COVID-19 Accelerated Changes At Breakneck Speed: Here Are 5 Trends Singaporeans Think They Are Here To Stay

COVID-19 and also the Circuit Breaker have changed our way of life. Inside a recent speech, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong spoke concerning the have to adjust the way you live, play and work. Some of trends look like they'll last way beyond the COVID-19 pandemic and become part of the “new normal”.

To find out what a few of these trends may be, we asked our DollarsAndSense Telegram Channel members to learn about the things they observe as the most impactful changes to date. Towards the nearly 1,000 poll respondents, we thank you for generously sharing your insights!

#1 Virtual Seminars And Events

In our poll, 90% of our respondents have asserted they believe that virtual conferences and meetings would still occur after the pandemic.

As they use video conferencing software to replace physical conferences and seminars, information mill starting to consider whether or not to hold these conferences online. Singaporeans are also beginning to recognise that in some cases, it would be easier to attend such meetings online rather than finding yourself in the conference physically.

Companies can reduce costs in planning such events, in addition to increase option of the conference, allowing people all across the globe to join. In total, there'd be a rise in final amount of people taking part in conferences, increasing the amount of knowledge shared and business partnerships forged with people globally.

#2 Online Learning

83% of respondents agreed that schools should include online learning into their curriculum after COVID-19 has transpired. The first teething difficulties that originated from learning online, such as unfamiliarity with tools, the possible lack of social norms in virtual groups, and lack of hardware for many students are always being done, and can only improve later on.

By reducing travel time or eliminating the requirement for students and teachers to be in exactly the same physical space, more time is freed up for actual learning and exploration. Online tools also allow for new possibilities, such as augmented reality tours and interactive experiences that could be too expensive or dangerous to do in real-life.

#3 Virtual Medical Checkups

With COVID-19, telemedicine services have increased in popularity, with the perception that getting treatment in your own home would be safer and more comfortable for those who have minor sicknesses.

Slightly over fifty percent of respondents think that individuals will continue to use such services later on, with users enjoying the convenience and time saved seeking medical help online, rather than needing to physically visit the doctor. Telemedicine services also provide medicine delivery and even doorstep services at your house, further increasing the ease of getting treatment for minor illnesses.

Telemedicine services obviously won't replace treating severe illness that need in-person therapy. Still, Singapore may see a shift towards having more Singaporeans and medical workers providing telemedicine services, as both a complement and (in some cases) a replacement for traditional medical care.

#4 Working From Home

In the poll, our respondents were split on whether their companies would allow these to continue working from home after the pandemic. Despite the fact that COVID-19 has made companies realise that work-from-home is a practicable option, they might still be hesitant to follow Twitter's example and let employees work from home permanently.

This may be due to worries over less productivity from employees, or concerns about the long-term impact of these arrangements on company culture.

Nevertheless, the circuit breaker has forced companies to reconsider their options. It reveals to companies that remote working, once considered as less productive and efficient, is a legitimate method for companies to operate. Companies now have to carefully study if remote working does result in improved morale and productivity.

#5 Remote Hiring

The poll results were quite split on remote hiring, even though 22% of respondents asserted their companies are already doing the candidate selection process for brand new workers remotely.

Before COVID-19, HR departments may have been sceptical about hiring remote workers, especially if they are not in the country. However, the results do show that overall, most information mill either considering or are already hiring remote workers outside of Singapore.

Like remote working, companies might certainly be less resistant to hiring workers remotely, whether those based here or overseas. This can be a doubled-edged sword. Similarly, this trend could give Singaporeans a bigger potential pool of overseas companies to dedicate yourself, however it could also mean workers here might face more competition as well.

COVID-19 Would be a Catalyst For Change

With COVID-19 accelerating the digitalisation in our economy, jobs and lives, you could state that COVID-19 sparked a push forward in to the way forward for work and life.

These trends appearing are only the beginning, since they can either become even prominent later on, or still evolve into new and exciting forms. What’s certain is that to remain in front of the curve, we have to identify them early, and become adaptable enough to embrace change.