November 9, 2020

Post-COVID tech skills that are in high demand

7 min read

For the years leading up to COVID-19 and New Zealand’s first lockdown, tech skills have been in shortage. Employers have continually been looking for specialised skills across IT to keep up with transformation and innovation. The skills shortage has driven upskilling, encouragement for students to choose tech as a field of study, and employers looking overseas for talent. New Zealand’s tech community has never been larger or indeed more diverse, with career development not just possible but practically required to support the breadth of technology needs across industries.

When the Level 4 Lockdown came into place late March 2020, our work life changed instantly. Tech staff worked from home, virtually meeting and accessing systems remotely. For many, this period revealed just how practical working from home was; many employers have opted to maintain remote working post lockdown for part of the week. And with our borders closed, immediate recruitment of IT skills will focus solely on homegrown talent. This presents a big opportunity for individuals with high-demand skill sets to leverage into excellent roles and salaries.

As businesses emerged from this lockdown and started to help rebuild the economy, technology continued to play an important role. COVID-19 looks to be an enduring challenge, shaping the ways we work for years to come. Let’s look at some roles that are becoming more important to support these new ways of working.

Cloud

Cloud computing, be it storage, networking, web-based software or server solutions has been rapidly growing over the 2010s as robust solutions like AWS take the load (and cost) off businesses otherwise relying on local infrastructure. While at one point the notion of the cloud came with concerns around security, the maturity of the industry has meant organisations can enjoy secure, fast and reliable cloud software, platform and infrastructure. The New Zealand Government has even outlined its preference for the agility of secure cloud-based solutions.

For many organisations, the cloud transition has not yet happened. This may be due to a number of reasons, such as the need for complete control over data and systems. For others, there’s simply not been a strong enough business case to make the switch. With COVID-19 sending a chunk of the workforce home to work, remote access to systems, data and communications is simply now a requirement. As organisations previously reliant on ‘in office’ staff make the transition, new opportunities are coming to market for IT professionals with cloud skills.

Given that COVID-19 was so immediate, many businesses are left exposed to incomplete remote working solutions. Cloud computing expertise from architecture to maintenance and even procurement can help these businesses close that gap, with clear understanding of business requirements and solution capabilities. Experienced Change Managers should also look out for opportunities relating to cloud/remote transitions as larger more complex organisations look for additional reassurance during the migration. Once in place, a business working in the cloud will require a range of disciplines to fully work ‘in the cloud’ including DevOps, programmers, database specialists, architects and of course security.

Security

Auckland has seen a significant increase in demand by employers for Security Architects, to build, test and maintain computer systems to ensure they are resilient and safe. Part of this senior, problem-solving role includes business continuity plans in the event of an unforeseen event – like a pandemic. The role of a security architect requires staying at the forefront of security standards and flaws within platforms and software, to help businesses protect against hacks and breaches.

This growing demand for security architects in Auckland (as well as Hamilton and Wellington) indicates that COVID-19 has surfaced the need for security architecture in preparation for potential long term remote working staff.

Staff working remotely does take some control away from the employer and their IT infrastructure team – home WiFi networks and internet connections the most typical of these. With some organisations mandating ‘work computers’ and a controlled suite of systems, risks can be reduced. A Security Architect will assess and design a remote working approach resilient to cyber attacks and educate the organisation on good security behaviours.

Along with security architects, NZs demand for expertise will extend to security analyst roles, in the areas of internet, network, cloud and mobile security.

Data

The management, analysis and protection of data collected or managed by businesses is a changing landscape with data being accessed from more places than ever. Business’ collection of customer data including contact tracing information will need to be protected by secure systems and handling practices. As large datasets are accessed and analysed outside of the office – at home or on the go – storage of data will need to be built to quickly and securely provide access. Organisations looking to make careful decisions will continually rely upon accurate data, particularly within an economy with less room for error. As such, we expect growth in data science, analyst and intelligence demand over the coming year. And as the shift to remote access continues, senior expertise in data repositories and warehousing will be needed to support infrastructure for a post-2020 industry.

Management of big data has steadily increased over the past decade, with new qualifications emerging to meet the market’s need. In a COVID-19 tech world, the data scientist will be even more important to make sense of new and changing customer data and behaviours

Virtual Project Management

But what about the people side of the tech sector? Arguably this area has been the most affected by COVID-19, with collaboration, sprints and stakeholder meetings all occurring virtually during lockdowns. The demand on project managers, product owners and delivery teams to keep communications high online has certainly required an adjustment.

Agile methodology has a number of rituals like stand ups that previously involves in-person contact; teams have found ways to replicate this digitally and benefit from the structure and organisation that Agile provides. This includes:

Online Kanban boards, e.g. Miro.
Video conferencing standups, e.g. Zoom meetings.
Reviews, reflection and retros.
Simplifying approach and comms.
Handling adaptation and scope changes.
Efficient, digital stakeholder management.
Keeping sprints delivering.

We’d suggest that project managers look to build a remote capability into their skillset and/or surface this within their application for roles as project managers, coaches, product owners and scrum masters who’ve adapted and thrived during lockdown could find themselves highly attractive to employers seeking a digital-centric approach to agile.

COVID-19 and our work behaviours

The lockdowns in New Zealand have been a test for Kiwis. We’ve found a level of flexibility and resilience in ourselves that we might have not otherwise known was there. Much like the country pulled together to eliminate community spread of the virus, many teams in businesses came together and problem-solved their way through large challenges.

COVID-19 showed us that when pushed, tech-centric companies can still function without working in close proximity. While of course we’d prefer to be in contact with our colleagues at least part of the week, the enforced remote working has opened the eyes of many employers when it comes to productivity and ‘working from home’. Some businesses have even made the decision to officially transition staff to part home, part office arrangements.

To see businesses provide flexible working arrangements as the norm has some exciting implications for the industry. We’ve learnt how to feel connected when working remotely, how to juggle children and work (most of us have probably met a few of our co-workers or clients’ kids on VC by now!) and how to produce great work without being in the building. And potentially now we may see smaller workplaces, making room for more businesses in our CBDs.

On the flipside, the risk of losing the work/life split by having everything at home shouldn’t be ignored. Without a commute to and from work, we may soak up that time and work late because it’s easy to. Employers and employees will have to work to maintain a healthy balance and keep to traditional start/finish times where possible.

The more remote and flexible working becomes standard, the greater need for talented tech staff to accommodate this without compromising the security or performance of NZ businesses. Homegrown talent with the expertise required by the market can expect to command a higher salary, particularly without the international job seekers able to apply until the global pandemic has been brought under control.

Are you someone with these skills?

We may have opportunities in high demand for you to take the next step in your IT career. Chat with our team who can help you leverage your skills and experience into a new role. Keep an eye on our IT Jobs section where you’ll find a broad range of roles at all levels. And if you require help getting your CV or Cover Letter ready, head over to our tips and advice section.

Technology’s potential role in NZ tourism’s recovery

7 min read

Technology has been part of tourism dating back to, and well before the internet age. Marketing, sign-in systems and tourist experiences themselves have relied upon technology to keep operators relevant and desirable for travellers. With the world rocked by COVID-19, borders have tightened and New Zealand’s tourism industry has been greatly affected. Without the millions of tourists entering Aotearoa and spending, operators are forced to either close or find different ways to keep revenue coming in.

As the recovery from COVID-19 progresses, technology is continually being looked to as an answer to challenges created by social distancing and safety requirements. One look at video conferencing app download statistics and COVID-19’s influence of tech is clear to see. So how might technology and tourism work together in New Zealand to ensure recovery happens as fast as possible? We explore some of these areas today.

Virtual Reality

Virtual reality and tourism have been connected long before 2020’s events. The immersive 360 degree experiences enabled by VR have been used both pre-travel as a way to market places, and as part of the tourist attraction itself (think theme parks and museums). Even our coolest little capital Wellington has received the VR treatment.

Virtual reality isn’t just a format for travel shows, airports and tourist attractions anymore. With the emergence of Oculus Rift, HTC Vive and Google’s own affordable Cardboard, VR is accessible in the comfort of our homes more than ever.

The use of VR tourism during a lockdown mindset is multifaceted. Those with itchy feet to travel looking to plan up a storm could use 360 video experiences to properly scope out destinations and build an itinerary based upon which locations they enjoyed in VR. Tourist operators can even include call to action (CTA) within VR previews so prospective travellers can book straight away.

Then there’s the experience itself. Adventures like extreme sports, caving, diving, theme park rides, museums – all present opportunities to develop VR equivalents of their paid in person products. If tourism brands can do this well enough, an international market is still accessible as a paying customer – even if the total revenue isn’t comparable with pre-COVID levels. Tech professionals with an interest in or existing skills in VR development, could find their skills required to bring Kiwi tourism into the digital age. Even if customers spend a smaller percentage on a tourism experience remotely, VR gives the opportunity to reach more people and will help sell the in person experience in the future once global tourism is back.

Contact Tracing

As COVID-19s full impact and duration is still developing, one thing is for certain – safety precautions around the spread and containment of Corona Virus is going to be essential. Contact tracing systems that help to place individuals in public or businesses can assist health authorities in managing and contacting individuals who may carry the illness. Tourists and operators’ staff can participate in using a system such as an app and QR codes placed at locations around the country.

Many of these apps are being developed currently, and tech professionals in the app development space (such as React Native) may find work opportunities helping refine and build these platforms. For the solutions at tourism sites, sign in platforms may need to be adjusted to incorporate this functionality as well.

Websites

Tourism operators that have enjoyed the bulk of visitors from travel agents, affiliates, partner companies may find their own website needs attention. Many websites could be international-facing and less focused for the domestic market. For others it could be an overhaul to the booking system to pre-book visits for a to be confirmed date – we’ve seen some businesses offer great discounts to future customers who pledge payment well in advance.

Other businesses are pivoting their entire model to stay compliant and responsive to the short term tourism market. Developers and designers could find opportunities on website projects refreshing tourism brands for a Kiwi-focused experience or altered digital-focused offering.

Where we see tourism websites needing help from IT professionals:

Booking platforms
Design to align with branding direction change
Search Engine Optimisation towards certain terms or audiences
New website development for reshaped or new offerings
Promoting new services or experiences

No one knows for sure how the next few years will play out for tourism businesses, but the website is an owned channel where changes can be made relatively quickly. At the very least, tourism operators can focus on building awareness and desire for their product, if not book future visitors well ahead of time.

Social Media

Social media has already seen a large increase in engagement from COVID-19, presenting an opportunity for NZ tourism businesses to promote to a domestic market ahead of reducing restrictions around travel. Kiwis’ growing desire to support local business and inability to travel overseas could mean that social media marketing and community engagement could be used to sell New Zealand back to its own. For many Kiwis, local tourist destinations may have only been visited once or twice – if at all.

Internationally, social media is one of the more cost effective ways to communicate with target markets. Depending on the business, messages could range from showcasing the experience on Instagram to running active acquisition campaigns for book-in-advance arrangements.

Specialists in social media will be required to assist tourist operators with these campaigns – and with more captive eyes on social channels, there’s never been a better time than now to start. After all, it’s been noted that the ‘instagramability’ of a location plays a factor in its desirability for many would-be travellers.

Digital Marketing Domestically

Digital marketing across Search, Social, YouTube and On Demand should make up part of a tourism brand’s re-entry to market. Being born-travellers, New Zealanders will be looking for homegrown travel experiences over the next year at a level likely much higher than normal.

Video marketing though pre-roll placements on YouTube and NZ TV On Demand services will be key for awareness and dream building. On the search front, Google Ads for terms relating to locations and experiences will certainly play a part in capturing new customers. Brands will be looking to go beyond brand name, and into generic searches by Kiwis in the itinerary building phase.

Digital Marketing To International Market

Regaining the loss of overseas travellers to New Zealand and its economy won’t necessarily be a fast process. But as COVID-19 is reduced, managed and eliminated, borders will reopen. At this stage, tourism operators will need to promote back out into target markets. While parts of paused international strategies can resume, there may be a need for businesses to promote their businesses in different ways to encourage making the long trip to New Zealand over other potentially closer destinations. Digital marketing might also need to address concerns like safety and contact tracing to give overseas visitors peace of mind before they book.

Businesses will be requiring expertise to help set up, run and optimise these digital campaigns in what could become a crowded space of domestic tourism. When this involvement is required, will largely depend on the industry’s recovery and New Zealand’s success at eliminating the Corona Virus.

Artificial Intelligence

AI, while not necessarily a COVID-19 specific solution, has been assisting the tourism industry for years. Machine learning and artificial intelligence enable places with large traffic and/or booking volumes like hotel chains to offer a better service to customers. A good example of AI in tourism are chatbots that can take your booking, or suggest activities to help you build an itinerary. With data on similar customers, AI can be harnessed to personalise an experience from browsing to booking. This information can even help to customise the service travellers receive while visiting the tourism operator including meal preferences and upsells.

AI/ML is a space where expertise is increasingly required. If you have experience here, you could find opportunities in NZ’s tourism sector.

Standing behind our tourism businesses

Absolute IT stands firmly behind our amazing New Zealand tourism industry. Contributing billions in revenue to our economy, it’s a huge part of what makes our country so great.

We encourage all of our IT community to find ways to support Kiwi tourism, especially while border control prevents overseas visitors. This is a perfect time for us all to rediscover what’s in our own backyard. Jump online and check out what’s around your town to do. You might just find your most memorable holiday doesn’t require you to travel very far at all.

Are you a tech professional looking for opportunities in tourism?

Absolute IT ‘s team helps connect tech professionals with awesome jobs across different NZ industries. As tourism recovers from the impact of COVID-19, expect a larger demand for tech expertise. If you’re keen to explore your options, get in touch with our team for a chat!

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