Is this “the New Normal”? Or are we still struggling to shake off “the old abnormal”? If you own and operate a small business, and you suffered through the disruptions of the COVID-19 pandemic, you might be asking yourself where in the process of recovery you are. To paraphrase Winston Churchill’s iconic World War II radio address, “Is this the end, or at least the beginning of the end, or simply the end of the beginning?” The answer to that daunting, haunting question might depend on how you employ business technology to overcome the vulnerabilities that the pandemic exposed.
In this article, we’ll discuss some of the lessons from the COVID shutdowns and some key IT strategies to safeguard your business in the future.
“Okay,” I can hear you groaning, “we lived through it; we don’t have to rehash it.” Fair enough. Most of us would like to put COVID permanently in the rearview mirror. Unfortunately, the conditions that allowed COVID to happen still exist, suggesting that a similar incident in the future is possible, if not likely. So, if we’re going to talk about remedies and safeguards, we must briefly restate the problems small businesses encountered and the lessons we might have learned.
Briefly, COVID created a situation where:
Now, that’s a tough environment in which to do business.
COVID conditions forced businesses to adapt a number of survival strategies, which included:
The forced changes were a mixed bag; many delivered benefits and actually saved companies time and money, while others simply added to the cost of doing business.
If you’re in the restaurant industry, you’re certainly hoping for a return to healthy socializing and a renewed appreciation for better-than-home cooking, or at least the convenience of a good meal without the prep and cleanup. If we had to bet, we’d wager that these aspects of human nature are not going to change. Where restaurants might see permanent change is in the difficulty of staffing and sourcing supplies, as well as the desire for takeout/delivery of upscale meals. This will force restaurants to become more efficient, and many will rely on technology. Many fast-food chains have already gone to automated kiosks, which offer the convenience of limited contact purchasing while reducing staff costs.
While it’s too soon to tell how permanent most COVID changes will be, it’s safe to assume that the trend towards online commerce, which was already building, will continue. Consumers are going to do more of their purchasing online, which means that small, brick-and-mortar businesses must develop a robust online presence to remain competitive. What smaller companies can do to distinguish themselves from Amazon, Walmart, and the other giants, is to excel in customer service. Automated support, where customers can get assistance at a click, along with call centers where customers can have an actual person solve their issues, will be key.
On the worker side, businesses are finding that once you let employees work from home, they are not wild about coming back to the office. Remote work is a trend that will not reverse itself.
Many of the COVID trends had already gotten traction and simply accelerated during the pandemic. Many businesses that performed well under COVID restrictions had already read the tea leaves and were poised to update their practices. In many cases, they needed to look no further than their five-year technology plan and begin early implementation.
A carefully thought-out IT plan can help your business adjust to post-COVID business realities, so you remain competitive, even against your toughest rivals. Here are a few highlights to consider:
At KMF Technologies, we understand that every company has impediments when it comes to adapting and upgrading IT. That’s why we provide highly personalized services, focused on your specific needs. Whether you’re a total tech nerd or a reticent adopter, we can help you develop a technology plan well suited to business in the post-COVID era. Call us today.
