都怪疫情，让谷歌一年节省了10亿美元

因为疫情，谷歌一年节省了10亿美元

With COVID-19 restrictions lifting, more people are booking trips and hotels online, which is very good for Google’s advertising business. Google’s employees, however, are working from home and not traveling as much on the company dime — and that’s also good for its business.

随着COVID-19社交限制的解除，越来越多的人开始在网上预订旅行和酒店，这对谷歌的广告业务非常有利。同时，谷歌的员工在家里工作，不再像以前那样用公司的钱出差——这对公司来说，也是一件好事。

During the first quarter, Google parent Alphabet Inc. saved $268 million in expenses from company promotions, travel and entertainment, compared with the same period a year earlier, “primarily as a result of COVID-19,” according to a company filing.

在第一季度，谷歌母公司Alphabet Inc.在公司促销、旅行和娱乐方面的开支比去年同期节省了2.68亿美元，根据公司的文件"主要是由于COVID-19的原因"。

(Associated Press)

On an annualized basis, that would be more than $1 billion. Indeed, Alphabet said in its annual report earlier this year that advertising and promotional expenses dropped by $1.4 billion in 2020 as the company reduced spending, paused or rescheduled campaigns, and changed some events to digital-only formats due to the pandemic. Travel and entertainment expenses fell by $371 million.

照这样来算，每年节省的费用高达10亿美元。事实上，Alphabet在今年早些时候的年度报告中表示，由于该公司减少了支出，暂停或重新安排了活动，并由于疫情大流行而将一些活动改为网络形式，2020年的广告和促销费用下降了14亿美元，旅行和娱乐支出减少了3.71亿美元。

The savings offset many of the costs that came with hiring thousands more workers. And the pandemic prudence allowed the company to keep its marketing and administrative costs effectively flat for the first quarter, despite boosting revenue by 34%.

这些节省的费用抵消了增加员工所带来的许多成本。尽管收入增加了34%，但对疫情的谨慎态度使该公司第一季度的营销和管理成本基本持平。

Google is notorious for perks such as massage tables, catered cuisine and corporate retreats, benefits that have influenced much of Silicon Valley work culture. Most Google staff have worked remotely and without those perks since March of 2020.

谷歌因提供按摩桌、餐饮美食和企业修养会等福利而声名远播，这些福利也影响了硅谷大部分的企业文化。自2020年3月以来，大多数谷歌员工都在远程工作，同时也失去了享受福利的机会。

However, Google plans to return to the office later this year. Chief Financial Officer Ruth Porat told investors the company is planning a “hybrid” model, spacing staff less densely than before. Porat also said Google will continue to invest in its real estate across the globe.

然而，谷歌计划在今年晚些时候让大家重返办公室。首席财务官露丝·波拉特(Ruth Porat)表示，该公司正计划采用一种 "混合" 模式，员工的间距不再像以前那么密集。波拉特还表示，谷歌将继续投资其在全球的房地产业务。