Aside from irreversibly transforming daily life, the pandemic has also been a critical force in changing how businesses across the globe operate. According to a feature by the BBC, this has involved the massive shift to remote working, the possible elimination of business travel, and the need for rapid digital transformation.
In the face of such changes, it's important for business leaders to re-examine business processes that have become insufficient, if not obsolete, as well as look towards new and developing solutions to today's many challenges. That said, here are some ways you can improve your business processes to ensure success in a post-pandemic world.
Help employees work smarter and more efficiently
Without a doubt, employees are a company’s biggest asset. So, if you want to optimise your processes and make sure that you are able to thrive in the coming years, the first thing you have to consider is your staff.
As their employer, it is your responsibility to look for technology that can help them work smarter and more efficiently. In this regard, complete software packages like Dynamics 365 that bridge the gap between CRM and ERP can help boost remote working productivity. Microsoft has also rolled out the Crisis Communication Power App, which can help teams coordinate effectively and ensure that everyone is up-to-date on key information.
Aside from providing them with the right technology, it is also important for business leaders to instill in their employees the right work habits that can help them be more productive and efficient. Verizon Connect’s article on how to work smarter suggests how these practises can be as simple as having a schedule and a limited time for every task, as well as taking short and quick breaks whenever necessary. It's also important to maintain a semblance of work-life balance, even with the work from home set-up, so encourage your staff to avoid going beyond regular work hours.
Integrate digitisation into day-to-day operations
Some experts believe that, aside from ushering the shift to remote working and distance learning, the pandemic has also pushed digital transformation by at least five years into the future. To keep up with the rapidly changing times, businesses must work towards the digitisation of day-to-day operational processes.
Here, the goals must include the elimination of as many manual tasks as possible in favour of automated processing, which can free up your employees' time and energy for more complicated functions. In addition to this, a study published in the journal Information Technology and Tourism also emphasised the need to look into how up and coming technologies like AI, 5G, facial recognition, and automated robots can be used to streamline processes, depending on your business and industry.
Create a seamless omnichannel experience for your customers
Now that much of the world’s population is relying on devices and digital tools to connect with the outside world in the safest way possible, it is all the more necessary for businesses to create a seamless omnichannel experience for customers. As Somdutta Singh pointed out in her article on Entrepreneur, such a strategy will not only be necessary for sustained customer experience and improved ROI, but also for the delivery of a more intimate, urgent, and emotionally relatable service.
A seamless omnichannel experience can be made in a variety of ways. For instance, brand managers can leverage social media platforms to inspire personal brand interactions, or ride the BOPIS (Buy Online, Pick-Up (and Return) In-Store) trend, which is an option more than half of consumers pick, as per a study cited by Storefront Magazine.
Article written by Rebecca Jeanne
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