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Business in the Age of the Coronavirus – the Rise of Digital Platforms

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business during coronavirus

The ways in which we do business have never before undergone changes quite like the ones we are experiencing at the moment.

True, one can argue that inventions such as the printing press or the use of steam and electricity in factories have revolutionized production and the workspace. We can also look back on all kinds of earth shattering events, from wars to technological advancements, and claim humanity has been as shaken up before.

And we could be right.

However, a species as technologically advanced as ours has never before been called to do less. Or, at least to do less in person.

The way we operate has moved almost entirely online. We have already shopped a lot online, but now we turn to digital platforms for something as basic as our daily meals. We work from home and have meetings on Zoom. We use FaceTime and every other chat app more than we’ve ever used them before. And of course, streaming services have seen an all-time rise in users across the globe.

While all of these pieces of digital heaven can certainly help you stay in touch and stay sane, the question remains – how are you to conduct your business digitally in the age of COVID-19?

Let’s explore!

Stay in business

First and foremost, you should be doing your absolute best to stay as open as you can. Depending on where you are in the world, that may mean shortening your working hours, going completely remote, or rethinking the way you do business.

Think of it this way: if you choose to close your doors completely, everyone will be at a loss – you, your staff, your customers, and your business.

But, if you look at the alternative (digital and remote) ways to stay open – even if you have no idea where to start – you can gain something and lose very little.

Look at the varied options you have available for production, delivery, offering your services digitally, and so on. No matter where you are in the world, there must be a way you can do something online.

Focus on value

Even if you can’t work at the moment at all – for instance, if you run a gym – there is plenty you can still do from the comfort of your home.

Yes, everyone is doing Instagram Lives, and yes, everyone is streaming everything, but that’s because now is the time to provide real value to your customer base.

Just because they can’t come to you doesn’t mean you can’t stay in touch. Think of a way to offer something digital – a blog post, a video, advice, anything you can give.

Look at the example of Wagamama in the UK, who’ve had their chef teach viewers how to make their famous chicken katsu curry. Do you really believe that just because people now know how to make it at home won’t have them running back to the restaurant once it’s open again?

 

Ship and deliver what you can

If you are having trouble delivering your own goods, but have a perfectly viable delivery service, put it to good use by delivering something else. There are countless digital platforms that offer deliveries, but there are also plenty of businesses that have never used them before.

If you can team up with someone whose products are in demand (even if yours aren’t) and work together via a digital space to provide offline goods to those who need them, you will be forging a valuable relationship that you can later utilize when offline is safe again. Not to mention, you can reach a lot of new customers this way.

Explore additional platforms

Sticking to the topic of digital platforms for delivery, why not try selling your goods on Amazon? Even if you’ve never done it before, and even if you are not from the US, you can still use the service to stay in business and get people their orders.

The ecommerce giant is certainly one of the lucky few businesses who have seen a rise in popularity as the pandemic takes over the world – and you can use their established network and infrastructure to stay afloat in uncertain times.

Reach an alternative audience

You may be experiencing a drop in sales, as people only shop for essentials like groceries and toiletries, and some forgo online shopping altogether. However, there are still those who are happy to shop if they can do so safely, in an aim to help small businesses stay solvent during the pandemic.

Just because your usual customer base may be playing it safe doesn’t mean you can’t explore alternative digital audiences. As people are spending more time than ever on social media, now is the perfect time to try and target audiences that are not usually your first priority.

You can partner up with influencers as well (since they are suffering the effects of lockdown too), and work on digital campaigns that will benefit you and their audiences.

You can retarget some of your PPC ads and see how you can hook new shoppers.

You can go live yourself, and as long as you provide enough value and/or entertainment, people will remember you and come back when they can.

Think of it as an investment in the future, if not as an immediate source of income.

Consider newly established (shopping) habits

Finally, remember that while we’re all turning to various digital platforms at the moment, our habits are still very different. We may shop more or shop less. We may be irritated by ads, or welcome the distraction. We may put together shopping and to-do lists for when this is all over, or we may spend days in our PJs looking for the remote.

Whatever you choose to do in the world of digital, account for the unexpected and the unknown, which is so abundant at the moment. Don’t look for too many patterns, as the climate is changing literally every day.

In this time of uncertainty, all you can do is provide some semblance of normalcy, and focus on giving rather than getting. That way, you can expect to see a significant return when business is back to normal.

Closing thoughts

Don’t be afraid to utilize different digital platforms to keep your business going – whether it be learning how to use Zoom or trying to shift to Amazon, do your utmost to survive. That’s the one good thing you can do in this age of unease.

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