The pandemic has altered daily life in many ways, some of which may long outlive the current shutdowns.

Technological innovations over the past several years have allowed employees to work from home — a shift that was already well underway before the pandemic, but one that has been kicked into hyperdrive since March.

Large technology companies and communities outside crowded urban areas (think: the Tri-Cities) stand to benefit greatly.

Working from home was a fringe concept introduced to the mainstream seemingly overnight. There’s a good chance that if you hold a desk job, you have been logging in from home lately.

Is this the future of work? It’s the present for millions, and it certainly has its fair share of supporters.

Ask your friends on the other side of the mountains where they fall on this matter. Telecommuting sure beats real commuting through Seattle’s clogged transportation arteries.

While working from home has kept the wheels turning for many organizations, there are still some questions about its staying power. In the early days of the shutdown, it seemed that employees kept on task and got work done remotely.

But with the benefit of hindsight, it appears the initial spurt of progress may have been attributed to fear-driven productivity, which is not sustainable.

The mood has soured a bit recently.

Projects can drag on longer than usual. Hiring and training have become difficult propositions. Picture yourself as a new entrant to your field, and now try to imagine how quickly you’d develop without the benefit of looking over the shoulders of your more experienced colleagues.

Even though it may not be a perfect substitute for working alongside your colleagues in an office setting, it appears remote work is here to stay.

If you take a moment to reflect on what it takes to stay connected and productive in our chosen professions, it’s pretty amazing how much we depend on technological innovations that once existed only in sci-fi flicks.

And the investing world has taken notice as the tech-related companies that have brought us these capabilities are clearly standing out as hot stocks.

The S&P 500, a broad measure of stock market performance, was up about 1% year-to-date through July 31.

Had it not been for the stellar performance of the five largest market cap companies, which all happen to be tech-related (Microsoft, Google, Amazon, Apple and Facebook), the market index would have been down nearly 5% year-to-date. The tech-heavy Nasdaq index was up almost 20% through July 31.

Technologies available to the masses have certainly made the shutdown less disruptive than it would have been in previous decades.

Take Zoom for example. It’s a name that has become synonymous with videoconferencing.

And with each passing day, I imagine we’re all becoming a little more comfortable with it as a substitute for in-person meetings.

But be advised, there are new rules of the road to follow. I recently came across an article outlining the seven rules of Zoom meeting etiquette. I was a repeat offender of four rules. (OK, maybe five.)  

Even as most employees eventually return to their offices, a portion likely will be granted the flexibility to relocate their homes and work remotely full time.

The appeal of large cities is at a low right now. In fact, recent surveys have shown that a large proportion of Americans are actively considering relocating to less densely populated areas with higher standards of living.

If you’re going to be homebound, a house (with a home office) and a yard sure are nice to have.

Enter stage right: The Tri-Cities!

Think of your acquaintances who have recently moved here from a big city like Seattle and how happy they are with their decision. I often joke that there is a thriving Seattle expat community here. Now try to think of someone who plans to move to a big city like Seattle. I don’t personally know anyone in this camp.

The Tri-City housing market is already very strong, and the urban flight should continue to support it. Statistics from June showed less than a one-month housing supply listed in the Tri-City area.

As a result of the tight inventory, many buyers are finding themselves in multiple offer situations that require going above the list price to win the deal.

We need more homes to accommodate growth.

The reverberations from 2020 are likely to be felt for a long time.

Technological innovations that have allowed some businesses to operate during the shutdown also will allow people to relocate to where they truly want to live, not just where the jobs are. The Tri-City area stands to gain. It’s a great place to call home — a fact that more and more people are discovering every day.

Anthony Smith is a chartered financial analyst and portfolio manager in the Kennewick office of HFG Trust. He is a Tri-City native and University of Washington graduate.