Giving Compass' Take:

• Here are three industries that could take advantage of mobile innovation to help drive progress in a post-COVID-19 world. 

• How can donors support mobile innovation? 

• Read about the benefits of mobile access. 

In the age of COVID-19, mobile matters more than ever. Devices have become our lifeline, alerting us to breaking news, connecting us to friends and colleagues, and even digitizing daily tasks.

While our technology has brought greater convenience and a sense of structure in times of uncertainty, our increased dependency on mobile has revealed that thoughtful technology innovation is essential — especially as the world gears up to resume a sense of normalcy in the thick of a global pandemic.

Mobile is undergoing a rapid evolution, with effects that will be felt in weeks, months and years to come as cities reopen and the economy awakens. Personalized, one-to-one engagement between customers and companies has surged from "nice to have" to a service-oriented must for businesses to operate safely. In a world of social distancing, functionalities we once took for granted will become essential tools to help us conduct our lives safely, comfortably and happily.

Take FaceTime or Zoom, for instance. During social distancing, video technologies quickly filled in for face-to-face human interaction. This mobile technology expanded in utility — from conducting business and delivering telemedicine, to serving as the only human interaction one might experience for weeks.

Our phones and digital resources hold immense potential to ensure a safe and efficient return to "normal life" in cities. Here are a few sectors that should take advantage of mobile innovation for extra support:

  • Optimizing retail for a safe customer experience
  • Reimagining transportation and commuting
  • Controlling density at live events and conferences

Read the full article about mobile innovation by Coby Berman at Smart Cities Dive.