A Changed World

Bill Gates says that 50% of business travel will disappear post Covid-19. He is probably right. He usually is.

One of our consultants, that has been involved in arranging more Company Voluntary Arrangements than anyone else, believes it also.

Our consultant used to travel constantly to meet clients in every corner of the UK.  Now all selling is done on the telephone or computer.

I have known our consultant for many years and he agrees that Bill Gates’s prediction may even be underestimating the drop in travel.

“It’s so obvious that travel will be dramatically reduced” , says our consultant.  “Pre-Covid-19, virtual Skype meetings were seen as disrespectful and meetings without a full working attire was considered unprofessional – PUT YOUR TIE BACK ON!   How things have changed!  A Work-Life balance now rules but the need for speed is managed by more virtual meetings with reduced wasted time on the road. It has become acceptable to be casual and to take shortcuts, as long as the delivery of the product is 100% up to scratch.  The stuffiness is going and being replaced by precision deployment of services and goods.”

The electric car is here and along with Government support, will replace traditional cars. It is inevitable that a charge per mile tax will be introduced in 2021.  Some argue that the road tax will stay if it includes all cars.  However,  with the climate change initiative that has been introduced, the UK Government needs to reduce mileage and congestion and keep as many people as possible at home on zoom. So maybe we’ll have both taxes!

Whatever the outcome, the Covid-19 mess will have changed the world more than any other event in the last 100 years. The important issue that you need to address is – Can you find a way to take advantage of this?