{"id":6609,"date":"2020-03-12T15:03:34","date_gmt":"2020-03-12T15:03:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/?p=6609"},"modified":"2026-01-09T15:06:54","modified_gmt":"2026-01-09T15:06:54","slug":"coronavirus-tips-covid-19-doesnt-slow-business","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/coronavirus-tips-covid-19-doesnt-slow-business\/","title":{"rendered":"Coronavirus: 4 tips to ensure COVID-19 doesn\u2019t slow your business down"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tStrategy, Legal & Operations<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\tCoronavirus: 4 tips to ensure COVID-19 doesn\u2019t slow your business down\t\t\t\t\t<\/h1>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t

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\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\"Keir\t\t\t\tKeir Thomas-Bryant<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n

In light of the coronavirus outbreak (COVID-19<\/a>), contingency planning has become a major consideration within businesses worldwide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This kind of planning is useful in any event, whether it be for coronavirus, inclement weather, or train or bus strikes. It might keep managers awake at night but it shouldn\u2019t have to, especially as there is plenty that businesses can do now to prepare for operational resilience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Coronavirus: Work from home policy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If your business is using cloud technology, your employees can work from the comfort of their homes, should there be work closures, and you can relax in the knowledge that your people can continue to be productive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your finance team, for example, will be able to stay on top of managing cash flow and invoicing by accessing accounting software even if they\u2019re not in the office.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Regardless of world events, many businesses worldwide know flexible working is beneficial. According to research from MindMetre Research, 82% of employees from organisations offering flexible working say they\u2019re more productive<\/a>, while 58% say it improves job satisfaction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The best policy is one where a culture of home working at any time is normalised for employees where it\u2019s a realistic option.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Takeaway one<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Consider the need for a work-from-home strategy for those areas of your business that can support remotely. Part of this could be to adopt cloud computing \u2013 and it doesn\u2019t have to be a lengthy process to do it either.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Having your data stored in the cloud rather than individual devices means information can be accessed anywhere if you have an internet connection. By adopting cloud computing, your employees will be able to work when and where they need to.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Takeaway two<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Put the right tools in place. Do you have the right ones to ensure your employees can still be operational if they cannot make it into the office? Do they have access to laptops, work phones and adequate internet connectivity?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Technology is essential to ensure your people stay connected in situations such as this \u2013 not only with the company but your customers too. It will ensure work can happen in real time and collaboration can take place across functions seamlessly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the very short term, if you haven\u2019t already adopted cloud computing then tools such as shared file service Google Drive or the chat\/meeting tool Microsoft Teams can be put in place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Takeaway three<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Encourage your employees to take their laptops, tablets and work mobile phones \u2013 if they use them \u2013 home each evening in case the business or its environment must close following an outbreak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Essentially, you need to equip your staff to work wherever they find themselves \u2013 in the office, at home, or even out on the road if they visit clients or customers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Takeaway four<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Travel of any kind, including freight transport, can be affected. You may have considered travel bans within the business which, for sales staff, can be a tough blow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, the same technology that enables remote working can enable them to continue to do their jobs via virtual meetings, rather than face-to-face.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unfortunately, there\u2019s very little to get around freight transport and other logistics problems but the situation can be helped by ensuring your suppliers and customers are in-sync with regard to what\u2019s feasible under the circumstances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Check your existing contracts for clauses that might deal with events such as this to work out where you stand legally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Webinar: Coronavirus business financial support<\/h2>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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Join our free webinar to understand what Irish government financial help is available and how to access it.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tFind out more<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

2. Coronavirus: Work advice and communication<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Keeping your people connected, engaged and updated is key when business continuity is concerned. Having the right mechanisms in place and using them at the right time is critical to ensuring there\u2019s no panic or misinformation surrounding what they should do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You also need to keep lines of communication open with your customers, clients and suppliers. Let them know what they can expect of you and be sure you know what you can realistically expect of them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Takeaway one<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Have channels in place that allow you to send written updates and, in the case of time-critical emergencies, mobile updates too. You might want to put in place coronavirus workplace posters explaining what\u2019s happening in your business and to give advice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For your employees, consider introducing a teamwork hub that fuses group chat software with collaboration tools to enable teams to work and be updated together. Again, tools such as Microsoft Teams or Slack are good for this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ensure email addresses (personal and company ones) are correct as well as mobile numbers. Do you have a company newsletter that you can tap into, or an intranet?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Takeaway two<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Send regular (establish what you think regular looks like) updates \u2013 but importantly not too many, which could not only worry rather than reassure employees, suppliers and customers\/clients, and also annoy them especially if you are not saying anything new.<\/p>\n\n\n\n