Tag Archives: COVID-19

Study: COVID-19 Spurs Faster SMB Technology Adoption

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Though changes are not uniform, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has led many small and medium-size businesses (SMBs) to implement and accelerate technology-based changes, according to a SMB technology adoption study from Comcast Business.

The survey of almost 600 small- to midsize businesses (SMBs) found that despite the costs –86% have lost revenue – 78% feel they are prepared for another spike. About half have made changes: Forty-six percent have rethought how they do business, half have changed how they serve customers and 45% have adjusted how they collaborate and communicate.

The crisis has taken its toll. The survey found that 65% say that they are stressed and an approximately equal portion – 68% – saying that they have lost at least an hour of sleep per night because of the situation.

These firms are working to alleviate these challenges in various ways. Thirty-one percent say that they have deployed technologies that they wouldn’t have implemented otherwise and 23 percent saying they are using technologies now that would have taken one to three years to implement otherwise.

Forty-three percent of SMBs say that they are not turning to anyone for help. Technology companies have made fee solutions and offerings to small businesses, but 82% of businesses have not taken advantage. Among those who are reaching out, 29% are depending on business partners and 22% on industry peers.

A minority – 21% — feel they have resumed normal operation. A majority (53%) say it will take six months to a year to do so — and 23 percent say it will take more than a year. SMBs are adaptable, however: 87% feel more prepared for the future in general and 79% feel their tech savviness has improved.

While changes are not uniform, the sense of the survey is that SMBs recognize that business as usual is a thing of the past. “In a COVID-19 world, resilient small and medium businesses are embracing technology like never before, rapidly implementing key solutions to digitize the customer journey in an effort to improve sales in a difficult customer acquisition environment,” Shari Lavin, Research, IDC’s Director for Small and Medium Business, said in a press release. “While the solutions they need vary by business, reliable connectivity and the ability to collaborate underpin any key digital initiative.”

Study Reveals at Home Quarantine Behavior, with Tech Powering Much of It

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New research from Survey Monkey looked at how people are spending their spare time as they deal with various levels of constricted travel and physical contact during COVID-19. Unsurprisingly, 62% of respondents say they are streaming more TV, with 43% saying that they are watching new shows, while 18% watch programs they have seen before.

Survey Monkey asked 600 people whether they were following a stay at home order (83% were). Of those who weren’t, 12.5% were venturing outside because they are deemed essential workers.

The company posted a blog explaining its eight major takeaways.

The odd tale told in the show “Tiger King” made it one of the hottest shows of the past few months.  Yet the percentage of people who reported having watched it (38%) was only somewhat higher than the 35% of people who reported watching “The Office.”

The firm also asked people to rate leisure activities. Listening to music, at 66%, was tops. It was followed by reading (57%), video games and exercise (both at 47%) and baking (42%). Fifty-three percent of female and 30% of men had baked. Another divergence was playing video games: 66% of 18 to 29 years-olds had done so, in comparison with only 25% of those over 60 years-old.

Virtual experiences were popular across the board. Online games/ virtual board games was the most popular across all ages and income brackets. For those between 18- and 29-years of age, the second most popular was streaming parties. For those over 60-years of age, the second most popular was virtual tours of museums, aquariums or landmarks.

Hair cutting and cooking also generated differences: Half of women said they would consider cutting their own or somebody else’s hair, compared to 35% of men. Fifty-four percent of women said they would consider trying an unfamiliar recipe compared to 40% of men.

People also try to do good. Good deeds include supporting local restaurants (48%), running errands for someone in a high risk group  and reaching out to someone living alone (both at 36%), applauding essential workers (32%) and donating to a non-profit and teaching video conferencing technologies (both at 31%).

Communication was up, thanks to the pandemic. People reported talking more to friends (41%) and partners (40%) than before the pandemic. Sixteen percent of respondents were talking more to coworkers.

One Outcome of COVID-19 May be More Movies Skipping Theaters, Straight to VOD

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The COVID-19 pandemic will increase transactional video on-demand significantly, according to a new transactional VOD (TVOD) forecast from Parks Associates.

The firm’s “OTT Video Market Tracker” found that in the first quarter of the year 14% of all US broadband households used a TVOD service in the past 30 days, which is a five percentage point increase over the previous year. Examples of this type of service are Amazon Prime Video, FandangoNow and VUDU. The firm says that usage will spike as content – including early access to theatrical releases – moves to TVOD.

“The idea of streaming current in-theater films was once a concept from a proposed streaming service called The Screening Room,” Parks Associates’ Research Director Steve Nason said in a press release. “This service never officially launched, but the COVID-19 pandemic has pushed the concept behind it into reality. Many steps in content windowing were narrowing already, but the current shelter-in-place orders pushed the digital distribution of new theatrical content to the front to offset the lost revenue from closed movie theaters.”

The press release and report point out that Disney has expedited release of titles through its SVOD service Disney+. For instance, it released Frozen II three months before planned and added Onward more quickly than anticipated.

A decision for studios is if they should release theatrical titles straight to VOD platforms and services or push them back to premiere in theaters once the COVID-19 emergency abates, the researchers note.

FCC Eases Documentation for Low-Income Lifeline Program

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Consumers who have lost their jobs due to the COVID-19 pandemic now can more easily qualify for the Federal Communications Commission’s Lifeline benefits. The Lifeline program gives monthly discounts on broadband and voice services to qualifying low-income consumers.

The FCC’s Wireline Competition Bureau recently waived the requirement that consumers seeking to qualify for the program based on their income must provide at least three consecutive months of income documentation, through the end of June.

Under FCC rules, consumers can demonstrate eligibility for the Lifeline program by either showing that they participate in one of the established qualifying programs, such as Medicaid or the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or by showing that their household income is at or below 135% of the federal poverty guidelines.

Individuals who have lost their jobs during the pandemic may not be able to verify their income-based eligibility for Lifeline with three consecutive months of income documentation since their unemployment and related decrease in income began so recently. 

“COVID-19 has had a devastating impact on our economy,” said FCC Chairman Ajit Pai, in a prepared statement. “Millions of Americans have lost their jobs, and it is important that they have the connectivity they need to apply for new jobs, take online classes or get medical care via telehealth.  I’m glad we’re granting this relief today, which will help those who may have only recently become eligible for Lifeline to sign up for the program and stay connected to vital broadband and phone services during the pandemic.”

The FCC said it will monitor the situation to determine whether any additional extension of this waiver is appropriate.

The order extends the FCC’s previous waivers of the Lifeline program’s recertification, reverification, general de-enrollment and usage requirements until the end of June

FCC Moves Against COVID-19 Scam Calls and Texts

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The FCC has launched a page to help consumers protect themselves from scam phone calls and texts attempting to exploit the COVID-19 pandemic.

The page enables users to listen to real audio from scam calls that offer bogus free home testing kits, duct cleaning and promise help for diabetics who use insulin. The FCC also says that thieves are trying to gain personal and/or bank information by saying it is needed in order to process government-issued checks.

“We’re tracking scams and sharing information to arm consumers about how imposters use spoofing and other tactics to steal their money and their identity,” Patrick Webre, the Chief of the FCC’s Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau, said in a press release. “The FCC fights these types of scams through enforcement of its rules, but our primary goal is to be proactive so Americans don’t fall victim to these bad actors.”

FCC COVID-10 Scam Efforts

More information is available at the FCC Consumer Help Center and the FCC Scam Glossary. There also is a page at which to file complaints about scams.

The FCC offered six ways in which individuals can protect themselves from such scams.

  • Do not respond to calls or texts from unknown or suspicious numbers.
  • Never share your personal or financial information via email, text messages or over the phone.
  • Be cautious if you’re being pressured to share information or make a payment immediately.
  • Watch out for “spoof phone numbers.” Government agencies will never call you to ask for personal information or money.
  • Never click on links in a text message. If a person known to you appears to have sent a text that seems out of character and looks suspicious, contact them to make sure they weren’t hacked.
  • Check charities before donating. Do such things as calling or looking at the charity’s actual website before donating.