Structural change is coming post Covid19

Apr 08, 2020

We touched on some early signs late last month, and now it’s unmistakeable: Structural change is coming in the aftermath of Covid19:

CFOs plan to permanently shift significant numbers of employees to full-time remote work (Gartner via Forbes)
CFOs look to ramp automation investments amid pandemic (Wall Street Journal)
40 CXOs weigh in on the post-pandemic playbook (Constellation Research)

Other developments we’re watching:

Some U.S. fast-food workers are finally getting face masks and emergency sick days. Now the challenge is to win permanent improvements in pay and benefits (Bloomberg)
Data can be a powerful tool against coronavirus, but privacy should remain a priority for democratic governments (Financial Times) … See also: Anonymized data is a myth. And we’ve known for a very long time (Vice, MIT Technology Review, Journal of Applied Physiology) … And: Google admits it cannot create anonymous data
The most prevalent U.S. job when Covid19 hit was cashier/sales clerk. Now Amazon wants to eliminate all those jobs (Vox)
The automotive industry may lose its DSRC spectrum permanently, which would be a fatal blow to current smart-car plans (EE Times)
What shape will the recovery take? … See also: Bernanke doesn’t expect a “V” (CNBC, SeekingAlpha)

DEEP TECH:

China is #1 in patent filings, ending the United States’ 40+-year reign (Reuters)
“Boring AI” may be the real lifesaver in this pandemic (Fortune)

MEDIA & TELECOM:

Zoom sued for fraud over privacy, security violations as Taiwan bars all official use of the app (Bloomberg) … See also: Zoom’s 15 minutes are just about up
Social gaming services like Twitch and Discord are booming (Bloomberg)

HEALTHCARE TECH:

FINANCE:

The NYSE will try anything to get everyone back in the pool (Financial Times)
Companies rush to tap equity markets for cash to ride out downturn; investors expected to favor groups that entered crisis with strong balance sheets, although AirBnB just raised $1 billion … See also: Downgrades flood junk bond market with ‘fallen angels’ (Financial Times)

PUBLIC POLICY:

Pelosi says next stimulus round will ne $1 trillion or more … See also: McConnell says Senate will vote to pass more small business aid on Thursday (Bloomberg, CNBC)
U.S. grants GE license to sell engines to China for new passenger aircraft … See also: U.S. chip makers reportedly push back on export controls to China (South China Morning Post)

And finally… How to look good on camera, according to Tom Ford. (New York Times)

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