The coronavirus pandemic will probably have a long-lasting legacy on how we run our businesses for the foreseeable future. As governments ease lockdown measures worldwide, though, organisations would have to adjust to a post-lockdown life. How do you strike a balance between maintaining health precautions and boosting customer satisfaction?

Protect Your Staff

Your staff are the most important part of your business. A healthy staff ensures goods and services reach your clients when they need them. During post-lockdown periods, there might still be risks associated with isolated incidents that are difficult to predict. Make sure your staff have the requisite protection both at the office and when dealing with clients.

At the very least, make PPEs easily available. Also, create a flexible work environment that eases the psychological stress that comes with global pandemics; you want your staff to be armed with knowledge and protection, not to be scared of the next person.

Maintain Digital Marketing Strategy

The fact that stores are opening doesn’t mean online sales channels are suddenly dead. As was the case with life before COVID-19, making your digital marketing strategy a key part of your omni-channel strategy post-lockdown makes it easy for the client to complete the sales journey.

Where possible, create an incentive for online purchases using tech tools like e-commerce. Also open up shops on social media platforms where you operate. Make it as easy as possible to buy products and services across different online and physical platforms; for example, you can encourage online payments even when clients are coming to the store to collect the product. The flexibility would ensure that clients are not limited to a single option, improving the chances of them interacting with your brand even more, whiles reducing human contact.

Maintain Remote Work

Remote workers have become the lifeblood of many organisations around the world. With the right tech tools and video conference apps, organisations are able to recreate an in-person feel with each other. Remote work not only helps businesses stay safe, it ensures organisations continue to offer services to clients as and when they need them. There is no reason why this has to end post-lockdown.

Flexible work hours especially in the early post-lockdown days could help staff adjust to a new routine. Where possible, organisations can offer a minimum number of off-site hours to make the transition gradual and smooth.

Maintain Health Protocols

It is very likely that social distancing would continue to be an important aspect in our lives post-lockdown. Stuffy congested stores with bad ventilation could provide a fertile ground for the spread of COVID-19 as well as many other illnesses. As an organisation looking to attract customers to your physical locations, it is necessary to ensure adequate health protocols are in place to curb any potential outbreak at your offices.

Tech tools like ticketing machines can be used to implement social distancing at the premises. Also, utilise a non-intrusive and non-contact data collection tool that makes it possible to contact your clients and staff when an outbreak is detected. The key to maintaining a healthy population is to take all necessary health precautions post-lockdown.

Encourage Contactless Payment

Where it is absolutely necessary to physically engage with customers in order to provide their needs, adding a contactless payment method could be a step in the right direction. Online payments, mobile money, QR codes and Near Field Communication are critical tech tools that make it easy to achieve this. Luckily, services like Apple Pay, Google Pay, MTN Mobile Money, AirtelTigo Money, Vodafone Cash and in some cases WhatsApp Payments, could help your clients pay for services without hand in physical cash.

Create Delivery Points

One way to reduce congestion and contact is to offer services based on appointments. Many online tech tools are available to help your clients make bookings and appointments. You can also create a bookings page on your online channels; Facebook offers a chance for business pages to make booking arrangements for their clients. In addition, your business website can include a page specifically for making bookings.

If you sell and deliver physical goods, a collection point with minimal human contact could be a huge step in the right direction. You should also make off-site deliveries using the services of delivery vans or bikes, depending on what suites your products and clients. Some ride-hailing apps like Uber have added delivery options. Make use of these services where they are available. When you need to make the delivery yourself, ensure you make adequate preparation to protect your staff and clients based on local government rules.

Conclusion

As lockdown measures ease around the world, it is important for organisations to prepare for an uncertain future. Businesses need to prioritise the health of their staff and clients. As such, deploying tech tools that encourage online participation from remote workers can make the transition smoother. Also, maintain your digital marketing efforts and where needed, utilise contactless payment options at your physical stores.