It is very apparent that the way we work and how businesses operate has taken a big shift online. According to StraitTimes in 2020, it was reported that almost 75% of businesses in Singapore are hastening their digitalisation process. This is mainly due to the lockdown when employees were required to work from home and businesses has to move their processes online. This saw an increase in people utilising video call platforms like Google Meet and Zoom for work communication.

Besides utilising these platforms, tech giants like Meta (formerly known as Facebook), NVIDIA, Microsoft, Apple, and Amazon, are exploring new ways to engage their employees – the metaverse. For those who are unclear what the metaverse is, in simple terms, it is a “network of 3D virtual worlds focused on social connection” as explained by Wikipedia. Unlike platforms like Zoom and Google Meet, being in the metaverse gives you the ability to experience the space in 3D. Users can also create an avatar to their liking, giving them a physical “body” in this virtual space.

In 2 to 3 years, Bill Gates predicts that most corporate meetings will move from 2D video calls to the metaverse. The metaverse creates an immersive environment where people can communicate better rather than taking turns to talk in a 2D video call. It also lets you perceive body language better.

Before the metaverse, there were two other technology innovations that caused a big buzz in the business world – that is Augmented Reality (AR) and Artificial Intelligence (AI). Till this day, AR and AI are very much relevant. Infact, everyday consumers are also exposed to these technologies as businesses are continuously finding ways to integrate these technologies into their business model.

The most common example of an AI product is the Siri, Google Assistant, and Alexa. These virtual assistants are AI powered to be able to learn and adapt the more they’re used. This involves complex algorithms and vast amounts of data for the computer to learn as it is utilised. The potential for AI is endless as it is a continuously evolving program and many companies are using this to automate, streamline, and optimise their business processes.

Augmented Reality was made popular by Niantic when they released Pokemon Go to mobile devices. According to Wikipedia, AR is “an interactive experience of a real-world environment where the objects that reside in the real world are enhanced by computer-generated perceptual information”. It provides people with the ability to perceive and experience the digital world through devices like their mobile phones. Certain businesses also leverage on AR to allow customers to augment a furniture or product onto their real space. It helps them visualise the product better.

The capabilities of these technologies will only continue to progress and as the consumption of services online increases, so will the need for faster internet speeds. With 5G speeds now widely offered by telcos in Singapore, the availability of high speed internet makes the consumption of digital services convenient and accessible to everyone.

However, with all these technological advances, there are many who find it hard to adapt and learn – especially the elderly. The pandemic is also causing a lot of uncertainties as it is unpredictable and the measures that the government implements usually requires immediate adoption without giving businesses nor employees enough time to adapt. Given the additional need to change, learn, and adopt new technologies, it is a daunting challenge for individuals and businesses to overcome.

As digitalisation accelerates, the importance in upskilling and retraining employees takes priority. Besides accelerating digitalisation, businesses also need to ensure that their employees are trained to adopt these changes. It goes hand-in-hand and one cannot function without the other. With all these changes and the need to adapt taking place simultaneously, many businesses do not have the necessary experience nor resources to do so.

The least disruptive and most effective way to adapt to these changes would be to outsource the process of training, recruiting, and finding the right people to headhunting firms in Singapore.

As one of the leading global human resources firms, Talent Spot possesses the necessary technologies, experience, capacity, and teams of highly trained manpower consultants in Singapore. Talent Spot provides highly customised solutions to meet your business and industry needs. Talent Spot has operations in over 8 different countries in the Asia Pacific region with over 500 employees trained to specialise in niche industries across the world.

Speak to our team of HR industry experts today and let us help evolve and adapt your business!