TECHNOLOGY
How to use technology to prepare for the new normal
Steve Megson (pictured), Managing Director of Chamber patron Quiet Storm Solutions, gives his view on how businesses can utilise technology to adapt to the new way of post-coronavirus working.
Businesses have never been under more pressure to do more with less. But budgets and hours in the day are finite, so how do you unlock productivity and enable teams to get more done? The coronavirus lockdown meant
many businesses had to close their premises at short notice. Those without a Customer
Relationship Management (CRM) system were very limited in what they could do. But those with a CRM could update their customers on changes to their operations, as well as maintain contact to respond to changing needs. Having information stored in paper systems or spreadsheets is very limiting if you need to work remotely.
Whether you run a cafe, sell
parts, build houses, or provide training, there will be a way to improve productivity, manage employees, and deliver better customer service by implementing digital information management tools. With governments all over the
world ordering lockdowns, closing businesses, and ordering people to stay at home, there was little time to fundamentally change operations. Those businesses with better digital tools could adapt their operations faster.
‘I can't believe any business owner is sitting at home hoping things will return as they were’
The success of a business depends on the ability of its management systems, which provide visibility on actions to maintain standards. Management systems can keep
businesses and their people compliant, enhance communication, stimulate innovation, and drive productivity. The trouble is most 'off the shelf’ management systems make you conform to their way, leaving little room for differentiation. This may be OK for finance software, which provides tax returns to a compliance standard, but it does not give you an edge. Operational software lets you optimise what you do and create a differentiation point.
What you do must be attractive
to customers, but how you do it must be efficient. Digital systems can take
feedback from micro KPIs to give you a dashboard of what's working and what isn't. I can't believe any business
owner is sitting at home hoping things will return as they were. The world has changed forever,
the Covid-19 pandemic continues to shake the global economy and disrupt the way we live, work, and conduct business. Business leaders have passed the
initial shock of managing the immediate fallout, furloughing staff, adapting to remote working. Some have re-engineered
working practices to abide by the new social distancing rules. Now is the time to prepare for
the 'new normal', with technology as the enabler.
business network June/July 2020 65
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