The world is going through a difficult time due to the unprecedented expansion of coronavirus, COVID-19. In fact, most countries have declared a state of emergency at some point over the last few months.
This situation has created the need to take drastic measures to prevent the spread of this virus. One of these measures, which widely started to be put into force around mid-March, was to restrict the free movement of citizens.
Although health undoubtedly comes first, and therefore all government actions must be focused on guaranteeing it as much as possible, we cannot lose sight of the fact that the economic impact of the coronavirus can be and has been devastating for many in the business community.
According to various international economic publications, the global economy will experience a loss of almost 1 trillion dollars, due to decreased mobility and reduced commercial activity.
Given this scenario, where infection in the workplace is a great risk, and if we also take into account that borders have been closed and travel is only allowed in cases of extreme need, organizations have already begun to seek viable alternatives to remain connected to their headquarters, customers and/or suppliers.
The natural inclination to this search is clear: to use the great advances in online technology, a tool that can help enormously not to paralyze production in an integral way and to favor remote working to the max.
Remote connections: Solutions to prevent workplace contagion
While some disasters are beyond human’s control, technology plays an important role in providing real and effective alternatives for damage control, both economically and in terms of health.
If we talk about one’s well-being, it is indisputable that technological advances have allowed us not to have go to our workplaces, and therefore, the risk lowering the risk of spreading the virus. And economically speaking, the possibility that companies can continue to operate remotely, without having to stop their activity completely, is a big step towards making the consequences of the coronavirus smaller.
The main challenge organizations face right now is to stay connected and reduce the impact on their daily business. And in this sense, one of the solutions is simple: work from home.
But often, depending on the type of company, the services it offers and the interactions it has with clients or employees, takes more than a laptop and a mobile phone to perform business tasks from home.
Meetings with workers from different locations, events with clients, employee training, networking, etc are just some examples of the activities that the coronavirus has limited since they are usually face-to-face activities that would increase the risk of contagion to the maximum. Which is exactly why more and more of these in-person events are being canceled across the globe.
However, in a scenario that seems very dark at first glance, technology, specifically virtual technology, has managed to become a solution to the economic impact of the coronavirus: thanks to its innovative proposals, it allows companies to continue developing their activity without having to travel to any type of event.
Thanks to this, physical interaction is eliminated and replaced by an online and immersive experience, which allows companies to interact with their attendees without the need to travel or be there face-to-face.
Virtual events as an alternative to reduce the economic impact of the coronavirus
Online events are part of our lives much more than we are aware of, and much more so now, during this time of uncertainty we are living. In fact, even government meetings have been held remotely, without any of the participants having to travel.
And this is precisely the strong point of technology: to prevent events from being cancelled, replacing them with other very effective formulas that do not put us in danger. And if online platforms allow for great advances, virtual technology deserves a special mention, since it is capable of offering experiences that exceed the limitations marked by physical events.
Virtual events, like those hosted in Virtway, can connect thousands of people simultaneously from any type of mobile device, and if accompanied by 3D applications, your participants can also interact with voice and movement.
But the benefits of virtual meetings for the corporate environment go much further than that. While the elimination of physical proximity is currently top priority to prevent the spread of the virus, there are other benefits that companies can get from this type of event, not just now but also in the future:
- Cost reduction:
Something that nowadays is even more important. And one of the advantages that virtual events bring is the great reduction of costs in comparison with physical events, since the expenses of hiring spaces, travel and trips are eliminated, as well as all those related to the stays of the assistants, catering or necessary material.
- Increased audience and visibility:
Virtual events eliminate geographic and time barriers, two of the biggest limitations when organizing an event. They also increase visibility: when it comes to promoting the event, the digital environment allows you to reach a greater number of users with a much lower investment.
- Immersive and unforgettable experiences:
The main challenge of any corporate meeting is to achieve total attraction over the attendee, and online events have been designed by and for innovation. But for these experiences to be truly immersive, virtual worlds have brought an essential element to business educational entertainment techniques: 3D avatars.
They are a unique way of bringing any corporate event to life, as they are graphic images that represent a person in a virtual world. The possibilities of interaction of a virtual avatar are infinite, and can in fact hold conversations and speak through voice over IP in a natural way, exchange any kind of information, and even express their emotions through animations, such as applause or greetings.
The threats and consequences of the coronavirus have forced the cancellation of many business events that have caused significant economic losses. If companies want to stop this trend and keep their business from being paralyzed by COVID-19, virtual events are the answer: close environments without being closed.
