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The COVID-19 pandemic has left every economic sector finding a way to get back. But, one sector that is booming amidst the crisis is the gaming industry.
Yes, the gaming industry is booming. With people confined to their homes, most are taking to video gaming to spend the time. This has helped the gaming industry to benefit while most other sectors are facing an uncertain future.

An Uptick in Video Gaming Usage

There is a reason behind the sudden interest among people in video games. When the whole outdoor entertainment industry is locked down, people are seeking normalcy during these uncertain times through indoor entertainment, and video gaming came to the fore. Throughout the world, there is a spurt in video game usage.

According to Verizon, in the US alone, there is a 75% increase in video game usage. In Italy, much of the 70% increase in internet traffic is directed to Fortnite. Game streaming company Steam has reported that it had reached its highest users yet of 20.3 million.

Increasing Revenues

Gaming companies are quick to respond to the demand. They have been ingenious at making available their existing hit video games across the world using gaming translation and gaming localization. The impact of this for the industry is rising revenues.

Yes, there are many free to play gaming content. But, even in these tough times, gamers are spending huge amounts on in-game purchases. According to a report, Tencent’s Honor of Kings, a popular game in China, has raked in RMB 2 billion since the lockdown began in China. This is the case for the gaming industry across the world.

Though, many would have thought that the gaming industry too would suffer due to the travel bans and work restrictions. But, the industry found a way to overcome the challenge. Gaming companies have arranged for employees to work from home. The flexibility has kept the game updation and maintenance work going without hampering the gaming experience.

Halt To Production

One aspect of the gaming industry that has been challenged by the coronavirus is the production process. No new games have gone through the production process amidst the lockdown. It will be a while until we see new games coming out. But, the current demand is more than making up for any losses the industry could face by not launching new games.

Yet, some companies which have launch dates for new games that fall during the lockdown have launched them anyway via live streaming. It only shows that the industry is not backing down and is capitalizing on the demand.

Socializing During Non-Social Times

Whatsmore, gaming is not just letting people pass their time. It is also helping people to socialize during these non-social times. Friendships are being forged online while playing the games, and people are interacting more. The socializing role has been taken up by multiplayer role-playing games, which provide an open world for gamers to interact.

To Conclude

The gaming industry is one of the biggest benefiter of the current crisis. Companies are not shying away from pushing their games to reach a maximum number of people. They are relying heavily on digital marketing. And hence, the gaming industry is reaping rich dividends capitalizing on the boredom the pandemic has brought.

Infectious outbreaks occur throughout the world. For the most part, these outbreaks are localized in nature. But an infection to become a global pandemic is once in a lifetime occurrence. Rightly so, the novel coronavirus pandemic is once in a century occurrence.

The SARS-CoV-2, being a novel virus, the human body does not have any immunity against it. The results is, those with a weak immune system and with co-morbid conditions are facing the severe effects of the virus to the end of losing their lives.

The health crisis led to the world economy to shut down. But, the industry that is at the forefront of the fight against the virus is the healthcare industry.
If you ask how the industry is coping with the health crisis, the answer could be' not so good'.

Teething Problems

Right from the primary healthcare centres to tertiary, and from the pharmaceutical industry to insurance companies, the crisis has disrupted the entire industry. It is posing challenges of access to safety equipment, availability of medicines, disruption of global supply chain logistics, and financial stress.

Across the world, a scenario often being played out amidst the crisis is the lack of critical equipment to test and treat COVID-19 patients. From testing kits to ventilators and from protective equipment to essential medicines to treat the patients, the entire supply chain is disrupted.

In some countries, the overwhelming number of cases is pushing the health industry to its brink.

Novel Challenge

Apart from traditional problems like providing treatment and infrastructure gaps, the current health crisis has also thrown some unique challenges to the health industry. One of which is the communication barrier.

In any crisis, communication is the key to disseminate accurate information and defuse the crisis. But, the communication barrier is posing as a hindrance to healthcare workers and insurance companies.

For example, in the UAE, migrants from across the world come here for livelihood. Not being familiar with the local language, these migrants are facing difficulties during treatment. Companies offering interpretation services are helping healthcare professionals to make the migrants understand the procedures.

Also, medical translation is playing a major role during the crisis. In countries like the USA, where 25% of the population does not speak English, medical translation services are helping the healthcare institutions and insurance companies to complete the paperwork.

One other side effect of this health crisis is infodemic - a crude term for fake coronavirus news spreading through online channels. Accurate information is essential to fight the coronavirus pandemic. But the infodemic is undoing the good work of the health industry. One can fight the infodemic by sharing authentic information about the crisis. Organizations can do this with the help of communications services providers.

Bottom Line

The bottom line is, the health industry across the world is under severe stress. In the short-term, the pandemic has wreaked havoc on the industry. But, the long-term implications of the pandemic on the industry are uncertain. The industry might see a drastic change in the way it functions.

ICS Dubai is a complete communication assistance provider which has the in house capability to produce and translate content. With rigorous processes in place, the quality of output is always ensured for every requirement.

Contact ICS Dubai for any content or communication related need.

One of the major casualties of the COVID-19 pandemic is the education sector. Not just in the UAE, throughout the world, schools and colleges have been shut.

With hundreds and thousands of students cramming together in hallways and the classrooms, the coronavirus can spread rapidly in educational institutions. It is thus prudent to close schools and colleges to keep the virus spread in check. But the problem is, there is no clear timeline in-sight when the institutions would reopen.

Naturally, students and parents worry about the loss of academic time. Here is where institutions across the world have become proactive. Online learning through video classes and other forms has become the norm.

Innovation in Education

Schools and colleges are offering online video classes, live webinars, question and answer sessions, and more to keep the students up to date. Some are even conducting online tests to measure learning outcomes.

In countries like China and India, live television broadcasts of educational videos are helping millions to educate themselves. And for interactive learning, some institutions are developing mobile

UAE Scenario

The Ministry of Education UAE has already directed educational institutions to share their distance learning programs to students and parents. The Ministry also asked parents to provide a conducive environment at home for homeschooling by ensuring proper internet services. Schools and colleges are also advised to share class schedules with the pupils for time-based subject learning. All this is to encourage distance learning and reduces academic stress on students.

Some Lagging

Amidst the change, many schools and colleges are yet to roll out their online educational content. May be due to their inability to create content or lack of insight on how to make them effective, such institutions are lagging their peers. Also, they may be lacking the resources that big institutions possess in creating online content.

It is here that the services of International Communication Services-Dubai (ICS-Dubai) are helpful.

How Do We Help?

If you are an institution looking for making your online content presentable to your students, ICS-Dubai is your right choice.

From providing translation services in numerous languages to offering subtitling and other communication services, ICS-Dubai will make online learning impactful.

We make your online reading material appealing and readable for your patrons. With our translation services, we make your video content transcend national boundaries and reach the world. Along with a transcription of the video, learning improves manifold.

With our app designing and developing expertise, we shall make your students stay more on the app and learn more.

Overall, with our services, we help the students to assimilate your e-learning content thoroughly.

If you are interested in learning more about our services, please give us a call.

Dubai is a global real-estate destination. Over the years, the sector has seen an uptick. But, the coronavirus pandemic is threatening to undo all good that has happened in the industry.

Amidst the global economic crisis precipitated by the Corona pandemic, let us find out how the real-estate sector in Dubai will fare.

Sector Insights

Real estate is an ever-growing field. The sector was booming in Dubai until the global financial crisis of 2008. The crisis led to a near-collapse of the sector. Only recently, the sector has picked up momentum. But, the COVID-19 pandemic is threatening 2008 redux.

The real estate boom of recent years in Dubai was majorly due to expatriate investors. From the hospitality market to the residential market, the expatriates have been the force behind the realty boom in Dubai. Also, the sector restructured itself to become attractive.

For years, there was a glut in the property market, and the demand was limited. The prices too were high, compared to what it should have been. The government intervened and restricted supply and eased residency rules for its expatriate population. This resulted in realty prices falling, with 2019 witnessing a fall in prices for the fifth straight year.

But the pandemic led lockdowns across the world left the real-estate sector in Dubai vulnerable.

Lockdown Effect

Dubai is mostly dependent on its tourism and business services for revenue. The city emirate has been one of the must go to places for business across the world.

The unprecedented global lockdowns have led to dwindling tourist arrivals and business interests. The UAE airlines itself grounded its entire passenger fleet to restrict the spread of coronavirus disease. These measures are reducing demand.

Expect Low Demand

Demand appetite is key for the sector and has seen an uptick in the first few months of the year. But since March, concerns are rising due to the global shutdown.

The hospitality sector may not venture into new projects until the crisis passes. Already, half the malls in the city are yet to find tenants. And, businesses are laying off people and are forcing employees to take unpaid leaves, according to ‘Middle East: Coronavirus: implications for MENA businesses and their leaders’, a survey by The Economist Corporate Network. All these points to sluggish demand in the coming months.

Silver Lining

But, some major property developers are opining that the crisis will only be temporary. They are confident that the demand will increase afterward. The expectation is that an influx of new residents will take place, especially from developing countries as opportunities abound in Dubai.

Activation of marketing and advertising exercises can enable the businesses to thrive in this constrained environment and sustain itself for the benefits laid out for the industry when the dark cloud of the pandemic is cleared out of the skies.

Bottomline

We should consider the current phase as a little hiccup and expect the sector to surge ahead after the crisis. Since people would still want to have their own properties and homes to live in and generate secondary incomes. Soon, Dubai will once again be among the top realty destinations of the world. For more details visit www.ics-dubai.com

The pandemic COVID-19 has brought the Gulf to a standstill. All the countries in the region had to shut down parts or full economy to control the virus spread. Businesses are shut to halt virus transmission. Curfews are being imposed to restrict people from gathering.

On the economy front, the impact of coronavirus pandemic is severe. Demand has slowed down. Major revenue-generating sectors like tourism, logistics, and airlines have come to a halt. What about the oil and gas industry, one of the major revenue generators for UAE?

The Price War

Until a few days ago, things were looking grim for the oil and gas industry. The oil price war of Saudi Arabia against Russia had led to the steepest fall of oil prices since 2002. While the low oil prices benefited the importers, the oil industry was facing a grave threat. Revenues started to fall and had put the economy under pressure.

But fortunately, good sense prevailed, and the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) decided to cut back crude production, and oil prices began to rise. While the oil price is getting rationalized, a grave threat is emerging for the oil and gas industry.

The Great Demand Fall

The coronavirus pandemic has put the whole world under lockdown. Almost all the major economies of the world are shut, barring China. Factories are closed, transportation came to a standstill, and people locked down themselves in their homes. The result of all these is the steepest fall in demand for oil in the world.

The unprecedented demand fall is breaking the back of the fossil fuel industry. Already, the oil price war has led to halving the stock market valuation of oil-producing companies. This is hurting the industry, and many are losing jobs. The demand fall will further aggravate the problem, and one can expect unemployment.

Small oil-producing companies will shut their shops. With no demand, extracting oil is a costly affair. Big companies may see a steep fall in their revenues. If there is any extension in shutdowns or lockdowns across the world, the oil industry itself will see a permanent change in its course.

Impact on the Economy

UAE is expected to recover sooner than other countries in the region. Today, the country is not much dependent on revenue from oil than before. It has been shifting its investment to the non-oil economy over the years. As a result, the oil industry now accounts for 30% of the country's revenue from a high of 90% in 1975. The country is also one of the first to take proactive steps. A stimulus package for its private sector and the oil and gas industry has been launched.

Will Bounce Back

The future of the oil and gas industry is very uncertain. The coronavirus pandemic can push the industry in either direction. If history is any indication, the oil and gas industry can bounce back.

Move To Digital

With the customers trapped inside their houses with their mobile devices, internet connections, and a lot of spare time, naturally these customers are on a constant lookout for entertainment and engagement activities to pass their time. Brand around the world are taking advantage of getting their potential customers attention in the hopes of achieving marketing objectives like, online user engagement, brand awareness and recall, lead generation and making revenue through online purchases by the customers online.

The pattern to notice over here is that every business is opening its revenue streams through online channels by creatively reaching out and converting potential customers online.

We here at ICS Dubai specialise in digital transformation of business to help them thrive through the wave of recession. Reach out to us through our website www.ICS-Dubai.com to know the best way ahead for your business!

As China started to shut its car manufacturing factories in January this year, the signs were ominous. The global automotive industry is in for a shock.

The coronavirus outbreak in Wuhan, China, has quickly spread to every corner of the world. With no immunity towards the virus, lakhs of people fell ill, and over a lakh lost their lives.

China Slowdown

Wuhan, the epicentre of the coronavirus outbreak, is a car manufacturing hub in China. Major car brands of the world have their factories in the province. Honda alone is dependent on its Wuhan facility for 50% of its car manufacturing. When China started shutting these factories to control the spread of the virus, the global automotive industry began a downward path.

According to Global Data, in January alone, global new car sales have plummeted to 6.2 million units. Now, with countries like the USA, UK, Germany, Italy, and other major western countries shutting down their economies to fight the coronavirus spread, the face of the automotive industry is set to change.

Jobs, Savings, and Postponements

With factories shut, the supply-chain of car manufacturing has disrupted. People are using their savings to pass the corona tide rather than buying a new car. With little production activity, many workers are staring at potential job losses. From factory workers to salespeople, there will be culling of jobs.

In the Middle East, the impact of the coronavirus outbreak on the automotive industry is visible. Vehicle imports have plummeted. The little vehicle manufacturing activity came to halt thanks to the curfews imposed by the governments in the region.

In UAE, a nation which imports almost all of its cars has seen the lowest demand for automobiles. With the shutdown of the economy, the industry prospects are bleak. Also, the world economy is sure to pass into recession, with some economists predicting it to be worse than the Great Depression of the 1930s. If that is to happen, no one knows how the industry will transform.

Hope amid Gloom

A silver lining amid the gloom is China partially restarting its manufacturing facilities in Wuhan. Though the factories are not running at full-capacity, owing to the threat of virus resurgence, the partial capacity is enough for giving hope to the industry.

It remains to be seen for how long the major countries of the world will lockdown the economies and how long it takes for them to recover. Only when the demand rises in these economies, the automotive industry will bounce back.

Uncertainty Ahead

The future remains uncertain for the world. And the automotive industry could be one of the most hit sectors of the world economy. Companies and governments must take drastic steps to recover from the slump.

Move to Digital

With the customers trapped inside their houses with their mobile devices, internet connections, and a lot of spare time, naturally these customers are on a constant lookout for entertainment and engagement activities to pass their time. Brand around the world are taking advantage of getting their potential customers attention in the hopes of achieving marketing objectives like, online user engagement, brand awareness and recall, lead generation and making revenue through online purchases by the customers online.

The pattern to notice over here is that every business is opening its revenue streams through online channels by creatively reaching out and converting potential customers online.

We here at ICS Dubai specialize in digital transformation of business's to help them thrive through the wave of recession. Reach out to us through our website www.ICS-Dubai.com to know the best way ahead for your business!

A disruption is unfolding in the eCommerce market. Though the disruption will be short-term, the impact will be huge on the industry.

The disruption is the Coronavirus pandemic.

First identified in the city of Wuhan in China, the virus swept over the world quickly, becoming the first pandemic in the technological era. The swiftness in transmission and potency in killing people makes the Coronavirus deadly. It has brought the world to a grinding halt.

To stop the transmission of the virus, countries across the world are implementing aggressive lockdowns. Movement of people is being restricted, and economies are expecting recessions in the near future.

At the beginning of the pandemic, the eCommerce industry was thought to be a saviour. People bought essentials online from the safety of their homes with eCommerce. But, soon the pandemic struck.

The Coronavirus disrupted the eCommerce industry by disrupting the global supply chain. China, which is the manufacturer of the world, had to temporarily shut its shops down. Companies are scrambling to maintain their production and supply to the end customer.

UAE and The eCommerce Industry

In the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, UAE is the fast-growing eCommerce market, and Dubai city leads the list.

World-class logistical infrastructure, high digital penetration, presence of digital natives, trust in digital payments, and government support has led to a dramatic growth of the eCommerce industry in Dubai.

The corona pandemic is threatening to undo the progress made by the e-commerce industry. The government had imposed a two-week lockdown to fight the coronavirus. Only supermarkets, food, and drug delivery services are open. The rest of the economy is closed until the end of the lockdown period. This is hurting the eCommerce industry.

Hope Amidst Chaos

While goods production in China came to a halt, companies are finding ways to keep up their production. Companies like Debrief Me have shifted their production units and stock-keeping units (SKUs) back to the USA. The company has also become flexible in procuring raw materials from countries or vendors that are still functioning.

You can also follow the footsteps of Debrief Me and shift your production and stock-keeping units to other countries. While last-mile delivery seems impossible during the lockdown, you will be able to ship goods after the lockdown.

Overall, the disruption by the coronavirus will be a small hiccup in the growth of e-Commerce in Dubai.

How Can ICS-Dubai Help You?

While shifting your SKUs and production units, you need to negotiate with foreign parties and provide training manuals in a foreign language.

ICS-Dubai provides the best interpretation and translation services in Dubai. Our services are available in all the major global languages. We are happy to help you in these tough times.

Let's face it. Digital marketing is here to stay for a long, long time to come. It is the arguably the most effective & efficient marketing channel in this hyper-connected and technology-driven world.

Digital marketing offers many advantages over traditional marketing. For a business, not investing in digital marketing means it is a dead rubber.

With digital marketing, you can make your business’s offerings resonate with your audience and customers on many fronts. Here is how.

Telling Stories

Humans connect to stories that resonate with their ideas and emotions. Creating a website as a digital asset with interactive widgets and colourful diagrams, you can frame a visual story about your brand or by posting content that tells a story, digital marketing enables you to tell the story of your brand. It is more effective in engaging the audience than traditional marketing.

Resonate Through Content

In the age of internet, people are consuming more content than ever before. Content marketing, which is part of digital marketing plays a crucial role here. Captivating and interactive content which directs people to take a certain action can prove to be a strong bridge between a brand and its customers. A single authentic and useful piece of content can gain trust among the audience than a hundred generic pieces of content. With such authentic content, you can reach a wider audience.

Ace the Social Game

Social media is the biggest platform on the internet, where you can reach your potential customers. By setting up social media handles and sharing a few posts, do not expect an immediate audience. It is a long process that needs dedicated efforts focused on providing good content that the customers would see and enjoy. Many brands make the mistake of forcing unrelated and boring content to their audiences which only promotes the brand and doesn't really connect with the audience. With a thorough social media management strategy, you can ace the social media game.

Reach Online Shoppers

In the present world, consumers are more likely to buy goods and services online. With digital marketing, you can reach these buyers and influence them to buy your goods or services. It helps expand the reach of your business, create brand awareness, increase your brand recognition, and boost sales.

Bottom Line

From increasing traffic to your website to letting people know about your brand and from creating an online presence for your brand to reducing the cost of marketing, digital marketing helps your business in many ways. You can always measure the outcomes of your campaigns through digital marketing. It is flexible, adaptable, and can get you far more audience than any other marketing strategy.

Hire Us

International Communication Services-Dubai (ICS-Dubai) is the best provider of digital marketing services in Dubai. From developing websites to running online advertising campaigns, we offer a full range of digital marketing services in Dubai. We have experienced professionals who tend to your digital marketing needs with utmost commitment. We are result-oriented. All our services are cost-effective. To know more about us, please make a call.