The pandemic has undoubtedly shifted how businesses function in the new normal. In order to prevent closure during the pandemic, businesses had to come up with a game plan to take on these new pandemic hurdles. Some prominent companies have been incorporating more digital marketing into their strategies or offering cashless payments on eCommerce platforms. These are some of the many ways businesses have adapted to the new normal in an effort to continue their operations and even facilitate expansion. Here are just some of the significant points to consider regarding how many businesses navigate the new normal.
Digitally-focused
Technological innovations and advancements have been continuous, but it’s become a more crucial development during the pandemic. You’ll rarely see businesses without the use of digital strategies to reach their target market and increase their sales. Research has significantly proven that companies that use digital marketing have a bigger chance of navigating the pandemic than those that don’t. Especially since we already live in a digital era, businesses that incorporate digital strategies into their operations see increased revenues and continued market growth. Whether it’s through social media platforms like Instagram or Facebook or taking advantage of Search Engine Optimization to gain more online foot traffic for business content, it’s evident that digital marketing is the most effective strategy to use. After all, when it comes to online marketing, content is king. Whether big or small, businesses are taking advantage of the fact that customers are within reach since they spend most of their time on their various devices. So it’s as good a time as ever to integrate digitally-focused marketing strategies into your business.
E-commerce Website
One of the biggest trends that occurred because of the pandemic is how businesses created e-commerce platforms to accommodate customers. Since customers can no longer just conveniently shop for products within stores for safety reasons, coming up with an e-commerce website is the next practical option. Instead of making customers come to businesses, now it’s businesses that come to customers. It’s the biggest game-changer for brands to create an e-commerce website where customers can just shop through the safety of their homes without having to go out, especially for fast-moving consumer goods. It’s a win-win situation for customers and businesses. Though eCommerce does come with its own set of difficulties, shifting avenues, in this case, allowed businesses to keep their product line up while also facilitating brick n mortar closures.
Logistics
In connection to the previous point, the primary way brands can safely get their products to customers is through third-party couriers or in-house logistics. A logistics company is in charge of everything regarding warehouse handling and shipping. So if something potentially comes up from the moment a business ships their products all the way to the moment a customer receives their purchase, logistics are involved. For instance, if you’re looking to send parcels as a business in order to facilitate online orders instead of in-store purchases, third-party couriers play a significant role in your customers’ satisfaction. Whether businesses establish their own in-house customer delivery system or engage third-party companies, straight-to-your-doorstep deliveries have become the new gold standard for online shopping.
Cashless Payments
Since brands are now offering their products online, cashless payments have also become prominent during the new normal. Especially since some customers are no longer withdrawing from ATMs nearby, one of the most common trends small businesses have chosen to partake in is cashless payments. Companies can now conveniently facilitate and track purchases made online. In fact, even for businesses that continue to operate in physical stores, some have adapted to cashless payments to assure contactless customer payments.
Remote Work
Some employers have encouraged their employees to shift to remote work for their safety and health, even for small businesses. This is also why some companies have practiced using tools to track their employees’ attendance and productivity. While not all sectors could accommodate remote work, industries like IT, advertising, publishing, sales, marketing, and many others changed. For small businesses that continue to operate in physical stores, this is also where the significance of contract tracing and health declarations come into the picture. They might not keep track of everyone who comes into the store, but they can closely monitor their customers. Remote work has also allowed for a more streamlined work system that utilizes operating budgets more because businesses could ditch overhead costs like rent.
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In an effort to continue their daily operations and gradually still reach their vision in mind, these are just some of the changes small businesses had to make. They mainly focus on prioritizing the market’s needs and looking for ways to improve convenient customer experiences.
