The coronavirus pandemic has disrupted traditional processes in an instant. Because many things are no longer running as they used to, companies and people are having to find new ways. The virus is forcing Germans to embrace digitalization. A commentary.
Yesterday, Bitkom published a study on the state of digitalization in the German economy. According to the study, only a good fifth of companies consider the German economy to be among the global leaders in digitalization, around half in the middle, and another good fifth among the laggards. If the companies surveyed had to give themselves a grade for their own digitalization, a C- would be just about satisfactory. But the resistance to digital innovation in Germany is beginning to crack.
Turbo digitalization born out of necessity
The survey was conducted before the coronavirus crisis. A lot has happened since then. In just a few weeks, Germany has undergone a turbo-digital transformation. Even conservatively managed companies had to abandon their on-site culture overnight and send employees to work from home. Suddenly, collaboration in teams also works via remote tools and video conferences. And although remote access often had to be set up hastily and there was no time to order the appropriate hardware, many companies are surprised at how well everything is working.
A human resources manager I know literally couldn't believe that she could continue to do 99 percent of her work from home. A fortunate coincidence made working from home possible: In recent weeks and months, the company's paperwork has been replaced by digital processes. One can only imagine how much smoother the transition would have been if many German companies hadn't resisted digital work organization for decades.
Startups are therefore finding it much easier to transition from office to remote work. Most startups already collaborated digitally on a daily basis before COVID-19. Presence is only necessary where it's absolutely necessary: in workshops, laboratories, and other locations that can't be replicated digitally.
“A lot will change, if not everything”
The current crisis is also helping digital tools achieve breakthroughs in other areas: More customers are finally paying in supermarkets with cards, smartphones, and watches—and even contactless. Restaurants are offering online food delivery out of necessity. According to another Bitkom survey, two-thirds of Germans suddenly want online doctor consultations. There's even a debate about whether digital movement traces should be used to contain the epidemic. Fraunhofer Institute is working with the Robert Koch Institute on an app, which allows volunteers to anonymously record their contacts with other people. This makes it easier to trace chains of infection.
Vodafone’s Germany boss, Hannes Ametsreiter, sees the Corona crisis as "the greatest boost for digitalization in Germany ever." Calls in Germany have increased by 50 percent, and internet data traffic by 40 percent. virtual founders' breakfast from Bits & Pretzels last Sunday he said:
“A lot will change, if not everything.”
The technophobia of many Germans has given way to a pragmatic engagement with the possibilities of digital technologies. All it took was a global pandemic of unimaginable proportions. Let's hope we can preserve some of this for better times after the epidemic.
