Here are some ways COVID-19 changed the world as we knew it.

Digital Revolution

Before COVID hit our planet, some businesses invested time and money into digital transformation. However, not many businesses were too interested in this idea.

This all changed once the pandemic hit. Many businesses realized that contactless transactions could help reduce virus transmission so many businesses across the globe were forced to take radical steps to adopting technological advances in order to save their businesses.

Industries like hospitality, education, retail and healthcare had to adapt quickly to the changing landscape and digitize not only transactions but also the way they do business.  

For example online meetings, webinars and cashless transactions are more prominent today than they were pre COVID and experts agree that digitalization will become the norm in the near future.

Healthcare Reform

COVID-19 hit countries like the UK, USA and France very severely. Many were baffled how these advanced nations had major gaps in their healthcare systems.

Studies showed that more than half of citizens in the US with employer sponsored insurance delayed check-ups due to additional costs. In fact, over 68% of respondents reported that treatment cost played a large part in their decision to seek treatment if they had COVID-19. In cases like this, delaying treatment contributed to prolonging the pandemic while exacerbating economic impact.

Aside from healthcare reform, employees should also make it a priority to focus on the health of their employees. Mental health issues should also be addressed since many employees are working at home which can cause isolation, anxiety and depression in some people.

Growth Of Online Education

Many school kids around the world are also stuck at home. In order to minimize transmission of the virus, many schools have opted for online education instead of face-to-face classes. Many schools were unprepared to go online which resulted in confusion and chaos.

Despite all this, many schools have implemented online teaching that suits their requirements. This emerging business trend might be new and faces many challenges. However, many schools are coping very well to the changes. They have discovered (and are continuing to discover) ways to make assignments, tests and lectures interesting despite being held online.

Supply Chain Evaluation

The COVID-19 pandemic made the whole world realize how dependent we are on China. When the country shut down early last year in order to limit virus transmission, supply chains were disrupted around the world. This is the reason why businesses worldwide realized that they had to reconfigure their supply chain in order to avoid business disruption should a new pandemic emerge in the future.

Trends like patronizing local manufacturers are gaining traction. Strategies such as adopting a multi-tier approach are also becoming popular. These strategies will make it easier for businesses to manage logistics and inventory better.

Online Work and Remote Teams

While working from home is nothing new, it took off when the pandemic hit many countries around the world. Working from home used to be reserved for freelancers but lockdowns forced traditional office workers to shift to online work.

Online tools like collaboration apps, online video conferencing and the like are seeing a spike in demand since the pandemic started. Adapting to this new way of working has allowed many businesses to continue operations smoothly.

Experts agree that going back to traditional office working might not come back 100% post COVID. Many people will want to either work at home permanently or seek a more flexible work schedule in order to accommodate their needs for life-work balance.

Wrap-up

Many countries are hopeful for 2021. With mass vaccinations going on in many countries and Australia to start sometime in February, businesses are optimistic that the economy will experience a turnaround this year.

Despite the positivity, these emerging business trends are projected to stay with us. Dubbed as the “new normal”, will not only change the way we do business but also the way we live our lives in a post COVID world.

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It looks like finding ways to cope with Covid-19 will still be a daily struggle for many individuals, businesses and countries. It has had a huge impact on our daily lives and on the workforce. Although it is hard to imagine right now, but this pandemic will end and some things will go back to normal. For others, there will be a new normal.

Some of these changes will be temporary, others permanent. Here are a few ways Covid-19 is changing the workplace.

Corporate Flexibility

When Covid-19 hit Australia, many businesses were forced to shut down or to minimize the physical appearance of staff on the workplace. This is why many employees were quick to figure out how they could work from home efficiently.

Work from home was an alien concept before but many employees and companies are now embracing this practice because it provides flexibility. Now that many companies and employees realize that they can work at home and stay productive, it will be hard to let go of this practice even if the pandemic is over.

Headquarters 2.0

According to Apple CEO Tim Cook, temperature checks and social distancing guidelines will likely be followed even if infection rates go down and they will persist until such time that advances in medicine and health bring breakthroughs. However, once the pandemic is over offices will become more about community and interaction rather than individual productivity.

Conference rooms, video studios and meeting places will dominate offices of the future and offices will become a social environment rather than a “lock me in the office” scenario. Offices will be designed for better socialization and communication in an effort to take advantage of talent when they are in 1 location. Pandemic or not, humans are not robot and thrive on human interaction which leads to productivity and innovation.

Work Ready Homes  

Many remote workers did not find working from home difficult because they felt isolated; rather they were ill prepared for the sudden change in their working life. At the start, many of them did not have a work ready home or Zoom installed in their personal computers.

One of the biggest challenges remote workers had was internet performance. Many of them commented on how weak internet was at home which caused drops in productivity. Fortunately, internet for homes will improve quickly.

Home offices will also become a priority for people who are buying or renting homes. The ability to work from home will become an important factor for employees when moving.

Online Learning For All

Online learning will not just be for students anymore. Many companies are quickly learning that seminars can easily become webinars which makes it more convenient for everyone involved. It cuts down travelling accommodation expense and is more flexible for both parties.

Person-to-person learning, trainings and workshops won’t go away but they will be reserved for certain functions or personnel in the company.

Good-Bye To Business Attire

You likely dressed up for the office before Covid-19 but you don’t have to be dressed in business attire every day for remote working. Many work from home employees usually wear a smart blouse or shirt for their tops but wear comfortable bottoms with slippers. This way they are presentable enough for video calls but comfortable in their PJ bottoms, short or sweat pants.

Video Expert

Speaking of videos, many remote workers quickly became video virtuosos during the pandemic. Since video calls and meetings have become the norm; setting up video, looking good and sounding better have become important.

Remote workers had to learn to operate video apps like Zoom in order to interact and socialize with co-workers and in order to replace face-to-face meetings.

Bottom Line

According to a survey by Building20, Most Australians believed that working from home allowed them to be more productive or had minimal effect on their productivity. 45%of responders think that they were more productive while 32% thought their productivity remained the same. Overall, 51% said they prefer remote working compared to the 23% who preferred working at the office.

However, the survey also revealed a significant find: workers don’t want to go back to the inflexible working arrangements of before Covid-19. This means companies and businesses have to find ways to make a new office culture where remote work and traditional work can co-exist.

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In Australia, social distancing is now becoming second nature as outbreaks continue in some cities around the country. However, mandatory mask wearing depends on where you live. In Victoria for example, citizens are asked to wear face coverings when they are in public. With all of this confusion, many are asking whether businesses and offices are ready for the new normal.

Here are some tips on how you can safely manage opening your business in these pandemic times.

Implement Basic Health Protocols

Basic health protocols include: frequent hand washing or sanitizing, social distancing and mask wearing. Businesses have to realize that in order to protect customers and employees, everybody has to follow these basic guidelines.

In some countries, washing or hand sanitizing stations can be seen outside businesses and patrons are encouraged to wash their hands or sanitize before entering the premises. This is to make sure that there is minimal transmission of the virus once patrons are inside the stores. Additional protocols like mask wearing and social distancing can limit the transmission of airborne particles that could contain the virus and protect patrons and employees.

The Australian Government Department of Health has issued orders for everybody to practice physical distancing, good hygiene and to stay at home when sick even though states and territories are easing restrictions. Following these basic health guidelines at the office can protect everybody from the virus.

Risk Mitigation

Risk assessment should be followed at the office. This is an easy step that involves all employees in order to minimize everybody from contracting and spreading the virus. Risk mitigation includes:

• What can cause injury or infection at work?
• Evaluate the level of risk. How likely is this to happen?
• What are the steps needed to eliminate or reduce the risk?

Everybody should be involved in risk assessment. This will help you identify risk issues and reassure everybody that the company is being proactive regarding safety in the workplace.

Mental Health Support

Covid-19 has brought about uncertain times. Many of the world’s governments are in recession with economies contracting at alarming rates. Many employees and businesses also face uncertainties as shutdowns, unemployment and bankruptcies are being filed around the world. There is no doubt that the pandemic has affected everybody physically, emotionally, financially and mentally.

This is why it is also important to provide mental health support to employees who are having a hard time or those who want to reach out and talk. Like Covid-19, mental issues are invisible and sensitive. Providing employees the support they need in order to cope with these uncertain times can help them become happier and more productive.

Protect People At High Risk

Some employees are at higher risk of contracting Covid-19 than others and there are those who have a high risk of dying due to complications of the disease. For example, workers who are frequently on field and meet with different people are more at risk than contracting the virus. Providing them with proper PPE (personal protection equipment) can protect them from infection.

Senior citizens with comorbidities like heart disease and diabetes and those who suffer from autoimmune disease are also more likely to suffer from complications and have higher fatality rates. If you have senior citizens employed at your establishment, it is better to provide them with other alternatives like working from home or moving them to other departments that require minimal contact with people from the outside.

Contact Tracing

Keep a record of your guests too. You will want to inform them of possible infection should anybody from your business test positive for Covid-19. You can do this by physically recording their names and contact number or you can use a Covid-19 contact tracing app.

Australia uses COVIDSafe. As of August 1, 2020 the NSW Health announced that the app has helped in tracing an additional 544 people who tested positive for Covid-19. Remember, every case matters.

The other app being used in the country is Coronavirus Australia for information and isolation registration.

Clean & Disinfect Office

The office and the premises should be cleaned and disinfected regularly. If your office has a cleaning staff, they should be trained and provided with proper PPE as well as disinfectants that are effective against Covid-19.

High touch surfaces like desks, keyboards, mice, doorknobs, light switches, drawers and other similar surfaces should be disinfected and sanitized regularly by employees before and after office hours. The rest such as floors, bathrooms, lounge and other common areas can be disinfected by the cleaning staff.

Employees and cleaning staff should also practice proper hand hygiene. Bottles of sanitizers should also be made available for employee and customer use to minimize transmission on fomites.

Training And Awareness  

Everybody at the office should be trained in Covid-19 prevention and awareness. All employees should know and understand the basic health protocols and why they should be followed. Management should make it a priority to educate their employees about Covid-19 and what they can do to protect their fellow co-workers and family members.

Aside from this, staff should be aware or trained what to do should they test positive. In many parts of the world, once a positive diagnosis is received the individual is required to contact the local health workers for proper isolation and treatment. Employees should know who to contact and what to do should they face the worst case scenario.

Office workers should also be aware what to do if one of their colleagues test positive. For example, they should be made aware that self-isolation is important in order to prevent spreading the disease to their co-workers and family members.

Bottom Line

Many businesses are now open in Australia even though the government has imposed lockdowns in some areas due to surges in infection. This delicate walk between public health and the economy is nothing new as governments around the world also learning how to find a balance between them.

Businesses and offices have to learn how to co-exist with the pandemic in order to continue providing service, products and to exist.

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The “new normal” differs from state to state in Australia. For instance, in Western Australia the 2 person rule has been eased to 10 persons inside and outdoors. People can now invite up to 9 of their friends for some activities like barbecue but social distancing must be practiced.

However, Victoria – Australia’s most populous state – remains in lockdown. The differences in rules are making many businessmen to wonder how they can keep their businesses running during the pandemic.

Here are some basic guidelines to help you keep your business going despite the Covid-19 pandemic.

Understand Your Financial Position

The impact of the pandemic has been devastating to many Australian businesses. This is why it is important to make decisions based on your current financial standing. There are still government restrictions in place when it comes to trading, keeping employees and paying outstanding debts which will be determined by your financial position.

Meeting with your accountant to discuss your options will help you make a plan that will minimize the pandemic’s impact on your business. Cash flow is important right now especially if your business has been impacted by the pandemic.

Check For Government Assistance

There are several stimulus packages for businesses that were introduced by the Australian government to help business owners with the disruption on their livelihood. For instance eligible sole traders can avail the Job Seeker Payment stimulus which now includes an additional coronavirus supplement of $550 per fortnight for the next six months.

Western Australia has a small business stimulus/relief package to support small businesses during the pandemic.

Contact Bank and Insurer

Australia now has a loan deferral arrangement for small business owners for those with existing loans with banks. If your business has been disrupted because of the pandemic, contact your bank to discuss this arrangement.

The Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC) granted interim authorization to insurance companies and brokers to offer payment deferrals and refunds to businesses impacted by Covid-19. This package includes benefits like deferring insurance payments up to 6 months and requesting refunds for unused policies.

Seek Advice on How To Defer Tax Payments

The Australian Tax Office is offering a deferment of tax payments if your business is impacted by the pandemic. Call the ATO on 1800 806 218 or speak to your tax professional to discuss your options.

Deferring tax obligations can impact your eligibility to avail stimulus packages so make sure you get expert advice.

Talk To Your Landlord

The Australian government has a moratorium in place since March 29^th on evictions for the next 6 months for residential and commercial tenancies who are in financial distress and cannot meet their rent.

Call your landlord to discuss arrangements regarding your lease especially if your business did not operate during lockdown or even after restrictions are lifted. 

Keep Informed of Changes

With so many fake news and different information available online, it is understandable to be confused and overwhelmed. The best way to keep up with the latest developments is to get information from reliable sources such as the following:

• WA.gov.au     
• Business.gov.au     
• Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman

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Today, many countries around the world are enforcing stay-at-home orders and ordering the closure of many “unessential” businesses. This means theatres, art galleries, restaurants, pubs and bars, cinemas and many more are shuttered. Countries are also scrambling for an appropriate response because so far this disease has no cure.

Each country is clearly facing different challenges. However, there are opportunities that companies and businesses can learn from what happened in China. With Wuhan lifting lockdown restrictions in the city, the country appears to be on the verge of starting an economic rebound. While this recovery is still vulnerable to a new wave of infections, many Chinese companies are now looking towards post-recovery planning.

Here are some lessons business leaders and companies can learn from China.

Constantly Reframe Business Model  

The Covid-19 pandemic has led businesses to unchartered territory. Not only because it disrupted supply chains when the disease broke out in China but also because it spread worldwide rapidly, causing many governments to become unprepared.

Unlike the 2002 SARS epidemic where it primarily spread to Asian countries, Covid-19 is on a worldwide rampage with numbers of infection and deaths surpassing SARS with a large margin. In order to cope with uncertainty, business leaders need to constantly reassess and reframe their business model.

For example, businesses in China quickly learned to shift from brick-and-mortar operations to an online model. There were businesses that were quick to realize that with lockdowns in place, nobody would be able to go to grocery stores and shop, which is why many of them shifted focus to online efforts or by supplying small stores. As a result they were able to recovery more quickly.

Create Clarity And Security For Employees

In times of crisis, it can be hard to find clarity. It seems that during this Covid-19 pandemic there is too much uncertainty and constant change which is confusing not only to individuals but for employees as well. Since the environment is always shifting, guidance and official advice might be contradictory, out of date or even absent. It is natural for employees not only to become confused but also to find new ways to adapt. However, they won’t be able to do so unless there is clear and consistent information from upper management.

There are Chinese companies that crated guidelines and support to employees early. This proactive kind of leadership provided guidelines in terms of organizational procedures for employees. For example, there should be a instructions for employees to limit exposure to other colleagues when dining and emergency plans should such situations arise. Chinese employers required regular health checks for their workers and their families during the early stages of the outbreak. Many companies also procured safety equipment such as masks and PPEs to ensure that workers are kept safe even while at work. As a result, there were companies that were able to reopen production lines around mid-February.

Be Labour-Flexible

Many businesses in China were hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic. Restaurants, bars and pubs had employees that were vulnerable to the changes that happened in the country. Many restaurants were forced to close down especially in locked down cities.

In order to provide work to their employees, creative Chinese businessmen reallocated employees to other businesses that needed manpower. For example, in areas where there were cinema, restaurant and hotel closures, employers shared their workforces to other companies instead of furloughing them. They were shifted to a new retail supermarket chain owned by Alibaba to help with delivery services due to the increase in online purchases.

Shift Sales Channel Mix

Many brick-and-mortar stores were affected by the Covid-19 Pandemic in China. With many businesses shuttered closed and citizens ordered to stay at home, sales from traditional forms of business quickly dwindled to nothing.

Agile Chinese businessmen were quick to adapt to these changes. A cosmetics company called Lin Qingxuan for instance was forced to close most of its physical stores including those in Wuhan, potentially leaving many employees out of a job. Their strategy to avoid this was brilliant. They deployed over a 100 beauty experts from those stores and turned them into influencers and used tools like WeChat to engage customers. As a result, sales in Wuhan were able to see a 200% growth compared to last year’s sales.

Look For Opportunity

With many businesses forced to close in order to curb the spread of the virus, many business leaders and owners felt hopeless. The pandemic has impacted many businesses and the Chinese economy. However, there were also companies that thrived and even saw a boost in their sales and profit.

Lockdowns and pandemic can bring unexpected opportunity too. B2C (business to ecommerce), remote meeting services, social media, hygiene products, health insurance and other businesses were able to find opportunity despite the hard times. For instance a social video platform called Kuaishou promoted online learning in order to compensate for school closures. They partnered with the country’s Ministry of Education to open a national cloud classroom so students can continue to learn in the safety of their homes.

Bottom Line

As the pandemic continues, more lessons can be learned not only from China but from the USA, but from Korea, Spain and Italy too. Companies that are quick to adopt changes in to their organizations can protect their employees and businesses more quickly. Since the Covid-19 pandemic is quickly changing how we do business, an adaptive approach should be applied broadly and beyond crisis management.

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However, surviving the pandemic is possible for businesses. For countries like Australia, some of the strictest lockdown policies are being implemented with schools, pubs, restaurants and theatres shut down and people are being asked to practice social distancing. However, many essential businesses like those providing food, manufacturing, health services and other essentials kept open to supply the needs of people staying at home.

While China seems to be embarking a comeback by slowly easing quarantine restrictions in the hardest-hit region of Wuhan, the rest of the world is still coming to grips with the pandemic. Let’s take a look at some tips that can help protect businesses and help them rebound during the Covid-19 Pandemic.

Update Your Covid-19 Intelligence

While Covid-19 is a new disease, it is caused by the coronavirus which causes ailments like the common cold, cough, SARS and MERS. It is primarily spread from person to person through small droplets coming from their nose or mouths when an infected person coughs, sneezes or breathes. The droplets can land on surfaces which transfer to another person when they touch the contaminated surfaces and then touch their face, nose or eyes.

The problem here is that Covid-19 is a new disease. While we know the basic information regarding the disease, there are still many unknowns which in turn fuels fake news on the internet. Since it is a new disease, it needs a new strategy in terms of control, mitigation and treatment.

Knowing the correct facts regarding the virus as well as following only verified and reliable sources of information can help your business survive because the right information will help you prepare properly. As new developments arise in terms of new epicenters for the disease, strategies and potential cures, updating knowledge will make it easier for businesses to reframe their strategies.

Communicate Regularly

Now that you have correct and reliable information, it is important that other people in the organization also have access to this kind of information. Fake news, as well as Armageddon-like scenarios, are currently trendy on the internet causing many people to panic and hoard toilet rolls and essential supplies. It is therefore upper management’s responsibility to educate their employees of the right information so that they are armed with facts and can prepare themselves and their families properly.

Having the right information can also improve the mood inside the office. If your employees have the right info, they can prepare properly at home and have safety measures installed in the office they have peace of mind and can go about daily tasks confidently. This way their productivity is not affected.

Be Flexible

According to reports, over a third of humanity is in quarantine due to the disease. In countries like India, more than 1.3 billion people are being asked to stay at home. In the United States, over 80,000 people are infected and more than 1,000 have died. Many other countries like Australia, Germany, Italy and Spain are under lockdown in a bid to flatten the curve.

Now that many people are asked to stay at home, businesses have to become flexible when it comes to staffing the workplace. Work-from-home programs should be implemented whenever possible. Some companies should also explore deploying skeleton forces where only the essential employees show up at work or moving to a shifting schedule to reduce the number of people in the workplace. Being flexible means fewer people are exposed to the virus and more employees are kept safe.

Manage & Mitigate Risks

Pandemics are uncertain times for businesses. This means business leaders or upper management should continue to assess risks and consult with legal counsel regarding their operations.

For example, when implementing quarantine for returning employees who came from infected countries should be within WHO, CDC and other official guidelines. In other words, resist the temptation to make decisions or policies based on rumours or fake news.

General guidelines for management policy should include the following basic principles:

• Use only official sources for Covid-19 health guidelines when creating your own.
• Avoid determining risk based on race or country of origin when observing an employee’s health condition.
• Maintain confidentiality of staff with confirmed Covid-19 and address it as you normally do when it comes to employee issues.

Make Sure That Customers Are Safe Too

Customers are the lifeblood of businesses. Without customers, businesses would cease to exist, which is why businessmen need to take care of them too.

In this relation, you can always remind customers to practice basic Covid-19 prevention by posting signs to wash their hands regularly. You can also put up some hand sanitizer dispensers on your countertops or entrance and encourage them to use them often.

Studies show that asymptomatic patients can still infect other people even though they don’t show symptoms themselves.  If masks are available in your country, ask employees to wear them when dealing with clients and customers. Not only will it protect them from the virus, but it will also prevent customers from coming in contact with a potentially positive case.

Prepare Your Supply Chain

Stocks are probably the first to suffer during a worldwide pandemic especially since China is the world’s factory. This is why mitigating the impact on your supply should also be at the forefront of your to-do list to protect your business.

With airlines around the world paring down flights and countries shutting down airports, it can be challenging to maintain a healthy supply of your stocks. To meet this challenge you need to map your upstream suppliers back. Get to know them and develop a relationship with them especially if they are the source of your key resources.

Prepare to repurpose too. For example, hospitals around the world are in short supply of personal protective equipment or PPE which can protect them from Covid-19 infection. In response to this, many designers are repurposing their production line to make PPE for hospital staff and first responders. Businesses should learn how to be fluid and prepare themselves on how they can repurpose existing supplies and materials so that business can go on as usual.

Wrap-up

Covid-19 remains to be unpredictable and is keeping governments and businesses on their toes. In times like this, getting reliable information, staying informed and effective communication can help businesses craft a strategy that can tide them up during this upheaval.

This pandemic will continue to challenge businesses for many months to come. However, proper policies and best business practices are the best weapons businesses have to weather these tough times.

We are here to help in these difficult times to enhance your digital systems and help you adapt to remote work and digital delivery of goods and services.

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