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What Will Businesses Look Like Post COVID-19?

Canary Wharf

The world is changing each day. One only needs to read the news to know this to be true. However, there are some occurrences that trigger a tremendous level of change over what is relatively a short period.

This is certainly the case in terms of the coronavirus pandemic. As the world slowly emerges from lockdown and moves towards normality, there are questions surrounding what the new normal will look like.

It’s fair to say that things will not be as they once were, particularly in the business world. It’s worth exploring the changes we are going to see to ensure that businesses will be able to adapt and indeed grow in the right direction. 

Social Distancing 

Until a vaccine emerges from this crisis social distancing will need to be a clear part of society and the workplace. It will be important to ensure that people can remain separate as much as possible. Although some governments have already admitted that this may not be realistic in certain business situations.

For instance, it’s difficult to imagine how a factory or construction site will work if teams can’t operate together within close proximity. However, some businesses can change and Barclays has already suggested that we could see the death of big offices this year. Many would argue that thanks to new tech such as massive cloud databases, there is no need for these large offices now anyway. 

Indeed, all you need is the right database migration service and you will be able to run your business from anywhere using the cloud technology that is readily accessible. We will also likely witness the end of the business trips.

Again, it’s questionable whether business trips were even necessary last year. But now, there is a clear focus on video calls to interact with clients and even new candidates for a position. This means that businesses can get the results they want and save money at the same time. 

More Home Businesses

The changes here could certainly lead to an increase in businesses that are run from home rather than from an office or even a hot desk. Of course, a home-run business is probably one of the best ways to socially distance.

When you run your business from home, you will either have a remote team of workers. Or, you could be relying on both outsourcing agencies and freelancers to complete crucial roles in your company. The benefit of this type of setup is that you won’t have to worry about the heavy costs of the office. As well as this, if you choose the right team, then you’ll still be able to get the results that you want in terms of providing a quality service and solution. 

A Different World Of Companies 

It’s fair to say that some companies are not going to survive the lockdown. There is still no date for when businesses such as restaurants, hotels, and cinemas will be able to reopen. Some experts have suggested that if these companies can not reestablish profit streams soon then they will not survive on the market. We could certainly see various smaller brands close before this year has ended.

Some businesses are working to adapt by focusing on home deliveries and ensuring that they offer contactless payments. Others have not been so lucky and are hoping that the world will be safe again soon. Government support is boosting these businesses right now, but it’s important to note that this is a finite solution. It won’t remain forever and likely won’t last the remainder of the year. 

In contrast, other businesses are going to thrive new to this new world. While there have been protests from people who want to leave their homes, many more individuals are discovering that they can access everything they want without leaving their property. Why spend a fortune for the cinema when you access a massive variety of films and TV shows through streaming services?

Why go to a restaurant when you can get the same food delivered to your property? At least for the foreseeable future, the business world could be significantly more focused on home living. Companies that can adapt to this are far more likely to survive and thrive. 

As you can see then, businesses are going to look remarkably different in the future. If you are running your own company, then you should be exploring how you can prepare for this and potentially start evolving your company model right now to ensure that you are ready for future challenges. 

PM Today Contributor
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