Email marketers who wonder whether their tech stack will continue to support them during the pandemic should consider the findings in GlobalData’s 2020 Emerging Technology Trends study. 

The report identifies several technologies that have helped businesses survive the COVID-19 crisis. 

• Cybersecurity is seen as the most important technology,. Over half of the respondents say it has played a significant role in tackling pandemic-related issues — an imperative given the number of people working at home. 
  
• Cloud computing has helped 83% of companies to survive. Several tools have become ubiquitous during the pandemic, including cloud-based collaboration software like Zoom, Slack, Microsoft Teams and Google Meet.
  
• Automation technologies have helped over 75% of firms to survive — ranging from factory robots to robotic process automation (RPA) software.

In addition, businesses have also relied on the Internet of Things, 5G, artificial intelligence, augmented reality and blockchain.

“COVID-19 is one of the key themes that keeps chief executives awake at night,” states Cyrus Mewawalla, head of thematic research at GlobalData.

Mewawalla concludes: “With a second wave of COVID-19 a possibility and an army of employees still reluctant to return to offices and factories, technologies such as cybersecurity, cloud computing, 5G, AI and the Internet of Things will continue to play a critical role until the threat of COVID-19 is removed, or measures are put in place to make employees feel more confident about returning to work.”

GlobalData surveyed 1,776 senior executives in firms across 24 countries.