The past is certain, the present is very short, the future doubtful', warned the philosopher Seneca. And indeed, everything and the opposite of everything has been said about the crisis and economic recovery since Covid 19. What will happen after the emergency: will we return to a new form of global community, will selfishness prevail, or will nothing change? In many countries, one of the mantras has been: doesn't introducing restrictive measures risk creating more damage than the virus caused? Does the cure risk being worse than the disease? "How long can we afford to say that a human life is priceless?" asked the Economist.
Alec Ross, world-renowned author, technology expert and former State Councillor for Innovation rightly pointed out 'Viruses do not respect the laws of economics. The real issue is how quickly we can revive the economy without compromising lives and health systems'. Today, most experts agree that by the end of the epidemic, the rules of the game will have changed. One epoch-making transformation could be political. Billionaire investor Leon Cooperman has said that the inevitable massive government support for companies in crisis because of the coronavirus will change capitalism forever: economies will be deeply tied to state plans and taxes will be higher, for those who can pay them, to support basic services and public spending.
Yet in this upheaval, the medium- to long-term consequences of which are still uncertain, technology seems to be the real winner. In fact, it is the main tool which, amidst so many difficulties, is guaranteeing the management of health emergencies and the continuity of productive and social activities. There has never been a time when human beings have been as dependent on technology as there is today. Without automation, remote connections, apps, Artificial Intelligence, Cloud platforms and Big Data, individuals, families, institutions, healthcare and educational facilities would be in serious trouble.
Without digital technologies, companies would not be talking about Smart Working, ecommerce, web conferences, virtual events, digital supply chains, remote maintenance, ethical and low-cost web marketing. Forget Industry 4.0, the pandemic was the real accelerator towards digitalisation, especially from a cultural and organisational point of view. The virus has generated a situation that has led companies to operate in an ecosystem in which the role of digital services has become fundamental. Not only to increase profitability and profits but to survive.
Armando Martin