Creating Business Continuity: Preparing for the Post-COVID-19 Economy

Companies everywhere have put contingency plans in place to weather the COVID-19 storm. In offices, employees are setting up desks at home, replacing in-person meetings with zoom, and attending conferences via webinar. Businesses dependent on public retail spaces have had to pivot quickly to figure out how to maintain sales, even while their store traffic is lower than ever. Digital technology has never played a more important role in enabling businesses to function.

Take, for example, curbside delivery. The restaurants and retailers that already had the technology to take and fulfill virtual orders have been better prepared for the business consequences of social distancing.The ones that did not have these options already built into their businesses, however, have been left to create a curbside approach quickly, working through important questions on the fly, such as:

• What can we do to keep customers and employees safe?
• How can we make interactions contactless?
• Where will people park?
• How will they place an order?
• How will we distribute orders once customers arrive for pick up?
• How will I train staff on new procedures?

Watch Mobiquity’s webinar on how to get started with curbside here. Temporary strategies won’t be sustainable — or will they?

While some companies have put together a workable temporary plan, it may not be conducive for the long haul. With predictions that COVID-19 could come in waves for the next year or more, temporary plans will be mercilessly pressure-tested and many will not hold up to long term, sustained order volume.

To address this, many companies are looking at new strategies to help drive business during the coronavirus pandemic and also long after the pandemic is over. For example:

• Domino’s instituted contactless delivery in their mobile app, which could be relevant for the long term
• Doctors and hospitals are holding more telehealth appointments and this could become a way to better manage patient flow in the future
• Financial service startups already have the capability to bank in a fully digital way, giving them an advantage versus many traditional banks that still require customers to come to a branch to open a new account

There’s no reason why all companies can’t start implementing digital strategies to adapt to these changing times. Here are some ways you can think about getting started:

• Banks could enhance their digital technology to make it possible to both open and manage new policies online (especially as new pockets of customers begin embracing digital)
• Brands can use Alexa or other conversational agents to maintain social distancing while still providing superior customer experiences
• Convenience stores can give customers more options at the pump, such as contactless fuel pay

Getting ahead: Plan now for the inevitable digital future

Companies that have business continuity plans in place were likely ready for the COVID-19 pandemic — but it’s clear that many never expected this type of transformation. As digital becomes increasingly important, companies that use this time to prepare for the post-COVID world will come out stronger.

Mobiquity: Your partner in digital transformation

Mobiquity has helped some of the world’s leading brands digitally transform to create meaningful experiences for their customers and employees. We recently launched a Quickstart Curbside Workshop to help companies fast-track a robust curbside experience. We also have a Contactless Kit for convenience stores and gas stations looking to create touchless experiences.

No matter where you fall in the COVID-19 economy, we can help you establish a program or transform a temporary program into one that can add a new source of value for your business.

If you’re ready to implement a digital strategy for your business, contact Mobiquity today.

Originally published at https://www.mobiquity.com.