3 Ways the COVID-19 Pandemic Will Inspire New Business Ideas
blog post
April 10, 2020
3 Ways the COVID-19 Pandemic Will Inspire New Business Ideas
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By Heather Munro
Photo Illustration: Cindy Kalman. Photo Resource: Curioso Travel Photography.
Like the Great Depression, World War II and 9/11, the COVID-19 pandemic will transform our society in ways we are only beginning to imagine.
As our governments work to shore up the economy and change laws to prevent future outbreaks, businesses will champion much-needed innovation. After all, necessity breeds invention.
As a freelancer writing for tech, healthcare and retail clients, I can’t help wondering what I’ll be writing about in a post-pandemic world.
Here are some of my predictions.
#1: Hygiene Will Be THE Trend
Even once everyone has been vaccinated or we’ve established herd immunity, businesses, particularly those that serve the public, will tout their sanitation practices guarding against the next virus.
I see fast casual restaurants offering free standing hand-washing stations near the tables and fancier eateries offering table-side hot towels saturated with hand sanitizer. Bars, libraries and other public venues will provide free smartphone sanitizer machines for patrons.
Ever on the lookout for the next business opportunity, entrepreneurs will convert public water fountains into hand washing stations. Start-ups will create wearables that track your immunity levels and even show authorities you’re immune to clear you to attend large gatherings, events and activities.
Obviously, brands will create high-end hand sanitizers with exotic scents, Insta-worthy brand identities and certifications backing up efficacy.
Car manufacturers will add built-in sanitation devices that clean the inside of a car at the touch of a button. (I picture a laser beam of light a la The War of the Worlds, only deadly to germs, not people.) This same technology will be added to sports arenas, concert venues and airport security to kill viruses in places where crowds congregate.
The next unicorn will be in sanitation tech.
#2: Fashion and Etiquette Will Evolve
Capitalizing on the hygiene trend, fashion designers will bring back everyday gloves, develop stylish scarves that double as face masks, and make statements on the runway with elaborate hats featuring plexiglass face shields. And of course, everything from dress shirts to pantsuits will be made from anti-microbial fabric.
Food service workers, grocery store clerks and cashiers will have to wear less stylish versions of those runway hats, a sort of baseball cap with a clear plastic visor. Another opportunity for a forward-thinking entrepreneur here. Might I suggest building in the hairnet and some sort of bluetooth walkie talkie?
Shaking hands will go out of fashion. Taking a cue from Asian cultures, British royalty and Edith Wharton novels, Americans will bow to one another at business meetings. A modified small curtsy might also make a comeback. Blogs and online classes on business etiquette will become a thing.
Outside of work, acquaintances will give each other a casual head bob or a friendly wave instead of hugging hello. Churches and synagogues will have special seating for people who have cold and flu symptoms. Restaurants may have fewer seats spaced further apart. As a result, we’ll be more tied to our phones than ever, and the next social media craze will drive deeply personal connections.
People will divide into two groups: those passionate about gathering in person at special events as much as possible and those who will be afraid of socializing in person no matter the claims of safety. Marketers will map their messaging to both of these personas.
#3: Video Conferencing Will Advance
Now that so many businesses have experienced the benefits of video conferencing, it’s going to be as essential as WiFi, even for those companies who were dead set against allowing work-from-home policies.
Some companies will choose to save on office space costs and invest in the tech for more at-home workers. As the economy rebounds, employees who enjoyed having no commute will demand more remote work. Laws might even change to mandate companies provide this option as a failsafe measure or to reduce carbon emissions.
At the very least, coming to work sick will finally be frowned upon, even in the most hardcore offices. Perhaps apps that track employees’ health will be developed to authorize working from home when a fever strikes?
Conference planners will pivot from selling post-event videos of keynotes, speaker presentations and breakout sessions to live-streaming virtual conferences for viewing in real-time and anytime. Networking chat room experiences will evolve and be marketed as a value-add to the virtual ticket.
Telehealth appointments will replace many routine phone screenings and in-person doctor visits. The convenience for consumers and cost savings for healthcare providers will ensure it becomes commonplace. And nascent online talk therapy sites will boom.
The challenge for video platforms will be fostering intimacy. Virtual backgrounds and fun Snapchat filters have already taken off and will continue to thrive. Good video conference lighting will become de rigueur either with stand-alone desk lamps or built-in lighting features on laptops.
Still, the tech will need to improve to handle large groups, eliminate sound delays and personalize the experience even further. How will it evolve? My money’s on holograms.
What kind of innovations are you expecting to see? I’m all ears.