Kenyans collectively spent KSh 16.29 billion in 2020 to import work from home equipment.
The new normal in 2020 was to work from home, due to the COVID-19 pandemic many people had to move their companies online this meant that people had online meetings, needed WiFi and had to import telecommunications equipment. This meant that a lot more people invested in hardware such as laptops, smartphones, computers and networking devices to set up remote work stations.
How did Kenyans adjust to the new normal?
A lot of things shifted, businesses that couldn’t operate online had to figure out how they could still keep their employees and still generate revenue. Schools had to create online schools, companies in general had to invest in IT infrastructure to facilitate remote working and meetings. Online companies such as Twitter decided to resort to a permanent work from home plan. Other countries that could operate online have not yet resumed at their offices and some employers even noted that it was cheaper to work from home.
The biggest beneficiaries financially have been video-conferencing platforms such as Zoom, Skype, Microsoft Teams and the likes. Many parents also had to ensure that their children did not lag behind which meant they had to buy laptops, install apps, cables and probably increase the bandwidth.
Jacqueline Mugo- Executive Director, Federation of Kenya Employers said:
“Companies have quickly figured out how to serve their customers and clients remotely, and there is no going back.” – Jacqueline Mugo- Executive Director, Federation of Kenya Employers”
Here’s the table that depicts all the expenses:
Did you invest in gadgets last year?