The pandemic officially declared by the WHO just over 2 months ago, on March 11, 2020, COVID-19, has already been changing the way we live. At this moment, the focus is mainly on people's health and measures to contain the Coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2).
Governments and official bodies assume the leadership role in decision-making, but it is also up to companies to take the lead in this situation and help combat this disease.
This text was prepared for every entrepreneur, manager and sales professional, who wants to find measures to keep their business running while helping to contain COVID-19.
Here you will have practical tips to implement both in physical service and for those working from home.
Time is crucial
This virus has a very significant transmission potential, which means it is highly contagious, so the sooner you act within your company, the better.
Time is precious amid the pandemic, numbers grow daily, information that is given in the morning is already delayed at the end of the day. So here the tip is to make a decision as quickly as you can. If necessary, meet with your board so that everyone can come up with solutions together.
Doing what you can, with what you have
Changes in physical service, reduction of hours worked, reorganization of people and teams, implementation of home office, and many other tips and ideas on how to keep your company productive in this quarantine are possibilities. Do what you can.
A Ambev used ethanol from its breweries to produce 1,2 million units of alcohol gel and donate. It doesn't mean that you need to do exactly the same, but, in some way, this is the time for you to show the value of your brand by being useful, delivering value, adding something to people's lives.
Technology to avoid contact between people
This is the time to start using technology to benefit your business. You know that in-person meeting or interview that can be via video conference? You know that meeting that could have been an email? Now it's time to learn how to use applications and tools that will help your company.
This also applies to customer service, if you always put it off until later to learn how to use a customer service tool, automate a chat or something similar, the time has come to get all these ideas off the ground and embrace technology.
Implement Home Office
Even when it comes to technology and process and people management, Home Office can be the ideal solution for you to keep the business running, while taking care of the health of your employees.
Of course, not all segments are able to implement this type of work, again, the rule applies here: do what you can. One thing is certain: Covid-19 is bringing different ways of thinking, working and relating and the Home Office will be more valued after the quarantine period.
So manager, is there a helping hand?
We know that managing a team is not easy, especially remotely. Therefore, we are here to help you with some strategies during this time of remote work. Here we will help you communicate, connect, overcome conflicts, get work done and improve the team.
With remote teams becoming more common, managers need to adjust management approaches to achieve goals. Being a good manager with remote employees means doing the basics.
It is essential to have a team with the following characteristics:
- Self-sustaining productivity: You have to spend very little time checking that the team is working;
- Using documents in real time, such as a Google document, or other cloud technology, to show when the document was viewed or changed, and who did so. This is great for monitoring team productivity with minimal effort.
- Reliability or reputation for high-quality results: Whenever you see something, like good formatting or writing in an email, make it standard team procedure.
Communication is everything
The pandemic has brought a feeling of great uncertainty to everyone, every day new measures are presented, new decrees emerge and in the midst of all this, people need to stay informed and updated. This tip is gold: your company needs to keep customers, employees, suppliers and partners updated.
Imagine that you can no longer open the doors of your physical space due to some decree and your customer decides on the same day to go to your store and finds the door closed? Nothing positive for your company, as this time could have been saved.
Therefore, use all the communication channels that are within your reach and budget. Digital media, at this time of distancing, are being used more by everyone, how about using social networks, websites, blogs, communication apps, emails to be able to speak to your entire audience.
Don't forget that the internal communication of the team of employees is also important at this time, everyone needs to be aware of what is happening in the company, but mainly, about the opening and closing announcements and the release for home office.
Changes in physical service
According to each municipal decree, some cities are already slowly allowing some sectors to resume operations. Even with authorization to open the doors, a series of measures must be taken to prevent the spread of the virus and contact between people.
Reducing the number of employees working in shifts, providing alcohol gel for employees and customers, mandatory use of masks, distancing in queues and waiting rooms, among other practices, are essential at this time.
Increase hygiene rigor
Still talking about changes in service – the key point is the hygiene of everything: from the physical location, handrails, door handles, equipment, parts, even hands, chairs, taps, shared utensils, for example if two people use the same computer at different times.
Some companies are also taking all the necessary precautions in face-to-face service, as is the case with Strike Brasil.
In the more than 30 franchise stores, in physical locations, measures to contain the virus are also being taken. All employees use alcohol gel, gloves and masks when providing care.
The company's units are also serving at home and following guidelines for caring for one person at a time, using masks and gloves.
The service can be booked via the website, without leaving home, and a team of attendants will answer questions, provide a quote and direct a team to carry out the service at your home. All equipment and vehicles used for care are previously sterilized, thus ensuring good practices against Covid-19.
Reversing the economic crisis
With the quarantine and the closure of many companies, entrepreneurs need to look for alternatives to reverse the economic crisis and maintain cash flow and cash inflow.
Fidelity program
One way to attract new customers and retain old ones is to develop a loyalty program. The entrepreneur offers some benefit, retribution to the loyal customer, to the customer who is always buying from his company.
As the financial situation of many companies is somewhat uncertain at the moment, you do not necessarily need to deliver a physical gift to your loyal customer. It is possible that you will be offered a discount voucher, ticket, percentages, or a discount on some other product or service from your company. The possibilities are endless here, gather your team and decide what is within the company's reach at this moment.
Delivery
As we cite the example of Strike Brasil, some companies are seeing delivery as a way to improve their finances at this time.
There are already several delivery platforms that can be used, some for food, market, pharmacy, even a delivery platform for everything you can imagine, it's worth checking if these services are already available in your city and using a platform that is already ready. .
Don't feel tied to such platforms, if your company is still small, or if it cannot advertise on these platforms, it is possible to deliver with your own communication channels. Like her own Strike Brasil did, they created an exclusive page on their website for the customer to schedule the service and talk to the service team.
A smaller company, with little demand, or even a MEI that does not yet have a website, it is quite possible that it has social networks, email – these channels can also be available to the public to be the delivery platform.
Changing our routine so suddenly can make us feel strange, even a lack of routine control. If you still think you feel lost in this situation, calm down, the current moment is not about the end of our old routine, but rather, a way of reinventing ourselves. It is through the crisis that the opportunity is born to improve and build a fairer and more responsible society for everyone.
