Introduction

The COVID-19 pandemic dominated our lives since its outbreak in the year 2020. The whole economy was disrupted, and businesses and society had to adapt to the new normal. Since the last two years, the release of different vaccines and the vaccination drive have helped to contain the pandemic to quite an extent. It is believed that irrespective of the different doses of vaccination and its impact on the citizens, the virus is here to stay and will translate into an endemic. An endemic situation is where the COVID-19 virus will be confined to certain people and regions.

Impact on Businesses and Society

The COVID-19 pandemic drastically impacted businesses, which had to move from a physical mode to an online mode and hybrid mode. While several steps were taken to contain the pandemic, its lasting effect made organizations and society rethink the future. Organizations have moved from offline to hybrid mode and now work from home. The propositions in sales have changed from price to consumer well-being and convenience. Consumers have become health conscious. Healthcare has become a necessity, and healthcare companies are taking different steps to penetrate the market with immunity boosters. Education is now offered extensively through digital media and has become another alternative.

Conference Theme and Book Insights

The conference theme, “Pandemic to Endemic: Propositions for the Future,” aims to identify the initiatives businesses and society will adopt for their sustained growth and development. The book provides research insights on how organizations should deal with endemic situations in different business areas. This book includes research in finance, marketing, human resources, healthcare, economics, education, and general management, such as leadership and decision□making.