Digital revolution and mobile technology careers

In my last post on the future of work I  mentioned briefly the pervasive influence of the mobile phone.

In this post, I am exploring the use of mobile technologies (phones, tablets, laptops etc) and ways that these can provide the means of a future career or job.

Mobile technologies and the internet revolution are affecting the way people right around the world are communicating (obviously!), and also the way they work, shop, gain an education and run businesses.

I suspect that the changes we are presently witnessing because of the digital revolution and mobile technology are minor compared to what is to come.

Consider, for example, the education system in many countries today. Children at school, even at a very young age, because of the availability of school laptops and computers, are learning and living in an environment where there is little awareness that there is a technological revolution taking place.

For them, easy access to technology as aids to living are a normal part of living. What will their influence mean for future lifestyles, careers, education and leisure. Interesting times ahead!

Disruptive technologies

What is disruption technology? The short  answer…….one that displaces an established technology and shakes up the industry or a ground-breaking product that creates a completely new industry.

By any measure Airbnb is an example of the utilisation of a disruptive technology – the mobile phone.

By all reports traditional hospitality establishments are definitely feeling the effects of the competition.

Hilton hotels, as you are probably aware, is a well known worldwide business. Established in 1925, it is probably the most recognised name in the hospitality industry.

Compare this with Airbnb. It is also a household name as a provider of good quality accommodation. It has already surpassed accommodation nights booked than for the Hilton international hotel chain.

It took just 8 years to achieve this……thanks mainly to mobile technology.

So, I started looking at bigger picture changes brought about by the digital revolution which have already had a major impact on society, and careers.

Making money using your mobile technology

I’m taking a guess that in this digital age most people are still interested in making money!

So, when you have a couple of minutes to spare, do an internet search along the lines of “how to make money with your mobile phone”.

There would be thousands of opportunities listed, however for my own research purposes ……..I looked at maybe a dozen sites and found some of these opportunities to make some extra cash.

The ones listed below seem to be commonly featured in articles.

• Gigwalk – involves performing simple field work, such as mystery shopping, delivering items, testing mobile apps, taking photos, and more.
• Field Agent – scan barcodes, mystery shop, check prices, take polls, explore neighborhoods -get paid from $3-$12 per task
• EasyShift – pick up a quick (one- or two-minute) shift and you can earn a couple of bucks
• There are numerous schemes where you get paid to shop, walk around and so on
• Making money from your  smart phone photos
• Texting

Typically these seem to be for people who want to earn a bit of pocket money……but I suspect they wouldn’t provide for a comfortable or reliable standard of living.

 Digital revolution and phone apps

Anyone who has a mobile phone will be using pre-loaded apps on their phone.   And…….. most likely will have also purchased various phone apps.

In case you don’t know, an app (short for application software) is simply a piece of software, or a program which is designed to fulfill some purpose.

If you have the ability to develop a useful or popular app there is some serious money to be made. There are millions of apps available, you just need a way to make yours stand out.

Unfortunately, most of us don’t have the creativity, the design skills or tech know-how to design an app that goes viral.

Following are just two examples of how a phone app has the ability to transform the way business can be done……….Airbnb and Uber

Impacts on traditional hospitality and tourism business

Let’s compare the traditional hospitality/accommodation business:

• Hilton own and have to maintain their properties

• The hotels have to be fitted out:
  • room furnishings, facilities and equipment
  • kitchens, restaurants and bars need appropriate equipment, utensils etc
  • and the list goes on…….just think of all the overhead costs in setting up and maintaining a 5 star hotel
• Hilton also have massive staff overheads:
  • front office
  • bar and restaurant staff
  • housekeeping staff
  • administrative staff
  • and so on…….

Airbnb doesn’t need to do any of this.  There is no need for them to have bricks and mortar establishments. In fact for several years they continued to operate the business from the loft apartment where they rented bed space!

Their role is simply to connect buyer and seller of accommodation services.

Digital revolution …….more flow on effects

Hospitality establishments have to pay for a range of taxes, and for various types of licences and permits to stay in business. This is an overhead.

But what about the governments and other regulatory authorities/agencies who collect these taxes?

The taxes they collect, in turn, pay for the employment of people who work in those organisations. Those same taxes, levies and permits also fund the various services which are provided to the community.

If the hospitality sector, as we know it today, continues to be affected by disruption technology (the mobile phone), what happens to the collection of taxes and levies which enable employment of people, and provision of community services?

I don’t have an answer. But……..if it is no longer profitable for the likes of the Hilton chain to operate, their hotels will close, and people will lose jobs!

Uber

Another very quick example. Uber provides a service which is available via your mobile phone.
Uber consists of private car owners who are able to offer the equivalent of a taxi service which is:

• usually faster
• cheaper
• more convenient than a traditional taxi

A friend was recently in New York and used both Uber and a traditional taxi service. The taxi driver admitted that Uber was putting them out of business.

I think you can understand why this is happening.

Consider though the larger impacts:

• A New York taxi medallion (needed if you want to own and drive a taxi) costs US$1million
• If you drive for Uber you’re using your own car, and Uber’s mobile platform to make bookings – no million dollar outlay
• I did a quick check on how many taxis there are in New York – 13,605
• If the traditional type of taxi service no longer proved viable and they all went out of business this would mean a loss of revenue to the City of New York US$13.6billion

How will the City of New York replace this stream of income to pay salaries of city employees, and to pay for various community services.

Digital revolution – summary

Airbnb and Uber are just two examples of how quickly traditional employment options and career pathways are being changed by disruptive technologies such as the mobile phone, tablets, and laptop computers.

I want to make the same points as I did in the future of work post:

• everyone of us needs to keep reinventing ourselves
• we have to get used to the idea of being responsible for driving our own careers and taking responsibility for the security of our incomes and cash flow
• we can either sit on our hands and wait to be impacted, or we look at, and seriously evaluate the opportunities that really are available in the digital economy