1. Interconnected Isolation
Much of the Western world suddenly shut down in March 2020, as fear of an unknown enemy gripped society. This fear was so intense that it even halted the operations of many factories for several weeks. We all became hostages in our own homes, which took on far more multifunctional roles than ever before. Living rooms transformed into spaces for company conferences, workshops, and remote schooling for our children, only to revert to leisure spaces for the entire household in the evening. The year 2020 brought a revolutionary shift in our work-life balance at lightning speed.
2. Digitalization
This year, the world experienced a rapid digitization revolution that would likely have taken 10–15 years under “normal” circumstances. Extreme conditions proved it possible to digitize even the most traditional and conservative services, including customer service in some of the least adaptive sectors. Despite initial challenges, the world continues to function without lavish banquets, in-person conferences, frequent business trips, and many other previously routine activities. While it’s clear that many of these practices will return once the pandemic is under control, some of our newly developed digital habits are here to stay, driving an accelerated digital transformation.
3. Unpredictability
The invisible virus has shown us that change is the only constant. The situation evolves rapidly, demanding frequent strategy adjustments. It’s challenging to predict what things will look like in a month or in half a year. Compounding this uncertainty, we’re contending with a constantly mutating virus and often find ourselves slightly behind in our responses. This environment necessitates maximum agility and strategic thinking. Only flexible and versatile businesses can adapt to the “new normal.”