Business Continuity, No Matter What
When the unthinkable happens, it can be tremendously difficult to scramble to our feet and find some sort of equilibrium – both in life and in business. Of course, we’re referring specifically to the COVID-19 pandemic which is wreaking havoc across the globe. We do understand, however, that this is just one of many curveballs that life throws at us.
We aren’t for a second diluting the impact of this on family life. As business owners, family heads and providers though, we have a keen interest in business continuity. How can we keep afloat during difficult times? What measures can we take to future-proof our income? What can we do differently to supplement our earnings?
We’re sure you’ll agree that one of the great things about South Africans is our innate ability to “make a plan.” And in the adapt-or-die mentality so prevalent in the business world, now is certainly time to make that plan.
Business Continuity
Rendered an essential service as amended by Government Gazettes 43168 (26 March 2020) and 43199 (02 April 2020), we at Huge Connect have a responsibility to maintain the integrity of the telecommunication infrastructure – notably within the payments environment. We feel that this is a critical element in supporting the future of the South African economy and therefore, it’s business as usual, or as close to it as possible.
So, on a practical level, what can we do?
Remote Working
The most obvious way to stick as closely as possible to ‘business as usual’ is to facilitate remote work opportunities. Most people have a laptop or desktop at home, most people have access to the internet whether via ADSL/Fibre or mobile data, and most people are more than a little excited to be able to work in their pyjamas. (No judgement here!)
The online tools which allow the incredible connectivity options are many and varied.
Pretoria-based entrepreneur Albert van Wyk, in an article on businesses and the lockdown, says, “There are a number of software tools that are freely available. These include remote management programmes like Trello and Toggle where you can schedule and manage your employees’ tasks, projects and calendars – and keep track of their progress.
“You can use Google Drive or WeTransfer to share files. Google Drive also allows your team to work remotely on the same files, which are cloud stored. To communicate with your team, set up WhatsApp groups. They’re great for video calls and quick updates.”
Online Business
If ever there was a time to take your business online, this is it.
The lockdown and social distancing efforts have made it all but impossible to make face to face sales calls, to sell non-essentials in a brick and mortar shop, to run promotions in a mall or to sell biltong from your corner shop.
If you have a product (which can legally be delivered under the current legislation) then you should be selling it online.
Service-based businesses need not throw up their hands at this point. Options can present themselves with a little lateral thinking.
For example, a UK-based architectural company is offering online consultations via Zoom or Skype in preparation for the time when they can get back into the office. A local chiropractor has developed videos to assist his patients while they are housebound. Personal trainers are linking up with their clients via a video call for a motivational workout.
Smart businesses will use this time to develop incentives or discounts to customers when they interact online and start building a database of loyal customers and potential buyers.
Education
Many schools and training facilities have switched gears quickly and efficiently and taken their teaching program online.
A news article from IOL on 30th March 20202 says, “In support of President Cyril Ramaphosa, to ensure that the principles of social distancing and the COVID-19 lockdown are adhered to, Africa Teen Geeks have launched their digital school.
“MsZora, an artificial-intelligence based educational platform, will be offering Lockdown classes live from Monday. The classes will be exclusive to Matric students and from 8am – 5pm across all other grades.
“The initiative is aimed at supporting the Department of Basic Education’s efforts to keeping learning and teaching going even during the current lockdown following the closure of schools to combat the spread of Coronavirus.”
Others have gone one step further. With a high percentage of sub-Saharan Africa not yet having access to the internet, Global Partnership for Education (GPE) has initiated or supported four additional distance-learning schooling programs: Radio, television, mobile phones, and various online tools.
Connectivity is the Life Blood of Business
After examining the above, it’s clear that the undeniable thread tying all these solutions together lies with connectivity.
Huge Connect is one of the leading service providers of data connectivity for card terminals in the South African market since 2004, where we enable thousands of merchants and their customers the ability to do card transactions on a daily basis.
Our enabling network is Payment Card Industry (PCI) compliant, maintaining payment security throughout our service component. Within our distinguished customer portfolio, we deliver a high standard of service to banks, point of sale providers, payment integrators, ATM providers, partners and enterprise customers.
Not discounting any customer of Huge Connect, we also service the biltong shop on the corner. This means that from taking your brand new website online, to receiving payments, to making calls and saving everything in the Cloud – we are the supporting backbone of your business.
“For Huge Connect, it is, therefore, business as usual, or as close to it as possible. The majority of our workforce is remote working from home, with critical staff operational at the office and on the road. We continue to provide new installations, upgrades & support services throughout the country, as we speak. We’re maintaining our network, our operations and our high standard of service our customers have become accustomed to. We’re honouring supply agreements to our suppliers and partners to ensure constant and effective service delivery.” ~ Dirk de Jongh
Please feel free to contact the team for advice or quotes on getting and staying online.
