The world never expected that a single virus would bring every sector of life upside down, but it's mostly the unexpected that changes our lives. It's been two years since a pandemic hit every corner of the world. The tiny virus did not just target people's health but it shaked the grounds of almost every new online business and already established one's out there.
There were lockdowns, social distancing, during which many businesses gave up whereas few made the best out of digitalization. The most affected sector was the service industry, not able to keep up with the services many service industries became vulnerable and got shut.
Now that life is getting back to normal the service industries are gradually recovering from it and getting back to the "new normal".
Things in the service industry have not remained the same as they were before covid, so in this article we will see the Post covid service industries.
By affecting people's health covid did no good to healthcare services sector even, it gave a hit to almost every health department, due to lockdowns and social distancing as a precaution, beside services for covid patients, general health care service remained closed. The new moms especially faced this issue. As they were not able to go out for exercise walks etc. And it was a really tough time, many moms thought of launching various blogs online and helping others with their parenting tips.
There were no regular body check-ups, or detailed body examination, so as the restrictions started to get uplifted people started to rush back to get their health care services.
Telehealth
Telehealth was not considered legit before the surge of covid-19, but during the pandemic, it really helped health services as people used to get basic symptom check and medication virtually.
Now even things are getting normal with time but telehealth is here to stay, people have found it more convenient for themselves, as it saves time as well as financially it is more suitable.
Labs on move
One of the services that was started by every medical laboratory during covid was home-lab testing service, a team would come to home take samples and give results, people have liked this to stay with them in the post pandemic world too, some labs may charge more for a home service, but people have loved the fact that it made their life convenient and saved them wasting their time on a lab visit.
Increase in free standing facility
After covid the trend of free standing facilities has increased, people have started to trust them and their services with early diagnostics, as well as its comparatively cheap to get service from them rather than a hospital.
For around two years of pandemic people had to compromise a lot on beauty services, though there were no social gatherings or hanging out with friends yet people missed out on pampering themselves in spas and salons.
DIY skincare
In the post-pandemic world people have started trying different DIY skincare masks at home, making them with basic things. Girls have also started experimenting with DIY nails and can somehow achieve the look close to that of in salons just at home now.
Cleanliness and Safety
Since people have started rushing back to salons and spas their cleanliness and safety concerns have increased as the physical contact increases multiple times during beauty services and the threat of virus still lingers on.
Massage spas
In post covid world massage spas trend has increased, as after two years of being a couch potato, people needs their muscles, postures and energy levels to feel normal again and massage therapy is the only way to do it, covid restricted anything that caused human touch, so one thing people are soaking themselves in is surely a body massage.
Online Appointments
One of the things that has changed in the beauty industry post covid is that both consumers and service industries have moved themselves into the digital world.online appointments can also be done through emails , you can advertise your services or business through email marketing , so you can approach your customers more easily .
Now clients prefer to book their services online through an app or website, saving their time and disappointment of cancellation at the last minute.
At-home Salon Service
The trend of beauty services at home also has a surge, people book their services on an app and the expert comes home being well equipped and one can have services done in the comfort of home.
No social gatherings, hangouts, or parties made restaurants lose their hustle, it gave them a big economic blow, but they developed alternate ways to keep the work going in any way possible. But, that also changed post covid restaurant service industry.
Online food deliveries
In the covid world, almost everyone's phone has one app that is a must and that is a "food delivery app". In any kind of confusion about what to eat these apps appear as life saver.
Now that life has gone back to being busy and normal, one can not always have time to go to a restaurant for food so the online food delivery option has made life easier.
Outdoor sitting
During partial covid-lockdowns, restaurants were allowed to stay open with only out-door sitting, as it gets less rushy, but the restaurants with no outdoor space were forced to keep it closed.
Therefore, now people have started investing in open-cafes, outdoor dinings is now a new trend. Rather than people sitting in halls they prefer aesthetically pleasing outdoor spaces.
Drive-through
The restaurant services have started to follow the trend of drive-through service and consumers also have shifted their behavior, and preference towards liking it. They find drive-through service very time saving and convenient. Before covid only few restaurants had a drive-through. The ones without it suffered a lot during the pandemic, so now restaurants have started taking it more seriously.
Oh, that's one thing I am sure most of us missed, it's amazing and so relieving to be able to travel and explore, but covid made it really hard for us. The travel restrictions, repetitive covid testing everything was a hurdle.
As now there is breath of relief all around, the travel services are getting back in business.
Online Bookings
Travel has been made easier with finding and booking tickets online, every travel service has almost adopted an online booking feature, not just tickets but finalizing hotels or resorts too became a thing in an online world.
Expensive Traveling
As much as people are eager to travel, the travel industry is eager to cash their business.
The oil prices have skyrocketed in the post pandemic world therefore traveling has become more expensive than ever before but still the impact shows that this did not halt the decision of people from traveling . Despite expensive traveling the air ports are flooded with travelers even causing shortage of airport staff.
Visa Restrictions
Every country wants to open the doors of tourism again after covid, therefore many countries have eased their visa restrictions, which is causing a surge in tourists.
The vaccination drives have helped lower the surge in covid patients, yet the hotel services are preparing and changing themselves to cope with future outbreaks.
Touchless technology
Hotel gathers so many people, no matter how much you try to avoid you will get in contact with many things, now hotels are installing touch free technology products like
- Touchless lobby or gym coolers.
- Touch-free check in systems.
- Touch free heating or ventilation systems all dealt with a mobile app.
Conclusion
Service industries are gradually making a comeback after a rough patch, but they have to adopt the changed trends over the course of two years of pandemic, and get adjusted with the "new normal".
