Businesses all over the world have been affected by the pandemic, sparing almost no industry. Big and small companies have needed to rethink the way they do business. To keep their doors open in the new normal. They’re trying not only to survive but to thrive as well during these difficult times. They’ve needed to get carefully consider their next steps.
Finding the right balance between adapting to the new normal and considering which business practices to maintain can be challenging. Here are just some factors to consider for you to push through and thrive during this pandemic.
Working Remotely
The pandemic certainly hit global economies. However, the gravest toll it has taken from us has been actual human lives. The safety of your employees and stopping the spread of COVID-19 must be at the top of your priority list. During the pandemic, several employers moved to shift the majority of their workforce to remote work setups. Only critical departments were to continue working on-site. Retaining your workforce while also minimizing costs seemed unattainable. Businesses had to get creative with technological solutions to help bridge the gap created by physically not being in the office.
Digital Transformation
Businesses are actively searching to find new ways to work and serve their customers. If you were unable to open your stores or meet clients in the office physically, how were you going to keep the business afloat during the pandemic? Pursuing digital transformation meant going from physical stores to developing or participating in delivery services to reach customers. It also meant having client meetings over platforms such as Zoom or Skype.
Digital transformation also meant ditching physical stores altogether and going entirely online. Jewelry boutiques, clothing retailers, and even grocery items found a way to be almost wholly ordered and paid for online. However, even if you significantly reduce your physical workforce and pursue more digital avenues of business, the fact remained that someone had to be on the ground.
Safety Protocols
Post-pandemic, nonessential businesses start to open up. It’s crucial to maintain proper safety protocols. It is not just for the customers but for the employees too. A new world of social distancing, face masks, decreased in-store capacity, and health monitoring can be a little overwhelming. For businesses to start adapting to the new normal, employees had to feel safe enough to work on-site. Many companies engaged in clear and demonstrable acts that showed they put their employee’s health first. Rigorous testing, engaging professional cleaning and janitorial services, consistent health checks are vital. Even requiring professional protective equipment are just some examples of how businesses can keep their employees safe.
Professional Partnerships
During the pandemic, small-scale businesses were more adversely affected than larger ones. This effort led to a variety of unlikely partnerships between firms. One example has been partnerships between travel and hospitality brands with cleaning products and services. Popular hotels and ride-sharing services partnered with well-known cleaning product brands. They did this to provide their staff with hygiene kits and disinfectants at minimal costs. The cleaning products gained another revenue for income and exposure. At the same time, the hotels ensured the safety and cleanliness of their employees.
Their cooperation helped them better cater to their customers.
Altering Your Goods or Services
Although this may seem the most daunting, it’s also one of the most effective ways to adapt to the new normal successfully. Change doesn’t necessarily mean shifting industries entirely. It can also be finding innovative ways to utilize what’s already at your disposal. A great example of this has been airlines who chose to fly cargo instead of having people as passengers. Switching to transporting cargo allowed them to continue to do business even as the pandemic was at its peak. Finding new services that the market needed that used with the equipment or workforce specialties you already had served to create new business avenues.
Another example was a company that produced posters and billboards. They used to cater to the entertainment industry before the pandemic started. During the pandemic, they decided to create signs about social distancing and new health protocols. They managed to cater to a whole new market and demographic. They were also still able to utilize the equipment that they already had available.
Keeping business alive during the pandemic is undoubtedly challenging but not impossible. Keeping as many people employed and safe as possible is the top priority of any company. It’s not always just about the bottom line. Analyzing opportunities that keep people employed while still helping the business thriving is the goal. A keen eye for discovering innovative ways to change and grow will not only help you survive. It will also lead you to even bigger and better opportunities.
