain pay disparities might exist. And even better, they can map out where their companies stand against peers (always a great motivator) and institute real plans to make things better, such as eliminating obstacles and better setting up minority hires for smooth, achievable career paths.

Supporting nonprofits in need

Naturally, we spend a lot of time talking about how technological innovations benefit industries and governments at a massive scale. ?But sometimes the most rewarding way software can change the world is in the nonprofit realm. Often, the organizations that are looking to tackle some of society’s most worthy causes have similar complex, logistical needs, but they often don’t have the revenue or wherewithal to funnel investment into enterprise software and the like.

For example, we’ve seen that providing organizations with the latest technologies can make all the difference. In our work with ?India’s Akshaya Patra, whose mission is to ensure no child is deprived of an education due to hunger, access to AI, IoT, blockchain and enterprise software has enabled the organization to find efficiencies, resulting in the ability to serve an additional one million meals to children every year.

In another nonprofit example, our team worked with Salesforce to provide customized CRM solutions, helping these nonprofits better connect with customers and supporters by tapping into the power of data-driven marketing. And since this is not necessarily these nonprofits’ area of expertise (many may not have marketing departments or much in the way of marketing budgets), we don’t just hand them over a link to a software interface either; our teams spend hands-on time with stakeholders at these organizations to make sure they get the most out of these tools.

This demonstrates the potential of enterprise technology for the good of society. Not every business can invent the next VR device or spacecraft or self-driving car, but as business leaders and technologists, when we are willing and able to channel our creativity and expertise in the right direction, enterprise software’s capacity for good is limitless. I hope you find that as inspiring as I do.