Be it history, literature, or science, humankind has always shocked itself with various discoveries, inventions, and ground-breaking technologies like AI, Cloud, AR/VR, Big Data, and Robotics. This is the result of the great industrial revolution, which has led us to the ‘21st-century Digital Revolution’. This is also the outcome of great brains like Nikola Tesla, Alan Turing, Steve Jobs, Elon Musk, and many others.
Of course, this is the best of human intelligence and the beginning of something called the ‘age of machines’ These technologies have been saving us a lot of effort, cost, time, and trust. Today there is no field that is not disrupted by technological advancements. A lot of companies have driven their offerings towards the IT niche, which has brought a transformation in the world. This is the primary reason employees today are working in the service sector, contributing to 63% of total global wealth.
Let us dive more into the platforms that are being transformed by technology:
Retail
We have already seen a change in the way people shop today. Earlier, we had to head out for the things that we needed, which consumed more of our time and effort. This has been replaced by e-commerce – the online way of shopping and getting products delivered to our doorstep. Moreover, we are even transforming towards less human-efficient ways where digital payments can be made by just scanning the products, and you are on your way. Amazon Fresh is a good example of it, where a combination of AI, Computer Vision, and Data Sensors are installed, and customers are charged for the items they can pick and walk out without even standing in line. That’s technology for you.
Supply Chain
The field is surrounded by the terms – Inventory, stock, freight, and transporting it to the different parts of the world. This is a job where a lot of human labor is required to keep track of things which can become a nerve-racking task for companies. This is where technological tools like RFID and smart tags come into the picture. These technologies can keep track of the inventory, inform about any damage, and can keep up with managing the entire supply chain requirements. The world seems much simpler when these technologies save a lot of human effort and time.
Healthcare
It’s no longer news that the healthcare industry has adopted technologies such as AI, IoT, Machine Learning, and its applications. Healthcare industries are always trying to improve quality, reduce costs, and ensure patients have quick access to care. These technological tools are already being used to detect cancer and can provide individuals with health information through a chatbot, SMS, or by using voice assistants like Alexa and Siri. There are tech-based solutions that could potentially reduce the occurrence of medical mistakes. It is amazing to think that technology can manage the workings in such a complex environment as healthcare and maintain high standards.
Financial Sector
The boom in the financial sector can be seen due to the emergence of the financial and technology–fintech industry. Banks, financial institutions, investments, and everything related to finance have been transformed by technology. The result is cashless payments, safer transactions, and trust built upon the advancements of cybersecurity in the field of finance.
Education
The technological impact can also be seen in the education sector, with the introduction of Ed-tech companies and learning rising among the nations. Learning and Teaching with new aspects of technology help to build a culture of innovation among the students. It is used in the form of 3D pictures, films, online classes, notes, and many more ways. This is the revolution we see not just in learning but in teaching too.
Leadership
The transition of technology has also affected leadership at all levels. Meetings, Presentations, and Decision-making all come under the umbrella term of MIS – Management Information Systems. Now that the technological need and awareness have increased, leaders have changed their game as well. The use of technological tools and equipment can be seen to increase in the event of the global pandemic, where organizations have to shift to work from home. This was the tech transition that brought leaders and employees together on the same page.
Last Words
As Wendy Mass rightly said – “If there was no change, there would be no butterfly.” Similarly, we as humans have to go through a transformation at every stage of our life. It is through this transformation that we have come to digital times. So let us all cherish our achievements and keep contributing to making this world a beautiful place to live. No doubt there will be flaws, like the human-machine conflict or the impact of machines on our lives. But I think if we use all our intelligence to make humanity thrive and for the better good, we can reach a better solution of creating such innovative platforms for future generations to come.
