Technology Brings New Approaches
Times have changed
Now that we find ourselves in the post-pandemic period, we see that most businesses are vastly different than before the pandemic, needing to adapt to new trends and customer behaviors that emerged. During this adaptive period, one of the greatest sources of both support and challenges for businesses has been technology. Let us take a closer look at how technology shapes industries worldwide.
Without a doubt, hospitality is an industry that has been among the most affected during this pandemic. Both the lodging and the food & beverage industries have gone through difficult times in the past two years. However, according to eHotelier (2021), besides the damages that COVID-19 has brought, it has also sped up hospitality technology:
“Last year saw an unprecedented growth in the adoption of digital technologies for hotels and the hospitality industry.” (eHotelier, 2021)
According to both Hotel Management (2021) and eHotelier (2021), one of the most common applications of technology, in almost all businesses now, is in customer relationships. In an effort to attract and retain customers, businesses focus more than ever on the individual needs of the customer by implementing tech innovations in order to provide personalized services, personalized communication, faster and safer services, touchless tech, AI assistants etc.
Phone apps have been developed for self-check-in, deliver food, socialize and so much more, bringing virtually any product and service to the customer’s door.
The second application, equally important as the first one, is internal business optimization.
Businesses focus more on automating daily tasks, training methods, using digital management systems, social media channels optimization (targeting, strategies, etc.), website optimization and so on.
Moreover, COVID-19 has drastically accelerated digital business models – Digital marketing has become more relevant than ever. According to Murphy (2021), 2020 should be dubbed “The year that the world turned digital.” Almost every element of our life appears to have gone online, from education to employment, to how we eat or how we shop. People were already using digital media and marketing all day, every day before the pandemic. COVID-19 has only increased our urge to interact with other people and brands online.
Innovation and technology play a major role in recovery and those who do not wish to innovate with changing times perish. (Hospitalitynet)
Therefore, it is a clear message that technology innovation and constant technological development is a must, for everyone who wants to be relevant in this new digital world.
What are we doing about it?
What about our academies? We have certainly learned a lot from the pandemic period, especially in terms of technology, and now we want to make sure that our students are tech savvy and prepared for what is coming next.
If last year students learned 100% online, we aim to continue offering experiences that blend physical and virtual environments, enabling students to study at their own speed, to some degree, where pen and paper are a thing of the past.
These are the added benefits that we are implementing starting with the 2021-2022 academic year, in terms of new technological approaches:
- We will keep our exams 100% online, except for practical exams.
- Each semester we will have a blend of online and onsite taught courses.
- We will actively develop and use our online learning platform, eCampus, to expand on course material, to set up debates and to set up assignments.
- Increased flexibility – so that our students can access the online courses from anywhere.
- Increased student autonomy – hoping that the combination of physical classes and flexible, online learning will inspire students to set their own goals, chart their progress, and figure out their own opportunities.
- Access to international lecturers from all over the world.
