It is safe to say that 2020 has been one of the most challenging years for startups and businesses worldwide. If you were planning to start a business, 2020 was a complicated time to enter the world of entrepreneurship. Some industries got completely shut down due to the consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic. Yet, other fields thrived in this new environment.
Online businesses and the e-commerce industry experienced significant growth throughout the last couple of months. Regardless of which field you chose, here are five major startup trends you should implement in 2021 to see better results.
Building a Remote Workforce
Perhaps the most important trend to keep in mind is the shift to working remotely. Many companies in 2020 have transitioned to working remotely to adapt to the current situation. As challenging as it appeared at the beginning of quarantine, working remotely proved beneficial both for workers and businesses. Many companies have made a successful transition to online collaboration. Online tools such as Microsoft Teams and Zoom were very helpful. Also, they created a workforce environment that suits employees from any location.
Regardless of the outcome of the pandemic, the trend of working remotely is here to stay. With that in mind, startups should prepare for remote work in 2021 because it will determine their success in the upcoming years.
Virtual Care
The current situation has made lowering the exposure to Covid-19 the major concern for businesses. It was especially important in the healthcare field. With that in mind, many private and public healthcare services and startups have turned to virtual care and telehealth trends in hopes of minimizing physical contact while still providing a good service. According to studies, 80% of primary care services can be delivered virtually, assuming an efficient virtual system.
Forrester Research predicted that the number of virtual healthcare users would come close to a billion by the end of 2020. It is important to address the need for better cybersecurity solutions such as VPN implementation, especially when building advanced virtual systems. If telehealth falls in line with your business, make sure to secure your network with proper cybersecurity measures.
Robotic Delivery
Another trend that has emerged way before the pandemic is robotic delivery. The current situation in the world has put this idea on the fast track. It allows delivery without human contact, which goes along with the social distancing rules. Yet, keep in mind that this trend requires expensive technology and a budget that provides room for unexpected expenses. Its implementation might not be doable for newer and smaller startups. Those with the budget for fancy additions such as this will have an opportunity to stand out on the market and experience far greater growth.
As you might have expected, China has already jumped on this trend. For example, such apps as Meituan Dianping use autonomous vehicles for grocery deliveries.
Online Education
Online education has gained a whole new meaning during 2020. Almost all public and private schools shifted to online classes. Besides the traditional schools and educational systems, private educators gained an opportunity to expand and reach more people online.
This has created a massive opportunity in the education market. Startups and organizations can take advantage of the growing demand for online education. If your business is going in this direction, consider taking online education seriously in 2021. The demand for remote schooling, courses, and classes will continue to grow.
Artificial Intelligence
Last but not least, artificial intelligence has become one of the fastest-growing trends in the last couple of years. AI solutions can help businesses reduce physical contact. Also, it’s a great addition because it uses advanced algorithms to carry out various tasks. AI is used for security monitoring of public areas, as well as data collection and analysis.
Regardless of which industry you’re in, you will find at least one or two uses of AI in your business. Consider investing in these advanced technologies to stay relevant in 2021.
Bringing It All Together
The huge shift to remote working has created various opportunities for startups to rise above the competition. As challenging as this period might seem, we should look at it as an opportunity to adapt to new technologies and turn to new directions. It can be beneficial in terms of business growth and development.
Don’t forget that the lessons we learned in the last couple of months will help us build resilience to new threats and challenges in 2021.
Photo by Al ghazali on Unsplash
