How businesses are adapting to the ‘new normal’ (Pt 2)
AS THE world economy continues to change because of COVID-19, people are still trying to find ways to adapting to the ‘new normal’. So:
• What are businesses doing now to adapt to the new normal?
• How has COVID-19 affected your business operations?
• What have you done to cope with the restrictions and adapting to the current changes?
• How do you see yourself returning to business post COVID-19?
In the last article, we looked at telecommunications giant FLOW and their strategic and philanthropic approach to adapting, as well as the innovative and creative approach being employed by Wee Design.
This week, we’re getting some insights into two more resilient Jamaican businesses.
Name: Nayan Williams
Title: CEO
Business name: Lifespan Company Limited
Type of business: Bottled water manufacturing
Like most other businesses, working hours had to be adjusted. New procedures had to be put in place, and social distancing had to be observed. The frequency of washing hands and sanitising also had to be increased. Persons’ temperatures are being checked and masks have to be worn while at the facility, and if anyone is not feeling well, they are told to stay home. In reality, all areas of business have been impacted.
The demand for the product has gone up; however, getting it to the consumer has its limitations. We have had to make the most of what we can. For example, we have been offering free home deliveries, which a lot of consumers have been thankful for as they would rather not leave home if they don’t have to, given the restrictions faced at the retail outlets.
The limitations we face as a business have become the new norm, and we encourage everyone to follow the rules in preventing the spread of the virus.
We are living and trying to conduct business in a partial lockdown. This means there are also delays with getting supplies and delivering goods, and, therefore, our only choice is to work with what’s available to us. We do not know how long the current situation will last, and we also have to consider the possibility of a complete lockdown at some point if the masses continue to defy the directives from the Government.
After COVID-19 passes, it will be a new beginning for all, including our business. Like us, businesses will have to revise their risk policies and contemplate measures which were not thought of before now, in the event of similar situations that may arise. A pandemic of this magnitude cannot really be mitigated against; however, we have to find the gaps and fill them as we go along, being sure to come up with the best possible measures to lower the impact on business.
The advancement of technology has given us new modes of reaching our customers, therefore, as a business, we must leverage these modes to reach our consumers.
Post COVID-19, business for us will focus on picking up where we left off, to continue working on becoming a stronger and more sustainable business, empowering our communities.
Name: Dellon Lewis
Title: Owner
Business name: Gold Canvas Type of business: Products and services
COVID-19 has affected us significantly. Gold Canvas is closely associated with events and so on, and with the ban on all public gathering, a huge percentage of our business is on pause at the moment.
We have resorted to working from home as much as possible. Gold Canvas is also a graphics-based company, so we are still designing and creating various visual content from home. We are still communicating with clients and working on future projects, because even though we are going through a pandemic at the moment, it’s not something that will be going on forever, so we still have things in the pipeline working on for future events and so forth.
What we have been doing is looking at areas where we can improve on our services, and that includes production, quality, introducing new services, etc.
Post COVID-19, we should be in an execution mood. What many small business owners can attest to is that bouncing back after a fall is not easy, but the road can be manageable with proper planning and execution.
CLOSING
Jamaica’s core value and motto, ‘Out of Many, One People’, is critical now more than ever. We have to stand as ONE and work together as we work to prevent the spread of this dreaded virus, help people in need, and keep the economy as functional as we can while we continue finding ways to adapt to the new normal.
Digital and social media marketing companies, such as It’s JUS Marketing @itsjusmarketing, offer many of the services and training companies will need to be highly efficient in the virtual world.