During the COVID-19 pandemic, technology powered our country by producing personal protective equipment and ventilators, helping scientists to discover new drug treatments and research vaccines, reducing barriers to telework, connecting students and teachers, empowering small businesses with e-commerce solutions, delivering food, providing emergency transportation, and facilitating contact tracing, all while upholding IT infrastructures. Tech is also playing an essential role in helping vaccinate our country and power America’s reopening. In this week’s Tech At Work, read more on how tech is helping families, friends, and coworkers reconnect in person.

DoorDash is Donating $2 Million in Gift Cards as Incentives for COVID-19 Vaccinations

DoorDash is teaming with the White House to bolster efforts to vaccinate over 70 percent of Americans by the Fourth of July.  DoorDash is partnering with the National Association of Community Health Centers and Direct Relief to distribute $2 million in gift cards to people receiving the vaccine.

Salesforce Unveils Seven Innovations to Help Industries Maintain Success While Blending Return-to-Work Policies

Since the pandemic began, companies across every industry transformed how they work and serve customers.  Salesforce research found that digital transformation is key to succeeding in a post-COVID-19 world.  The company unveiled Industry Success from Anywhere — innovations to help companies prepare for a digital-first world as they welcome employees back to the office.

As Many Kids Return to the Classroom This Fall, AT&T is Ensuring They Don’t Fall Behind

AT&T is committing $3 million to Khan Academy to help provide students and teachers with the resources needed to deliver quality learning experiences.  The program will provide students with free virtual summer camps to help them stay engaged and on track as they prepare to head back to the classroom this fall.

Cisco is Helping Usher in a New Era of Hybrid Work as the U.S. Reopens

For the past year-and-a-half, many companies have shifted to remote work.  As organizations begin to return to the office, the future for many companies will be a “hybrid” remote/in-office arrangement.  Cisco is helping organizations prepare for this transition by launching a new Webex Suite that embraces hybrid work.

Google Arts and Culture Partners with Atlanta to Showcase Local History, Cuisine, and Art

The summer travel season has returned.  As people begin planning their vacations, Google is highlighting different travel destinations.  Discover Atlanta is one of 30 partners launching a new online destination tool at Google Arts & Culture, allowing visitors and locals to easily learn about Atlanta’s civil rights history, food and music scene, and more.

Instacart is Investing $1 Million to Help Black-Owned Brands Connect with Consumers in Grocery Stores

CDW’s Virtual Desktop Infrastructure Helps Organizations Stay Connected as they Enter the Next Phase of Returning to the Workplace

While the World is Reopening, Uber is Helping Drivers and Riders Remain Safe

What’s New in Tech

Zoom Launches Zoom Phone Appliances Enabling Users to Collaborate Effortlessly

 

Zoom has launched a new category of devices, Zoom Phone Appliances.  As employees begin heading back to the office, these devices support today’s hybrid workflows, simplify both ad-hoc and scheduled meetings, and allow users to collaborate effortlessly with colleagues and clients using video, audio, and content sharing capabilities.  Read more here.

What We’re Saying

TechNet Applauds Bipartisan Passage of the U.S. Innovation and Competition Act in the U.S. Senate

TechNet Applauds the President’s Efforts to Strengthen American Supply Chains, Increase Domestic Semiconductor Manufacturing

Before You Start Your Weekend

CLEAR partnered with United Airlines and Marriott Bonvoy to help reunite 24 families who had not seen one another since the start of the pandemic. It’s part of the company’s #CLEARConnect mission. CLEAR understands the difficulties imposed on families, friends, and loved-ones over the past year-and-a-half and is organizing events to connect loved-ones and create memorable reunions.