Our last blog discussed the effect that the Covid-19 pandemic had on the healthcare industry. This week, we will be looking at how the pandemic affected and continues to affect the Information Technology industry. We will discuss how the pandemic shifted the IT industry and how companies and professionals responded to the problems and tasks specific to their field.
Impact of Covid-19 on Information Technology
When lockdowns began, internet usage soared. People needed to socialize, work, and facilitate much of their everyday life via technology. This put a lot of strain on developers and information technology professionals alike. While developers tackled bugs and optimized platforms for the heightened use of their programs, IT professionals dealt with an unprecedented upturn in data and information management requirements.
Many industries converted to fully remote or hybrid work during the pandemic. This transition was largely facilitated by the IT departments of such companies. They helped the other employees set up home offices, created systems to manage company info (VPNs/data vaults), and set up and maintained supplemental communication systems (MS Teams, Zoom, workspace management). Each of these processes is integral to every staff member’s ability to succeed in their remote work. This meant that a lot of businesses had to bolster hiring and training for information technology professionals throughout the pandemic.
The Industry’s Response
When the pandemic pushed people indoors, the information technology sector worked tirelessly to keep the world running. Companies made large investments to improve their data management and information processing systems. They hired lots of professionals to help redesign how their business would work with such a strong dependence on technology. These initiatives led to a great increase of hiring in the industry and served to professionally develop many of the young individuals entering the field throughout the pandemic.
The information technology industry grew throughout the last few years to prove its ability to handle an increasingly tech-reliant world. Though no process can be perfect, IT professionals took creative and determined measures to provide support for all kinds of virtual systems. They also continuously optimized them to better suit the users and companies who serve them.
Settling Dust and Future Outlook on Information Technology
While some businesses used WFH or hybrid structures temporarily, others noticed benefits in the practice and chose to retain them after concerns of Covid-19 decreased. For these companies, the work of successfully operating remotely will never be done. These companies turn to infrastructure managers, infosec specialists, and general IT support staff to keep their business safe and their employees thriving in a remote setting.
Even companies that abandoned WFH after the lockdowns fortified their information technology departments. This is especially relevant to companies that have digital users, such as eCommerce- and media-focused industries. Even though the company may have returned to the office, many of their customers (users) have not. This means that the company must be aware of their target demographic and maintain their systems accordingly, which demands robust IT efforts.
The Role of Staffing Firms in Information Technology
Staffing firms have long supported the information technology industry, providing trusted professionals to maintain IT systems and build the tools of the future. When the pandemic called for enormous levels of IT support and innovation, staffing firms were there to assist. Since many of the firms had been serving IT-focused clients for years, there was a pool of trusted and experienced professionals to employ for project-based consulting and direct hire roles.
Development of the pandemic was uncertain, creating a lot of issues for companies trying to plan for the future. Staffing firms lessened this struggle by finding candidates more quickly and effectively than a company could internally. The talent search portion of projects would take significantly less time and they could trust incoming employees to be vetted and backed by staffing firms; this meant that companies could feel more secure in their operation and planning.
Staffing firms have adapted over the pandemic to service new and innovative roles in the industries they work with. As work-from-home business continues to unfold and progress, new problems will arise, requiring talented people to solve them. Staffing firms will be there to lighten the burden of finding the right candidates for the job, calling on their industry expertise and dedicated personnel to help their clients.
About Us
blueStone Staffing is a Certified Woman-Owned IT Staffing Company. We were founded in 2002. One of North America’s premier staffing firms, we assist mid-tier to Fortune 500 clients. We find talented candidates that can help complete your project on time and within budget. Our company is transforming the staffing industry. blueStone has excelled over the last 19 years, becoming the vendor of choice for many of the Fortune 1000 companies located in the United States. We hope to be the consultant that you trust your professional IT project needs to! We will surround you with meaningful attention. Our team creates long-term relationships with our clients, candidates, and associates. In brief, we help great people execute their vision.
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