A Reflection on Digital Business Models and their Relevance in the COVID-19 Pandemic.

In participating in the BEMM129 module, I have developed not only a greater understanding of digital business models, but confidence and curiosity.

New Confidence and Thirst for Knowledge

I had previously been apprehensive to share my thoughts and opinions for debate on an online community. However, through my necessary participation in module debates and the wider community on a MOOC titled “Building Your Career in Tomorrow’s Workplace”, I quickly gained confidence coming to value outside questioning, encouraging me to re-evaluate my views and challenge those of others. As such, in hindsight I feel these two-sided interactions were highly effective and satisfying, as they motivated me to broaden my knowledge, and further research topics discussed in module discussions, classmate’s blogposts and on MOOC, with the last I feel was particularly pertinent as a soon to be graduate.

Sourced from https://www.gettyimages.co.uk/illustrations/debate?family=creative&license=rf&mediatype=illustration&phrase=debate&sort=best

Applying My Knowledge to Current Climates

The current COVID-19 outbreak has caused unprecedented changes, from forcing circumstances of remote working to the rapid digitalisation of services to survive. As such, I am interested to discover if my colleagues’ opinions have since changed. As reflecting upon my below comment on a MOOC topic, I believe my opinions are supported by the role of the police during this pandemic. Evidently, heightened police presence has become necessary to enforce government ‘lockdowns’, supporting my view that their roles are not replaceable by technology. However with Italian police utilising drones for street-patrols to ensure civilian compliance, how technology can supplement human limitations is also demonstrated.

Additionally, reading Mengmeng’s blogpost has prompted me to consider the limitations of digitalisation within services. As seen below I drew attention to the inability of booking sites to deal with cancellations, highly relevant given the complex consequences to travelling plans created by this pandemic.

**Mengmeng’s blogpost on the Rise of the Digital Economy and Tourism**

Further, looking to Nico’s blogpost I also find among my social circles that demand for online retail has notably increased during ‘lockdown’. As such, I have since altered my opinion that appearing ‘accessible’ is detrimental to luxury brands, instead deliberating, convenience may instead heighten their brand image.

**Nico’s Blogpost on Farfetch: A model for success through Business Models in Luxury Retail**

Notably, when researching and applying for future job roles, I will utilise the knowledge learnt from this module, to consider how these roles or industries will be impacted by digitalisation, for example the role of marketer in Nicolette’s blogpost and further by the transition towards a circular economy, and how in my professional capacity I can encourage this transition.