Digital has never been so important

Digital has never been so important

As expected, Jersey has now entered into ‘lockdown’, with schools closed, non-essential workplaces shut and Islanders told to isolate at home.

There is one thing which is allowing many of us to continue to work and also connect with our friends and family, and that’s digital.

Whether it’s video-calling loved ones, remote learning for our children or keeping up with important business meetings and work, digital connectivity has never been more important.

The speed at which companies have had to digitally transform shows that all companies can, should, and must be digital.

Over the past few years I’ve heard many local businesses, including but not only retailers, say they can’t provide an online presence because customers prefer to come in store, or it simply wouldn’t work for their business.

The last few weeks have shown just how mistaken that approach was and the speed at which some have now moved online proves just how simple and cost-effective it is.

Our local fishermen are a case in point. They may have lost their usual markets in Europe, but by going online they’ve found buyers for their catch in Jersey which is keeping their businesses and families afloat and feeding Islanders.

Likewise, companies which value face-to-face relationships have had to find new ways to carry on those connections, all completely doable, safe and environmentally friendly.

Digital identity and signatures are becoming mainstream, ‘Zooming’ is now not just for Generation Z and their virtual parties but has become the buzz word for family quiz nights and office meetings.

Technology that many over the age of 21 thought was complicated and a little bit scary has proven to be easy to use and very accessible.

Meanwhile, schools and universities have gone from the classroom and lecture hall to virtual teaching, and parents and grandparents have seen this and it’s opening their eyes to what they too can learn online.

We might be limited in what exercise we can undertake, but we are delighted to have been able to facilitate a partnership between local digital health and fitness company Soulgenic and Jersey Sport’s Move More campaign.

The excellent app from Soulgenic will be made available to every Islander so that we can all get some physical and mental wellbeing.

I’d like to see things go a stage further with more remote medical monitoring being introduced to ensure that vulnerable people are able to access healthcare without endangering themselves or overloading the health service.

I would also like to see this use of digital tools continuing well past the COVID-19 crisis end and I’m hopeful it will. I think mindsets have been changed, and ultimately this will have a positive long-term benefit on our environment.

We are lucky here in Jersey to have a highly connected society with fibre to the home and telecoms companies who have joined together to offer a free upgrade to 1GB speeds, something the rest of the world is envious of.

In addition, in the interests of equality, any children who don’t live in a home with existing broadband will be offered a free connection to ensure they can still undertake learning for the duration of the COVID-19 outbreak. Make the most of this connectivity and explore the opportunities that are out there, not just for now, but for next year and beyond.

You can find out more information at digital.je/connected-jersey.

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