In their report of the World’s Top Global Mega Trends to 2025, Frost & Sullivan identified ‘Connectivity and Convergence’ as one of the most influential factors of our future. With 5 billion internet users and 80 billion connected devices worldwide by 2020, we will soon live in an eco-system of connected home, work, and city.
And we’re already seeing signs of it: Amazon’s Alexa allows us to remotely control smart devices like thermostats, lighting, and home security; governments and schools are pushing towards eGovernance, digital classrooms, and smart cities; and workplaces are relying more and more on cloud-based services, virtual commerce, and web-based collaboration tools such as monday.com and Confluence. The gradual disappearance of physical barriers also explains the sprouting of more and more co-working spaces, especially in Southeast Asia.
What does this mean for the future of work?
Have you heard of the gig economy? It’s where short-term contracts or freelance work replace permanent jobs.
There are already apps and platforms dedicated to the gig economy, such as Grab, Hired and PIXERF, where users can seek temporary or assignment-based employment. In an article for the Washington Post, Arun Sundararajan, a professor at New York University’s Stern School of Business, shared:
The quality of [full-time employment] has been dwindling, causing people to seek out new ways to supplement their full-time income. There is a lot more volatility in the world of work today than there was 20 or 30 years ago.
Your answer to taking on the gig economy and connected work
There are two main aspects of future work that you can leverage on: the gig economy, and the prevalence of web-based collaboration tools.
If you’re a photography enthusiast looking for a way to earn some extra income on the side, the best way to do that is to monetise your hobby. A sort of “virtual co-working space” targeted at unique Asia-centric visuals, PIXERF Missions are a great way to expand your skills with the added bonus of a potential cash reward for your great Asian stock photos.
And the best part is – there’s no need to give up your day job. It’s certainly one way to have your cake and eat it too.
What are your thoughts on the future of work? Have you had any experiences with the gig economy? Leave us a comment below to share!