5 Tips To Ensure Business Continuity In The New Normal

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought unprecedented changes to the whole world. Many have been greatly affected by it, especially since no one had predicted the situation to develop into what it is today. Among those that have been hit the hardest are businesses, especially those offering non-essentials. Numerous businesses have had to face closures due to massive financial losses. However, such establishments don’t have to be gone for good. They can get back on track by adapting to the new normal, which would allow them to thrive in the years to come.

If you’re still struggling to keep your company afloat these days, don’t be too hard on yourself. There are other business owners out there in the same boat. Also, there are ways for your enterprise to stay operational despite the current situation. So how exactly can businesses survive the turbulent seas and changes in the new normal? Read on to find out.

1. Communicate With Customers

If there’s anything this pandemic has shown, it’s that customer service is more important than ever before. Loyal customers are the key to business continuity. Even in challenging times, they’ll continue to support your business.

Read more: 6 Easy Ways to Incorporate Client Feedback in Your Business

The reason for this goes back to their very nature. Your existing customers already trust your business through and through. They’re unlike new customers for whom you’ll have to keep coming up with innovative marketing efforts in order to convince them that your products are worth purchasing. When you have a loyal clientele, many of your business-related problems may go away, including those that others tend to experience during economic crises.

This may interest you: Can AI Replace Humans On The Emotional Front?

One of the best strategies to foster strong relationships with existing customers is to consistently communicate with them. Here’s how you can do just that:

• Provide real-time assistance, especially for those shopping online
• Deploy chatbots on your business website
• Collect customer feedback regularly so you can determine how to serve clients better
• You’ll be able to apply those ideas with ease by enlisting the services of a Johannesburg IT company like NetsurIT. Such professionals will help you address any of your IT issues so you can keep your business running and your customers satisfied.

2. Accept Online Payments

Most modern companies have business websites to efficiently provide information and meet their customers’ needs. If you don’t have one yet, it’s about time for you to hire experts who’ll help you set yours up. Then, take this effort one step further by accepting online payments for orders.

Image Source

For businesses to survive in the new normal, they must have an excellent online presence. That way, you can cater to customers who’d rather make purchases in the comfort of their own homes. This would also allow you to stay competitive even if clients can’t visit your physical establishment amid the pandemic. What’s more, you’ll be future-proofing your business by having both a website and an online store.

3. Partner With Reputable Internet Providers

Going hand in hand with the need for a business website is the need for a reliable internet provider. Ultimately, this would affect your ability to deliver stellar customer service. When your business has a fast, uninterrupted internet connection, you can ensure proper communication and be within easy reach of your clients.

A good internet connection is especially crucial for businesses that have adopted a remote work setup for some or all of their employees. You’d need it for your main office so your day-to-day operations there would go smoothly and you can connect with team members working from home without a hitch.

4. Tap Into Resources Provided By The Government And Financial Institutions

This fourth tip applies if your business has been affected by the pandemic to the extent that you can't recover from the financial loss you’ve experienced on your own. Perhaps you’ve used up all of your savings and your loved ones can’t help you due to their own money problems. Should that be the case for you, a good starting point is to look into the resources provided by the government and local financial institutions.

For instance, some governments provide monetary assistance to businesses that have been sorely hit by the global crisis. There are also banks offering small business loans with low-interest rates and flexible terms to cover losses during the pandemic.

5. Keep Calm And Take Care Of Yourself

As an entrepreneur, you are the captain of the ship that is your business. With that said, your company can’t carry on in this pandemic if you’re unhealthy, constantly panicking, or in a negative state of mind.

Image source: Happily

Ensuring business survival entails staying calm and looking after yourself properly. This is important so you can think of ways to keep your enterprise moving forward. If you take the necessary measures to stay healthy, you can steer your business in the right direction no matter what problems come your way.

Here are some of the ways you can keep your mind and body in check and be able to run your enterprise in the new normal:

• Eat healthily. When you’re stressing over your business, you may end up skipping meals or reaching for either fast food or comfort food. However, consuming nutritious meals is a must if you want your immune system to be in top condition. In doing so, you can continue working hard for the sake of your business’ survival.
• Exercise during your free time. Like eating well, exercising is needed for you to stay in good shape. Regular workouts can also improve one’s mental health. All of the problems brought about by the pandemic may lead to various mental health issues that’d affect not only your personal life but your work, too. That’s why it’s best to prevent them by developing healthy habits.
• Reduce your stress. The pandemic is highly stressful for everyone. So if there’s anything you can do to minimize the stress you’re experiencing, do it as soon and often as possible. While you should still manage your business properly, you have to take the time to unwind as well.

Conclusion

Nearly two years after COVID-19 first started spreading, businesses and individuals alike now have to face the new normal. Permanently closing one’s company may not always be the right solution since the economy has to go on and people have to earn a living. What business owners can do is adjust the way they operate their companies. It certainly won’t be easy at first, but if you start with the tips above, you can stay in business amid the pandemic.

About Author: Ava Genesis is a marketing executive who also runs a small business. She’s had to close up shop at the height of the pandemic, but today her company is thriving in the new normal, and she writes blog content to help other young entrepreneurs like herself. During her free time, she enjoys playing the piano and catching up on her reading.

The world is slowly transitioning to an endemic state. We are entering the 'new normal' and so will our businesses. During the occasion, we need to ensure that our well-being is on top of our game; as mentioned by the piece above wherein "ensuring business survival entails staying calm and looking after yourself properly". So, let me introduce you to our well-known product,  Happily (or Budaya for those from Indonesia) is an amazing engagement app built for organisations to drive engagement amongst employees. It has amazing analytics and also provides activities for employees to be fully immersed in the organisation's culture and values. To find out more, click here or email info@leaderonomics.com

Check out the media below to unleash all the fun activities: