We are currently living one of the biggest and most rapid organisational transformations in history as governments, businesses and other entities turn to the internet to lessen the chaos caused by lockdowns and other measures to control the virus. 

These last few weeks have seen an unprecedented uptake of digital technologies as many workers have been asked to work from home, schools and universities to give lessons online and others have resorted to webinars on Skype or other platforms.  

Digital tools such as apps are also being used to verify the spread of the virus, while technology companies are using their capabilities to help researchers in their quest to find a cure for this virus.  

However, this increased dependence on digital platforms has highlighted the gap between those who have access to technologies and those who do not. One could mention the elderly, who are most vulnerable to the Coronavirus, who may not have immediate digital access to the information that is being circulated to educate people on how to control the spread of the virus. 

On the other hand, according to an analysis carried out by UNCTAD, virtual work and services will most likely strengthen the position of megadigital platforms on the market. The analysis emphasised the increasing demand for software that enables online conferences, such as Microsoft Teams, Skype and Zoom. 

Experts predict increased digital work and virtual meetings even once this pandemic is over. Many businesses and other entities have realised that they can work well with virtual working. This means that more people will prefer online communication to face-to-face contact. 

Apart from this, this pandemic is helping us discover how we can use the technology we have. It is making us think about what we will need in the near future to address the weaknesses and obstacles that still exist in our economy.