The COVID-19 pandemic has brought various changes to our lives: lockdowns, social distancing, and remote working are only some of these. It might still be early to start discussing about a world after the pandemic, while the COVID-19 is still raging on in many nations, and specialists believe we might witness other waves. But we do understand that some elements are going to change forever.
Some companies will take advantage of the new truth and will thrive. Others might find it more challenging. But, in any case, managers will have to make choices in the near future about how to adapt to this condition.
What are some of the differences that we will observe?
1. Remote functioning will become more popular.
2. Social distancing actions might stay with us for years to come.
3. Investors will demand from industries to become “pandemic proof,” and even “disaster-proof.”
And these are only some of the simple ones. We should also expect some businesses to suffer and others to flourish.
How AI can support
Artificial Intelligence and data science normally help businesses in the next ways:
1. Improve productivity. E.g., find incompetence in a supply chain, and change them.
2. Correct decision making through predictive analytics.
3. Automate processes. There is a standard ground here with robotics.
The role of managers in the pandemic world
Managers will come face to face with some very difficult choices soon. Some businesses might have to sack workers. Other businesses might have to improve their business models. Some businesses will have to shut doors. But in each change, there is also a chance.
For many years, some companies have been moving their feet, resisting much required digital change. Now, there is not much selection. The companies that have taken the right steps towards achieving data science and AI will reap huge advantages.
So, how can managers best prepare for this? Business Attorney in Cleveland, Mark Ondrejeck said it comes down to 3 things:
1. Owning a data plan in place.
2. Building the right culture for using data science.
3. Building a vision of a data-driven company.
As a Cleveland personal injury lawyer, I’ve always needed to use technology to help move the practice forward. I’m very familiar with using the cloud so that my files are on a variety of devices and as technology has improved throughout the years, my firm has been adapting and growing. I’ve found that it is very necessary to leverage technology to be competitive in the marketplace and I’ve leveraged my firm’s technology to be competitive with a lot of firms. I’m now able to do work by myself that I would not have been able to do in the past.
I started out with a home office and would meet clients at a coffee shop, which worked out well. Since COVID, we’ve had to make quite a bit of adjustments. Now, I generally try to talk to my clients over the phone. If need be, my firm allows people to come into the office with a mask. Although I have tried doing client meetings via Zoom, not all my clients have been open to using this technology.
Court Adaptation to Technology
Since COVID, courts have been more willing to engage in leveraging technology for the benefit of the entire legal system. Zoom, in particular, has made everything more efficient, in my experience.
Today, we are all using Zoom to get work done, such as court hearings and school board meetings. From my experience, this has been saving time and making life easier. I recently did a deposition via Zoom which not only saved me time, but also my client’s money. There are many ways we can adapt the legal system to make it more efficient and to leverage these technologies to make the practice of law more efficient by reducing the workload for attorneys and saving clients’ money.
Although we are having full court hearings on Zoom, the courts are still trying to figure out how to do trials. They have been reluctant to use video conferencing software for trials, which creates a large backlog and work to do. This has caused delayed trials because our courthouse is not set up for proper social distancing, and this has not been easy to deal with. For example, on certain days, lines to enter into the tiny courthouse elevators are huge, making social distancing impossible.
Client Adaptation to the Changes
Businesspeople are happy with the shift in technology. They are all adapting to using technology, whether it is Zoom, Microsoft Team, or whichever platform they’re using in their business. That’s certainly not a problem. However, there are some people who are not accustomed to this, such as retail store owners– people need to come in and have contact. It’s a case-by-case basis.
Although some of my clients have been reluctant to using this new software for meetings, I believe this advancement in technology saves everyone time and money. While I give my clients alternate options, I believe the use of technology in the practice of law is only going to advance and expand. I believe technology is going to be the new way business gets done.
Advice for New Attorneys
The best advice I can give to new attorneys is to reach out to other attorneys in the community. It’s very important to receive hands-on, real work training and how to deal with certain cases. If you are a new attorney that’s never worked for another experienced attorney, you’re not going to be able to learn how to handle more complicated cases, such as business and contract cases.
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