Page 40 - FDI Alliance International Magazine. Spring 2021 Digital Interactive Issue

THE FUTURE IS NOW

Everyone even casually observing the evolution The above jobs were already being displaced or pressure on businesses to adopt and integrate new
of technology and the pace of change attributed augmented at various speeds before COVID - 19 technologies more quickly to remain competitive.
to it, understands the obvious consequences and depending on the industry sector. For example, And, the workforce will need to face their own
sometimes more nuanced effects that technology more rapid displacement was occurring in the reality - current workers in almost all sectors and job
and all its derivatives is having on jobs. call center space, distribution, retail, banking and categories will find themselves facing change at a
transportation sectors. faster pace than may be comfortable.
Some of these effects have been swift. Others
have been rolling out over the course of years. However, in the wake of Covid-19, the vulnerabilities There are no new or magic answers for meeting
For example, before COVID, we noticed that of all these job categories became more these challenges. There is just the urgent need
some jobs were being displaced at a faster rate pronounced. The trends already pacing in many for business and education to collaborate on a
than others. Jobs in the Transactors category – a sectors accelerated remote work, e-commerce shared commitment to a defined set of solutions.
middle person work in real estate, finance and law and automation forcing even the slower-to-change A shared commitment to lead a transformation
were being slowly replaced by online platforms industry sectors such as healthcare, education and in how we think about work, how we think about
and ledger technologies like blockchain. Jobs government, to adapt. Fear of contact forced business and how we work together to grow our
associated with Compliance – due diligence high-contact jobs in entertainment, restaurant, economies in an equitable and prosperous ways.
achieved through investigation – audits, background retail, airline, cruise, attractions, sports, hotel,
checks and tracking, were being replaced by personal services and meeting/exhibits to respond We must make it possible and more comfortable
online platforms linked to the source or other with sharp business model pivots as a result of for workers to learn new skills without fear or risk
IoT technology linkages that capture data direct temporary shut-downs. Many of these business to their ability to support themselves and their
and blockchain that captures and maintains the adaptations will become the new normal and will families. We must develop real-time connections
records. In the category of Defined Process - likely result in fewer jobs in all these categories. between what business needs and expects with
jobs that tend to have a routine, a specific set of what education can and will deliver. We must
steps – manufacturing is the fastest to transition Anyone who thought we had time to process encourage businesses to cultivate, train and re-
to automation, robotics, drones. In the category and plan for the future are now faced with the skill their new and current employees. We must
of Data Analysis, Quality Assurance and Quality operating reality that the future is now. assure that all workers and students acquire
Control, AI and Machine Learning is already technology skills. And we need to do it now.
driving the change across the board in medical, This new reality and the fast pace at which
statistics, business, investment and reports. displacement will now occur will put additional

40. FDI ALLIANCE INTERNATIONAL