In this our August 2020 Community Chat, and with two members of the Caribbean tech community, IT professional and CEO, Steven Williams, and Tech Maven, Ingrid Riley, we discuss: did SMEs let a good crisis (COVID-19) go to waste; and can digital nomads and remote workers resuscitate the Caribbean region’s tourism industry?
This episode is also available in Apple iTunes, Google Play Music and on Stitcher!
The novel coronavirus, more commonly known as COVID-19, has forced all of us to re-think many aspects of our lives. In the business space, many organisation were confronted by questions about the degree to which they had been leveraging technology, and whether or not their business models were robust enough to handle remote work and measures implemented to restrict in-person interactions.
In our August 2020 Community Chat podcast episode, we discuss some of the changes ushered in by COVID-19 from two perspectives. First, with respect to Caribbean businesses, and thereafter, country-wise, with a focus on the severely challenged tourism industry.
Have SMEs let a good crisis go to waste?
Although most of us would acknowledge that OCVID-19 has made our lives topsy-turvy, as the saying goes, there is opportunity in adversity. During the curfew and lockdown phases that occurred a few months ago, and to varying degrees, organisations had to get creative. For some, they had to tweak their business models, whilst for others, certain lines of business had to be abandoned, as they were no longer viable.
However, as Caribbean countries have reopened for business, our guest, Steven Williams, has observed that instead of continuing with initiatives that better leveraged technology – which had become a lifeline during the lockdowns – many businesses, especially small and medium enterprises (SMEs) have reverted to their pre-COVID-19 posture. More importantly, they appear not to be taking the opportunity to make their businesses more robust, more digital, and capitalise on the considerable gains that could be realised, as we continue to navigate our way out of the pandemic.
Steven Williams is the Owner and Executive Director of Sunisle Communications Inc., which does business in Barbados as Sunisle Technology Solutions. Sunisle is tech solutions company, with a particular focus on security, network IT management and business continuity.
Can digital nomads and remote workers resuscitate the Caribbean region’s tourism industry?
Due to COVID-19, and the closure of ports worldwide, including in the Caribbean, the hospitality and tourism sector were among the hardest hit. Although ports across the region have re-opened, globally, we seem to be on the cusp of a second wave of infections, resulting in people being reluctant to travel, which is delaying the recovery of the region’s hospitality and tourism sectors.
However, recently Barbados announced that it will be modifying its immigration policies to welcome digital nomads and people who might wish to work remotely, for up to a year, in Barbados. Further, it would appear that other Caribbean countries might now want to follow suit.
Fellow digital nomad, Ingrid Riley, is thrilled that the Caribbean region is more actively focussing on digital nomads and remote workers. It is a concept that has been embraced by many countries, such as Bali, Costa Rica and Colombia, but had not been previously entertained by many Caribbean countries. Thanks to COVID-19… and desperation, they are prepared to target that overlooked segment of the travel industry, but are they too late to the party?
Ingrid Riley a digital media entrepreneur, award-winning tech blogger, podcaster, event producer, digital nomad since 2007, trendspotter and keynote speaker. She is the Founder of Rebel Grrl Media, a digital media and events company, focused on disrupting old Caribbean narratives by creating and distributing digital content and experiences that reflects what she calls “the New Caribbean emerging”. She is also the Founder of Silicon Caribe Media, and the Editor of the award-winning technology blog, Silicon Caribe, which focusses on the future of digital in Caribbean business.
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Select Links
Below are links to some of the organisations and resources that either were mentioned during the episode, or otherwise, might be useful:
Image credits: Laura Hoffmann (flickr); S Williams; I Riley
Music credit: Ray Holman
