第2815期:The business world today

We're talking about how technology has really changed the face of business. 我们在谈论技术是如何改变商业面貌的。To be more specific, We're really talking about the internet, aren't we?更具体一点，我们其实是在谈论互联网，不是吗？Yeah. I mean, nowadays, Richard, every company, whether they provide a service or sell a product, they have a website.是啊。我的意思是，如今，Richard，不论一家公司是提供服务还是销售产品，他们都有自己的网站。Or at the very least, a Facebook page.或者至少也会有一个 Facebook 页面。Yeah. Now, you mentioned Facebook, Richard.是的。你刚才提到 Facebook，Richard。The rise of social media has really changed business, hasn't it?社交媒体的兴起确实彻底改变了商业模式，不是吗？I mean, it wasn't that long ago that you really needed to be able to, what, write a professional email.我的意思是，不久之前，一个人只需要会写一封专业的电子邮件就够了。But today, business owners, what, they must be able to communicate on Twitter, they need to engage regularly on Facebook, have a LinkedIn account...但如今，企业主必须能够在 Twitter 上交流，定期在 Facebook 上互动，还要拥有一个 LinkedIn 账号……And also, obviously, video conferencing is by Zoom.而且，显然，现在视频会议都是通过 Zoom 进行的。Yeah. And recruitment has changed completely.是的。而招聘方式也发生了彻底的变化。The whole explosion of social media has made it a part of our everyday lives, but both personally and professionally.社交媒体的全面爆发使它成为我们生活中不可分割的一部分，无论是个人生活还是职业领域。And of course, the other technology is, of course, mobile technology.当然，另一项重要的技术就是移动技术。Everything's done on the move and remotely.一切事情都可以在移动中、远程完成。Fewer actual phone calls are being made nowadays.如今人们打真正电话的次数越来越少了。It's all emails, texting, tweeting, and using messaging apps, isn't it?现在全都是发邮件、发短信、发推文，以及用各种通讯应用，对吧？Yeah. And the problem with that is that we are always connected.是的。而问题在于，我们总是“在线”的。So therefore, the line between work and home life, that's become blurred, hasn't it?因此，工作与家庭生活之间的界限变得模糊了，不是吗？Yes. There's no such thing nowadays as out of the office.是的。如今已经不存在所谓的“下班”状态了。Interesting, Richard, becausePortugalhas banned bosses from text messaging and emailing staff out of working hours.这很有趣，Richard，因为葡萄牙已经禁止老板在非工作时间发短信或发邮件给员工。They have this new law, the right to rest.他们制定了一项新法律，叫作“休息权”。Yes, it's all about improving work-life balance, which is very important.是的，这一切都是为了改善工作与生活的平衡，这非常重要。And of course, Richard, the other thing is, you say there's no out of office, but actually there's no office nowadays.当然，Richard，另一点是，你说没有“下班”，但实际上，现在很多人连“办公室”都没有了。Well, actually, that's good because starting a business used to mean a huge amount of investment required for an office.实际上这挺好，因为过去创业往往意味着要投入大量资金去租或建办公室。You don't need that anymore.而现在你已经不再需要这样做了。Yeah. Small businesses, they can be run entirely virtually. It's a huge saving.是啊，小型企业完全可以虚拟化运营，这节省了大量成本。Cuts down on a lot of overheads.大大减少了各种固定开支。Not just small businesses though, Richard. More and more employees, as we know, want to work remotely.但这不仅限于小企业，Richard。正如我们所知，越来越多的员工也希望能够远程工作。And PricewaterhouseCooper, a huge organisation, they recognise this and they have said it will allow all US employees who can telework the ability to work virtually from anywhere on the continent, which is amazing.普华永道这样的大型机构也意识到了这一点，他们宣布允许所有可以远程办公的美国员工在北美大陆的任何地方工作，这真是了不起。That's 40,000 employees who can, if they want to, work from home. Wow.这意味着有四万名员工如果愿意，都可以在家工作。哇。So that's a huge change in the way businesses are run nowadays, isn't it?这真的是商业运作方式上的巨大变革，不是吗？Yeah. We've talked mainly about engaging with customers, but obviously payment methods, getting paid online is much easier as well.是的。我们主要谈到了客户互动，但显然，在线支付方式也让收款变得更加容易。Yes. Online banking, PayPal, etc, etc.没错，比如网上银行、PayPal 等等。And consumers spend more than ever nowadays as well. It's so easy just to click on buy now, isn't it?如今消费者的支出也比以往任何时候都多。只要点一下“立即购买”就能完成购物，太容易了，对吧？Yes. So at the end of the day, Jackie, starting a new business in this digital age has never been easier.是的。总的来说，Jackie，在这个数字时代创业从未如此简单。So if you've got an idea, go for it.所以，如果你有一个好点子，就大胆去做吧。