Technology serves people and makes life more pleasant. The natural law of evolution states something along the lines of “Organisms don’t change because they want to, but because they have to. While some places in the world have a culture of embracing change, others are more traditional and ride in the curve of the mass majority. Up to a few months ago, from the Tech industry, the question we aimed to answer was, “how can we use technology to help our business adapt to a disruptive and fast-changing technology-powered world?”

Curaçao will be totally different in 2030 compared to what we knew in 2020, especially when it comes to a workforce and employment. New work models are in place, which is essential for channeling the change. Job creation is a constant on the global agenda, as are policies are intended to ensure greater protections for both workers and their employers. The most successful will utilize a firm understanding of demographics, shifting job roles, and evolving demands for new skills, which will leverage disruption as a means to design ideal contemporary workplaces. The areas we will focus on include job creation and entrepreneurship, disruption to jobs and skills, new work models, labor market demographics, social protections, training and certification systems, and inclusive labor markets.

Now, fast-forward several months, the disruption is biological, medical, and nature due to the pandemic. At its core, disruption is disruption. It doesn’t matter if it’s technological, economic, environmental, political, or a pandemic. The result is that it will have ‘forced’ us to adapt to survive.

For Curaçao, it means businesses that for years have avoided taking their processes online are now rushing to provide their services through online portals, WhatsApp order, and pick-up services. Businesses have opened their product catalog to the internet, meaning prices are now also publicly available at the click of a button, meaning consumers are now empowered to compare prices at their discretion.

For consumers, it has meant a giant push for online banking (even for the elderly) and making better use of online platforms like Facebook and WhatsApp, for vital tasks in everyday life, and not just for social engagements. Both the consumer and the producer are embracing technology, not only casually exploring it. Mind you, the technology was always there, though perhaps the willingness to adopt it was maybe lacking.

Should the main focus be on the Tools or the Mindset? Aside from a natural disaster, how else can we gain acceptance and create support for new technological shifts to be adopted, in our local community? The elimination of red tape is important. If the people experience the effects of adopting technology for limiting red tape, support will grow, especially if it saves money. A few examples include the following elimination/digital processing of ‘zegelkosten’ (saves time and gasoline, which I think has more value than the taxes generated), electronic metering of electricity (hopefully resulting in lower tariffs), pay road tax from home.

The pandemic has shown that the internet is a basic need. All houses are connected. This is mandatory by law. The low also regulates low internet tariffs.