A few weeks ago, the coronavirus was just entering the public consciousness. It certainly wasn’t something most business owners and executives were thinking about. Now that it’s becoming clear we are in the midst of a pandemic that could go on for months (or longer), companies are scrambling to find answers.
Obviously, this is an incredibly trying time for everyone. However, if there is one silver lining to be found, it’s that we’ve reached a point in history where there are several internet-based tools we can use to keep organizations running even while enhanced regulations and safety protocols are in place.
In today’s post we want to share five tech strategies you might use to minimize the effects of the coronavirus pandemic on your business…
#1 Clean Everything Thoroughly
While this might not be the first thing on your mind, it’s worth remembering that keyboards, copiers, and other pieces of tech tend to see a lot of foot traffic in a given week. If you are concerned about spreading infections through your office, it’s a good idea to clean these pieces of equipment on a daily basis.
#2 Embrace Videoconferencing
Very few meetings are going ahead as planned, and virtually all conferences and trade shows have been canceled or postponed. That means getting together with customers “face-to-face” is going to involve using webcams and videoconferencing software. Make these a core part of your sales, marketing, and customer service strategies for the coming months.
#3 Upgrade Your Employee Tools
There’s a good chance you already have employees working from home. And even if you don’t, unexpected absences are going to become a fact of life as team members become ill or have to care for children who aren’t in school. You can use Slack chats, file-sharing tools, and project management apps to keep everyone on the same page even if they can’t be physically present.
#4 Make New Contingency Plans
Current clients will know we place a big premium on backup and disaster recovery planning. Most of the companies we work with have been able to adapt these plans to the current situation. However, whether you already have strategies in place or not, now is the time to think ahead to the coming months and ask yourself “what if?” along with your outsourced IT partner.
#5 Review All Tech Spending
It is widely expected that the current pandemic will lead to a sharp (but possibly brief) economic slowdown. With that in mind, this is a good opportunity to review your spending on apps, licenses, workstations, server space, and so on. You might be able to find places where you can safely cut back for a while without affecting productivity.
Need Help Putting These Ideas into Action?
It’s one thing to think about the steps you can take to keep your business moving forward during a public health crisis, and another thing to actually apply them to your situation. If you want help cutting through the noise and finding actionable strategies that can work for your company, then contact Fantastic IT in Los Angeles today. We will be happy to schedule a free consultation and work with you to find the answers you need.