Home is the new office: PM Modi reflects on changes in professional life amid COVID-19

Last Sunday Prime Minister Narendra Modi shared an article “Life in the era of COVID-19” in his LinkedIn Profile, where he outlined five essential ingredients for business model in the post COVID-19 era.

“Coronavirus has significantly changed the contours of professional life. These days, home is the new office. The Internet is the new meeting room.For the time being, office breaks with colleagues are history. I have also been adapting to these changes. Most meetings, be it with minister colleagues, officials and world leaders, are now via video conferencing,” PM Modi said. 

Referring to post-coronavirus world, prime minister noted that work place is getting Digital First.

“It is technology that demolishes bureaucratic hierarchies, eliminates middlemen and accelerates welfare measures. Today, the world is in pursuit of new business models. 

India, a youthful nation known for its innovative zeal can take the lead in providing a new work culture,” he said.

The need of the hour is to think of business and lifestyle models that are easily adaptable.

Doing so would mean that even in a time of crisis, our offices, businesses and commerce could get moving faster, ensuring loss of life does not occur. 

Embracing digital payments is a prime example of adaptability. Shop owners big and small should invest in digital tools that keep commerce connected, especially in times of crisis. India is already witnessing an encouraging surge in digital transactions. 

Another example is telemedicine. We are already seeing several consultations without actually going to the clinic or hospital. Again, this is a positive sign. Can we think of business models to help further telemedicine across the world?

Efficiency:

Perhaps, this is the time to think of reimagining what we refer to as being efficient. 

Efficiency cannot only be about- how much time was spent in the office.

We should perhaps think of models where productivity and efficiency matter more than appearance of effort.

The emphasis should be on completing a task in the specified time frame. 

Inclusivity:

Let us develop business models that attach primacy to care for the poor, the most vulnerable as well as our planet. 

We have made major progress in combating climate change. Mother Nature has demonstrated to us her magnificence, showing us how quickly it can flourish when human activity is slower. There is a significant future in developing technologies and practices that reduce our impact on the planet. Do more with less.

COVID-19 has made us realise the need to work on health solutions at low cost and large scale. We can become a guiding light for global efforts to ensure the health and well-being of humanity.

We should invest in innovations to make sure our farmers have access to information, machinery, and markets no matter what the situation, that our citizens have access to essential goods. 

Opportunity:

Every crisis brings with it an opportunity. COVID-19 is no different.

Let us evaluate what might be the new opportunities/growth areas that would emerge now.

Rather than playing catch up, India must be ahead of the curve in the post-COVID world. Let us think about how our people, our skills sets, our core capabilities can be used in doing so.

Universalism: 

COVID-19 does not see race, religion, colour, caste, creed, language or border before striking. 

Our response and conduct thereafter should attach primacy to unity and brotherhood. 

We are in this together. 

Unlike previous moments in history, when countries or societies faced off against each other, today we are together facing a common challenge. The future will be about togetherness and resilience.

The next big ideas from India should find global relevance and application. They should have the ability to drive a positive change not merely for India but for the entire humankind. 

Logistics was previously only seen through the prism of physical infrastructure – roads, warehouses, ports. But logistical experts these days can control global supply chains through the comfort of their own homes. 

India, with the right blend of the physical and the virtual can emerge as the global nerve centre of complex modern multinational supply chains in the post COVID-19 world. Let us rise to that occasion and seize this opportunity,” he said.

Prime Minister exhorted people to take care of their health, suggesting to try yoga as a means to improve physical and mental wellbeing and download Aarogya Setu Mobile App that leverages technology to help prevent the possible spread of COVI-19.

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