WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16, 2022 COVID REVIEW - PART III

 WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16, 2022 COVID REVIEW - PART III

So, any benefits from COVID-19?

Well - depending on your perspective, the Covid pandemic brought online ordering, online shipping into full prominence. 

Obviously, Amazon was a major leader in the online ordering and online delivery arena.  At my apartment complex, Amazon erected a delivery drop. If I order something relatively small (maybe up to the size of a microwave), it gets delivered there. I get an email announcement and a code to get into the storage area and bingo - the right box opens and I get my order.  No human touch, no knocking at my door, no possibility of somebody swiping my order from my doorstep.  Safe, secure, no (or very low) probability of COVID germs.  (As airborne germs can last for an hour or longer it is possible for the Covid virus that was sneezed on a box by an Amazon driver to linger on a box for a while.)

Essential personnel worked for the rest of society.  My HEB grocery store really picked up his order and pick up the process.  It also became hard to walk through the store as a dozen ‘pickers’ were filling orders.  When the order filling process was done, the customer was contacted that their order was ready, they pulled into a spot and texted their arrival and soon an employee would hustle the groceries to the customer’s car.  Again, almost no human contact.  

Other order filling occurred - Shipt, (which is owned by the Target company) would also shop and deliver for customers (thus saving on the customer driving to the store for pickup.).  

Obviously shopping online and delivery affected traditional retail shopping.  Many stores closed temporarily or had limited hours.  Changing rooms were closed (so a Covid infected person couldn’t sneeze and leave germs in a changing room).  

Delivery wasn’t totally without problems.  For traditional home delivery, the delivery company would leave the package on the doorstep - but neighbors (and even folks driving in front of your house) could see the package and there have been some misplaced packages - and maybe more stolen packages.

[Aside, I needed (wanted) new athletic shoes and ordered a pair without trying it on.  But, the product, while it was specified correctly, didn't fit my feet.  It was the right size (lengthwise), but not the right width.  And, the online company did accept returns without question.]

*****

Another benefit of COVID was the growth in “Work from home” (WFH) employees.  My son-in-law (who is a coder/analyst) found this was ideal.  I think he would prefer this as opposed to driving through traffic in the morning to get to work, and then fighting traffic in the evening driving home.  

Even my news reporter son did stories from his basement “studio”.  (I would smile when I saw the familiar walls of his basement!!).  He also had a long ‘boom’ microphone so he wouldn’t have to stand next to a person while doing an interview.  

Working from home has some tainted aspects.  Was the employee really working from home? Suspicious employers might turn in at times to see if the employee was at his or her desk and not doing the laundry or walking the dog.  

In general, most work from home employees were more effective than working from an office.  There were fewer interruptions as a coworker stopped by a cubical and talked.  Concentration was generally better.

And, these days of $4.00 a gallon (or more) gas, working from home might come back into vogue!!

*****

Our world changed from the Pandemic.  Online shopping increased.  Safer ordering and safer delivery methods occurred.  

Traditional shopping has changed - online ordering has grown, and while not quite the ‘norm’ yet, it is significant.  

*****

Another benefit from COVID is that research labs have perfected their methods to react to new viruses.  Will there be more viruses in the future?  Very (very) probably!!  Will we be better prepared to handle it?  I think so!!!

And, one more COVID discussion tomorrow!!!

LOVE WINS

Karen - March 16, 2022