Telehealth the ‘New Standard’ for Care Delivery Post-COVID-19, Says Report

The shifts toward “connected living” and “connected work” are among the key global trends “generating growth opportunities” from COVID-19, reported Frost & Sullivan Monday. “Companies should focus on diversifying supply chains and leveraging new opportunities arising from changing customer demands,” it said. Increased adoption of contactless surfaces post-pandemic “will power the home automation and security markets,” it said. “Systems encompassing voice activation technology will become increasingly popular among consumers.” The conversion to work-from-home “scenarios” as the new norm will accelerate the need for “cloud everything” solutions, said the report. “Digital health driven by telemedicine and robotic care will become the new standard of care delivery. Standardization of service across the care continuum will require more service and technology providers.” With COVID-19 causing mass factory shutdowns worldwide, “the supply chain industry is creating radical innovations with augmented reality, virtual reality, advanced robotics, real-time inventory tracking, and exploring how 3D printing could completely disrupt the supply chain in the next 10 years,” said Frost & Sullivan. Pandemic preparedness will speed the deployment of artificial intelligence solutions and innovation, it said. Post-pandemic economies will need AI and machine learning tools “to expedite digital transformation across key business initiatives,” it said.