BUSINESSES WIPED OUT BY TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCEMENT

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By: Balogun Ibrahim

In every era, innovation arrives with a promise: to make life easier, faster, and more connected. Yet beneath that promise lies a quieter reality: entire industries fading into obscurity. From once-bustling phone booths to the slow disappearance of traditional postal services, technological advances have not only reshaped how people live but also determined which businesses survive and which become relics of the past.

This feature explores how photography, payphones, call centers, and postal services have been transformed or displaced by technology, with a focus on technological impact, economic consequences, adaptation strategies, and evolving consumer behavior.

For decades, photography was a specialized craft. Studios thrived, film rolls were essential, and darkrooms were sacred spaces of creation. However, the rise of digital cameras and later smartphones completely disrupted the industry.

The shift from analog to digital photography eliminated the need for film processing. Today, smartphones equipped with high-resolution cameras and editing apps have turned everyday users into photographers. Artificial intelligence now enhances images instantly, removing the need for professional intervention in many cases.

Traditional photo studios, film manufacturers, and processing labs experienced massive declines. Companies that failed to pivot, such as those heavily reliant on film production, saw revenues collapse. Jobs tied to film development and printing also diminished significantly.

However, Some photography businesses survived by specializing, focusing on niche markets like weddings, fashion, or commercial shoots. Others transitioned into digital editing, content creation, or videography. The lesson was clear: survival depended on embracing, not resisting, change.

Consumers now prioritize convenience and immediacy. The ability to take, edit, and share photos instantly has reduced reliance on professional services except for high-value occasions.

While having a discussion with Mr. Nurudeen, a professional photographer, mentioned that “a digital camera can take pictures with little resolution while the Analog camera takes pictures with high resolution…”

He noted that with technological advancement, the camera is now a sophisticated device that is capable of redefining an image. “Financially, we make more money compared to the past depending on the advertisement run, and how visible the brand is to the public,” he said.

Mr. Nurudeen further highlighted the different photographers and how they operate; some photographers do not own a studio but they make more money based on the adverts made. Other photographers are just for events alone majorly weddings, graduation ceremony, birthdays e.t.c. While some photographers are contract based.

He said “Photography business has not been wiped out through technological advances but has helped redefine the concept of photography as an art and business.

Not long ago, payphones stood as lifelines on street corners, and call centers buzzed with agents handling customer inquiries. Today, both have been significantly displaced.

Mobile phones and internet-based applications such as messaging apps and VoIP services have replaced the need for public payphones and reduced dependence on traditional call centers. Automation, chatbots, and AI-driven customer service tools now handle queries once managed by human agents.

Payphone operators lost relevance almost entirely, leading to business closures worldwide. Call centers, while not extinct, have seen downsizing due to automation and outsourcing. This shift has led to job losses, particularly in entry-level customer service roles.

Telecommunication companies pivoted toward mobile services and data provision. Call centers that adapted integrated AI tools, offered specialized support, or shifted to omnichannel communication (social media, live chat, email). Some repositioned themselves as customer experience hubs rather than just call-handling units.

Consumers now expect instant, 24/7 responses. They prefer self-service options like apps, FAQs, and chatbots over waiting in queues to speak with an agent. Speed and convenience have become non-negotiable.

Mr. Adebayo, a civil servant who had used the payphone and call service center in the past, while sharing his experience, noted that “to communicate in the past was very expensive compared to how it is now”.

He said “expensive is an understatement, one can recharge airtime on his phone line to initiate reliable communication within his apartment without stress. Also, communication is cheaper and affordable now compared to the past”.

“Rural inhabitants suffer the most, especially the elderly people who have to take traveling risks to places like Lagos to enable them to reach out to their children in diaspora, thereby making it stressful to connect with their loved ones overseas”.

He also made it known that communication is not as easy as it is presently. Telephone lines are not affordable everywhere and even when you get one the message sent might not get to the intended person on time, reason being that the person (receiver) whom the message was sent to does not have a telephone in his house. The message upon delivery is either reduced or misinformed. This depends on the manner of interpreting the message passed and the person (agent) that disseminates the message to the real recipient (receiver).

Mr. Adebayo noted that “technological advances have wiped out payphone and call center services, ushering in the consistent use of mobile and smartphone devices for easy accessibility to the Internet, timely response to phone calls, prompt messages and the birth of new technology e.g 4G and 5G networks”.

Postal services once formed the backbone of communication and commerce. Letters carried emotions, and post offices were vital community hubs. Today, their relevance has diminished significantly.

Email, instant messaging, and digital platforms have replaced traditional mail for communication. Documents, invoices, and even official notices are now sent electronically, reducing the volume of physical mail.

Postal agencies have experienced declining revenues from letter delivery. Many have had to cut costs, reduce workforce, or restructure operations. However, the rise of e-commerce has provided a partial lifeline through parcel delivery services.

To stay relevant, postal services diversified into logistics, parcel delivery, and financial services. Some embraced digital transformation by offering tracking systems, hybrid mail solutions, and e-commerce partnerships.

Modern consumers favor speed and efficiency. Waiting days for a letter is no longer acceptable when digital communication delivers messages instantly. However, demand for parcel delivery has surged due to online shopping, reflecting a shift rather than a complete disappearance.

Mr. Ajayi, a Postman who has been in the Nigerian Postal Service for over three decades while sharing his experience, noted that the postal service sends and receives messages, home appliances and other vital documents within the country or internationally. He made it known that the postal service was heavily used in the past compared to this modern day generation.

In his words “advance in technology has helped boost the postal service through the establishment of ICT Department where filling of online applications for items sent and received which in return generate more money for the postal service. It has also made tracking and monitoring of items sent easier for both the sender and receiver till it gets to the expected destination.”

Mr. Ajayi noted that “shopping online through the post office is faster and affordable”. For example, EMS (Expedite Mail Service) is an offshoot of the Nigerian Postal Service. It is majorly used for fast delivery of messages, parcels or other items at a cheaper rate. He mentioned other fast delivery service agencies like the DHL, UPS, Red Star etc.

“In coming years, I see the Nigerian Postal Service measuring up to the global standard of the world like US Postal, Royal Mail and others. Technological advancement has helped reshape the postal service industry in terms of fast delivery, affordability and consumer satisfaction,” he said.

Across all three case studies, a consistent pattern emerges, technology doesn’t just improve industries, it replaces them. Businesses that resist change risk extinction. Adaptation requires foresight, investment, and willingness to evolve. The economic consequences are often harsh job losses, declining revenues, and industry collapse. Yet, new opportunities also emerge for those willing to innovate.

The stories of photography, payphones /call centers, and postal services highlight a fundamental truth: no business is immune to disruption. Technology is not a distant force, it is an active player reshaping markets in real time. For businesses, the challenge is not merely to survive technological change but to anticipate and harness it. For consumers, the shift reflects a growing preference for speed, accessibility, and control.

In the end, innovation does not ask for permission, it moves forward. And only those who move with it remain relevant.