The overarching themes of 2020 were unexpected to all of us; they were, of course, the themes of illness, isolation, and economic turmoil. The coronavirus pandemic pushed much of our whole world into shutdown, meaning businesses were left to weather the storm. Businesses that operated in office environments were forced to pack up and head home, sending employees into online work rather than physical collaboration at the office. This shakeup affected how businesses work with technology in myriad ways. So, what have businesses done to tackle the coronavirus crisis with online working strategies?
1.Online meetings vs board rooms
One key factor which shifted abruptly when the coronavirus hit, was the way business meetings were conducted. There was no more grabbing a coffee in between calls, no more board meetings with sandwiches passed around, and no more in-house creativity being thrown around between colleagues. Isolating at home, employees had only their computer and internet connection; meetings were held entirely online using servers such as Zoom and Microsoft Teams. So how has this affected business?
Despite the seeming loneliness of working remotely and only meeting colleagues online, remote meetings are surprisingly productive. According to business.com, 85% of businesses say their productivity has been increased since going remote. This way of working doesn’t suit everyone, but with the technology platforms available to us in 2020, it is possible to have creative, energetic meetings via video chat.
2. An increase in online marketing
If a business is used to operating physically, for example by operating out of a physical store, it will have had to adapt dramatically to the online marketing world. Online marketing strategies have been important for over a decade- the coronavirus pandemic didn’t exactly usher in a new digital age of online marketing – but online marketing has definitely become more crucial since the year began. Businesses who were accustomed to using customer service and signage to market their brand are now reliant on social media, SEO and PPC advertising to reach their target audience.
Many businesses who have had to convert to online retail are learning to harness the power of social media, using outreach tools, giveaways and influencers to turn the spotlight on to their brand.
3. Realizing the importance of cloud computing
Now that most businesses are operating largely online, the importance of cloud computing providers and IT support cannot be understated. If you run a business, you will know that this crucial time has led to a greater need for reliable IT support and service around the world.
Most companies nowadays are using cloud computing to operate their business. Why? Here are a few key takes on cloud computing:
- It is totally accessible from remote locations. Unlike company servers, cloud computing providers allow companies to access all their data from any device, provided the right details are entered. This means that through the coronavirus pandemic, businesses have been able to smoothly shift from office to home without any hassle whatsoever. Any employee can access their work from home, leading to great productivity, even from the couch!
- Cloud computing avoids accidental data erasure. Due to the fact that all files are stored on an online server, the chances of losing data and/or files are basically non-existent. This confirms greater reliability for any business, particularly those who rely heavily on data storage and analytics.
- Cost-effectiveness. Without an office space to rent, businesses are able to invest just a fraction of their usual outgoings on a reliable, watertight cloud computing provider. The future of business is in cloud computing, there’s no doubt about it.
4.The need for IT support is greater.
Just like the essential aspects of cloud computing, the need for IT support since the coronavirus pandemic began has increased. Employees, most of whom are not trained in IT specifics but are used to relying on office software and IT specialists at work, have found running their job from their home laptop difficult. The need for IT support has never been greater; businesses have searched far and wide for excellent, comprehensive IT support for their remote workers. Without this, remote employees are wasting time attempting to fix issues with their online work by themselves at home, reducing productivity and wasting company money too.
Conclusion
If you run a business, there’s a chance you have found this year pretty difficult to deal with. But with the right IT support, marketing strategy and productivity levels, your business can thrive, despite the pandemic that is going on around us.
