Report: COVID-19 drives massive surge in interest for remote working and video conferencing across Hong Kong

The COVID-19 crisis has changed how people work. In Hong Kong, interest in remote working, video conferencing, eLearning, and EdTech has seen a huge surge during the pandemic.

Communications agency ClearStory International has compiled its Q1 COVID Tech Trend Report aimed at helping businesses, industry stakeholders, and journalists gain insights into the historic speed and scale of interest that has catapulted previously obscured tech trends into public prominence.

The report identified 7,815 articles published by Hong Kong media from 2 December 2019 to 5 April 2020 that featured mentions of tech trends. According to the study, there was a 10,600% upsurge in interest for remote working, while interest in video conferencing increased by 4,733%.

Globally, there was a 17,500% increase in interest for video calling; while interest in remote working increased by 14,000%.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted entire industries and created a significantly different dynamic for those in business and media globally. As governments, companies, and societies scramble to adjust to a new reality, this report provides insight into a shift in the most talked-about sectors since coronavirus took hold, " said James McCann, CEO and founder of ClearStory International.

In other areas, the category of eLearning and EdTech saw a 1,200% increase from its low point in December; while virtual events and conferencing increased by 1,100 %. Other key areas mentioned in the report include the gig economy (which increased by 575%), health tech, med-tech, and bio-tech (377%), and eCommerce (222%).

"Technologies that were largely seen as complementary have now become essential to business continuity while others have been rapidly deemed surplus to requirements as budget cuts bring business needs into focus. The sudden impact of the crisis and its effects on the world have shaken public sentiment across politics, technology, and business, rather like an earthquake posing long term ramifications," McCann commented.

The agency is planning to release a wider analysis covering more than 15 countries from June to December 2020 as the crisis unfolds.

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