While it’s true that the recent pandemic is in no way over, and is not likely to be the last one we encounter, you’d be forgiven for thinking that we can now plan for a return to ‘normality,’ as it’s key to think of the future and upcoming norms when running a firm.
Running a business in a post-pandemic world is not easy, because running a business isn’t easy to begin with. Yet there are some assumptions, changes, and practices that may have been implemented, encouraged or influenced in the last year, and they’re worth thinking about lest they affect your firm for the worse.
In this post, we hope to discuss what those necessities are, how we can develop a proper way forward, and how you can deftly sidestep the issues that might have otherwise developed. For instance, some staff are so comfortable with remote working that failing to properly integrate this utility could be seen as backward-thinking. As you can see, many norms have adjusted.
Let’s discuss what those could be, below:
On Remote Working
The topic of remote working deserves some extra consideration. It’s true that many businesses are starting to call their staff back into the office, and for good, necessary reasons. Yet it’s also true that the infrastructure, development of norms, and the need to develop worthwhile measures for convenience need not be thrown away just because most of our staff are now vaccinated.
From being able to structure impromptu meetings, or ensure people with immediate life circumstances to deal with can also work from home, and beyond, this kind of approach can make a massive difference should we integrate that into our daily lives. It might also be that investing in devices for our staff to more readily adhere to a common remote working format (it’s easy to enhance security when staff are working from controlled devices), or integrating one remote workday a week to enhance staff satisfaction and productivity levels, running a business in a post-pandemic world can make use of the conveniences we’ve been relying on for the past year, and for clear, necessary reasons.
Regaining Consumer Trust
It’s essential to regain consumer trust occasionally because goodwill is not a static entity, but a flame that must be kindled. This is especially true after a year of consumers trying to hold tight to their income and limit their expenses for a wide variety of reasons - the most expansive of those including the tepid security of jobs in a pandemic.
For this reason, consumers need to be gently coaxed into feeling confident about spending with you again. Promotions, coupons, discounts, premium subscriptions for free delivery and loyalty points (or preordering goods), and making sure that our consumer trust is cared for appropriately, all of this can be aided with a careful marketing strategy you need to invest in, and the willingness to run a campaign that eats into your profits for a small while.
It can also be healthy to be front and center, to improve your social media messaging, and to reinvest in the staff training they can use to interface with your customers.
Researching The Market
It’s true to say that the market has changed over the last year in various ways. More and more companies have pivoted their approach for added convenience in order to appeal to their customers, such as delivery services, or loyalty point schemes.
Yet the particular market you hope to be part of may have changed more or less than others. For instance, hospitality services, such as the restaurant industry, is now propped up by delivery services that can help you deliver food using a third-party courier, allowing you to offset the reduced numbers of restaurant attendees with those who have made eating at home part of their continued schedule.
It might be that you can thrive in this new market. But you need to know exactly what’s going on within it. For this reason, deep research is essential.
Where Does Your Value Lie?
Just as assessing where the value to be found in a market may be, it’s good to ask if the value your company offers has changed.
Might it be that the chance for international trade is now possible? Well then, what is a US customs broker, and how can they help you? Asking these questions may help you learn where to invest, how to apply your assets towards growth, and exactly where your blind spots are.
With this advice, we hope you can more easily run your business in a post-pandemic world.
