The full impact of the coronavirus crisis is still unknown. Many are anxious about how to move forward. Your business may be one of them.
Let your business rise above this trying time. Conduct precautionary measures and and continue showing your commitment to customers.
Move forward beyond COVID-19 by following these preventive steps.
4 Steps to Protect Your Business from the Effects of COVID-19
Regulate preventive measures within your business
Be updated on the latest developments and advices from public health authorities and the WHO (World Health Organisation).
Make sure to implement them within your business. And inform your employees as well.
Start with these measures:
Strengthen company health care
Station a full force in-house clinic with medical doctors and nurses on standby. Then encourage employees to get checked if they’re suffering from fever, dry cough, and breathing difficulty.
Now is also the time to strengthen your employee healthcare benefits. If you haven’t yet, provide your staff with healthcare insurance to cushion their healthcare costs.
Consider work-from-home arrangements
There’s no knowing we have the virus without doing the test. Protect your employees from exposure by providing work-from-home setups.
Leverage tools and applications to make remote work seamless and efficient. Secure remote access to files by getting a reliable cloud backup service.
Remote work may seem disconnecting. But if you maintain constant communication within the team, there shouldn’t be a problem.
Encourage employees to practice protective measures
Remind them about healthful practices through posters or infographics. Include steps on proper handwashing, disinfecting, wearing of masks, and social distancing.
Also, put up hygiene stations with hand sanitisers or alcohol in every corner of your workplace.
Adjust business operations
With social distancing measures still in place, we can’t be too complacent.
Adjust business operations and services to cater to frustrated customers. Here are smart ways you can follow:
- Services: Provide virtual courses and meetings. With a consultancy business, for example, you can use live streaming tools to conduct sessions.
- Stores: Provide cashless payment options. Update delivery timeframes and inform customers about possible delays due to the emergency.
- Events: If you have upcoming events, you can do them virtually and reschedule for later dates.
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Be transparent with customers
Maintain and strengthen customer relationships by showing transparency. This makes them feel valued even in this trying time.
Tell your customers how you’re dealing with the situation. Inform them of any changes in your operations and offerings. This may include limited customer support and purchasing policy updates.
There are many ways to get your message across. Emails and social media posts are a few. Building a forum is also a brilliant alternative to promptly answer customer enquiries.
Also, don’t forget to update your website with notifications in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Keep your business continuity plan flexible
Advices from public health authorities can change by the minute. This is to adapt to the changing level of impact of the coronavirus disease.
So, don’t stick to one plan. Ready your business continuity plan for the worst. You may need to keep adjusting your business processes. And when you do, don’t forget to keep your customers on the loop.
A solution that works for a business may not work for yours. So, tailor your plan to your specific business needs. Don’t forget to keep your customers’ and employees’ needs in mind.
Safeguard your business
Get your business to run smoothly after the COVID-19 crisis. Use the steps above and take preventive initiatives on your own.
Protect your business before it’s too late. Learn other business continuity tips and suggestions here.
