30% of SMBs Will Fail by 2021, Predicts IDC Post-Pandemic Report

IDC estimates 45% of organizations have employees working full time from home, vs. 14% before COVID-19, reported the company Thursday. “Many organizations anticipate that work-from-home employees will remain a large proportion of the workforce,” it said. “Supporting hybrid workforces and ensuring that remote and work-from-home employees have the same sets of connectivity and productivity tools as their in-office counterparts will be essential.” Other predictions: (1) By 2023, 75% of grocery e-commerce orders will be picked up curbside or in store, “driving a 35% increase in investment in onsite or nearby micro-fulfillment centers." (2) Telemedicine will be a “permanent fixture,” with healthcare providers increasing spending by 70% on connected health technologies by 2023. (3) Nearly a third of restaurants using third-party delivery platforms will transition to “native delivery options” to eliminate third-party fees. (4) At least 30% of small and medium businesses will fail by 2021, sparking "a new wave of single-employee “microbusiness-powered and ecosystem-first disruptors" by 2023.