Emerging business sectors witnessing enhanced demand due to COVID-19

The COVID-19 epidemic and quarantine have changed the global economy and many industries in just a couple of weeks. The last few weeks have been a systemic shock for almost every company in the world. COVID-19 has changed many aspects of our economic and social systems, resulting in significant changes in the operations of businesses around the globe. While many industries have been negatively impacted by this COVID-19 pandemic, the challenges raised by it provide opportunities for a few industries that are seeing a rise in demand for their goods and/or services.

Below are a few areas where growth and investment opportunities lie.

1. Diagnostics

As the world fights the novel coronavirus outbreak, healthcare infrastructure and testing capacities have seen immense strain in efforts to prevent community transmission. Testing capacities for SARS-CoV-2are inadequate worldwide, and different companies are engaged in providing support in the form of training, technical assistance, and capacity building with an aim to enable access to accurate and high-quality diagnostics, microbiology tests, and screening for SARS-CoV-2.

2. Biologics Safety Testing Products

The molecular point-of-care test for the detection of COVID-19 can be used for rapid testing at the front lines. The test delivers fast results in a wide range of healthcare settings, such as physicians’ offices, urgent care clinics, and hospital emergency departments. These testing products are valued by clinicians and the scientific community for their high degree of accuracy. Portable molecular tests provide swift results for the qualitative detection of novel coronavirus infections.

3. Defense Equipment

During this pandemic, security companies, police departments, the military, and other entities are working hard to maintain law and order. While healthcare personnel take steps to arrest the spread of the deadly coronavirus, these professionals need security devices, firearms, ammunition, small arms, and similar equipment to keep the peace. It has been noted that sales for military devices around the world have increased.

4. Cybersecurity

As the novel coronavirus crisis continues to reach various geographical locations and affects the operations of their government and businesses, cybersecurity remains a key requirement. The use of electronic devices by businesses and government departments handling sensitive information is at an all-time high. At the same time, there is a need for corporate assets to support remote working arrangements through the proper deployment and configuration of remote services, corporate VPNs and two-factor authentication methods.

5. Home Delivery

The sudden rise recorded in demand for home delivery services can be attributed to many people staying indoors and practicing social distancing. The introduction of contactless delivery methods has ensured that these services are safe and convenient for customers, delivery persons, and restaurants & related businesses. Providers like Deliveroo, Postmates, JustEat, Delivery Hero and UberEats have recorded an increase in demand for their services.

6. Biometrics

Facial &voice recognition and mobile biometrics continue to be implemented around the globe in order to support social distancing & work from home for the reduction of COVID-19 transmission. In such times, touching any public devices may threaten our very lives, creating a need for touch-free authentication methods. Advanced biometrics-based authentication solutions eliminate the need for physical contact with shared devices.

7. LEDs

Deep ultraviolet LED arrays are helping quell the coronavirus epidemic. Emitter array skill not only antibiotic-resistant germs such as MRSA but also dangerous viruses such as the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2). This technology is used to decontaminate doctors and support staff when they enter or leave isolation wards in their infectious disease protective clothing.

8. Over-the-counter Drugs

This pandemic has boosted demand for medicines including OTC and other common drugs. OTC drug development will help enhance and safeguard public health during this emergency. Demand for OTC medications has increased as retailers rush to stock up medicines that help deal with the symptoms of COVID-19.

9. E-commerce

As the COVID-19 pandemic initially spread, people began responding by stocking up essential goods. Such instances of ‘panic buying’ resulted in a boom for internet shopping sites and opened new opportunities for online retailers, supermarkets, grocery stores, order management solution providers, and other similar businesses. Medical supplies and household essentials are seeing increased sales via online mediums.

10. Personal Protective Equipment

Disposable masks for clinical or personal use are wearable air purification devices that cover the mouth and nose. These masks are a good method for preventing the inhalation of airborne viruses, including the novel coronavirus.The demand for wearable air purification devices is expected to rise substantially due to the current global pandemic.

11. Packaged Food

Many consumers are stocking up on packaged foods for use during isolation. A rise has been recorded in demand for ready meals, processed foods, organic packaged foods, and prepacked foods. The safety & preservation measures taken by packaged food manufactures ensures the prevention of foodborne illness and regardless of long storage times.

12. Protective Gloves

As the novel coronavirus spreads around the world, demand for disposable gloves for personal and clinical use has increased.Surgical gloves can help protect individuals from COVID-19, especially those who use public facilities or engage in activities that lead to coming into contact with potential contamination. Many countries are facing a severe shortage of protective gloves due to a sudden spike in requirements during this crisis.

13. Logistics

The transportation of goods remains authorized across jurisdictions worldwide. However, the pandemic has had a direct impact on freight capacities, rates, speed of processing operations, and delivery times. The movement of goods has stopped in many regions. To fulfill the demand for essential goods during this pandemic, the global logistics industry needs to expand its infrastructure for trucking, warehousing, parcel delivery, fulfillment, pallets, transportation security, and related services.

14. Ventilators

As the coronavirus crisis accelerates globally, the world needs more ventilators to fill the gaps in critical-stage healthcare. However, the production of ventilators is more complex than it seems to the layman, leading to a lack of ventilators in hospitals right now.A drastic shortage of ventilators remains an imminent threat in many parts of the world. As the main symptoms ofCOVID-19 are respiratory, ventilators, spirometers, oxygen concentrators, and other breathing devices are needed to control the oxygen and airflow from the patient’s lungs.

15. Telehealth

With social distancing quickly becoming an important step in the fight against COVID-19, telehealth is increasingly being seen as a key technology for efficient and safe communications between clinical services and patients. With a heavy shortage of healthcare professionals in many parts of the world and imbalances at the frontline of the COVID-19 epidemic response, telehealth can play a direct role in managing demand for healthcare services worldwide. An increase can be seen in demand for electronic and online health services such as telemonitoring, health apps, and healthcare software.

16. Vaccines

Several pharmaceutical companies are in the race to discover a vaccine for COVID-19. These companies need information about virology, antivirals, data on the viral structure, virus removal and inactivation solutions, drug delivery and testing tools, and personnel to help with licensing and related activities in order to create a vaccine that will reduce the morbidity and mortality of the disease. A vaccine could be a game-changer in the fight against COVID-19.

17. Video Conferencing

Companies have seen a sudden spike in demand for telecommunication solutions since the novel coronavirus began spreading globally. The sudden rise in teachers, corporate employees, and other professionals working from home is driving demand for videoconferencing, online collaboration tools, WebRTC, Mobile VoIP, and chat systems. Lockdown orders across the globe are also boosting demand for these solutions as companies rush to ensure minimal impact of the pandemic on their productivity.

18. Social Media

People are staying at home and have plenty of time to consume digital content. As a result, more people are engaging with social media platforms like WhatsApp, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram in order to stay connected with friends and family while in self-isolation. This has led to social media companies showing a significant increase in worldwide usage.

19. Video on Demand

With people across the world seeing lockdowns and social distancing measures take hold over their lives, home entertainment companies like Netflix and other video-streaming services, YouTube, online television, and videogames are seeing increased demand, especially by teenagers and young adults.

20. Virtual Reality

Virtual reality (VR) solutions allow users to ‘walk into’ anyplace, real or fictional, from the comfort of their home. VR and other new-age technology are seeing a sharp increase in demand during the COVID-19 outbreak. Companies providing VR solutions and related goods and services are speeding up their product lines due to unprecedented demand for virtual reality, augmented reality (AR), simulation, mobile augmented reality and mixed reality (MR) technology.