The Covid-19 Technology Transformation

Covid-19 Technology - The big question on everyone’s mind is where to next? With the movement to Alert Level 3 on April 28th, what does this look like for your business operations and what economic impacts will we be facing? An even bigger question is - are we likely to progress down to Level 2 or could we potentially find ourselves back in Alert Level 4? Economist Tony Alexander has said predictions were difficult to make with any accuracy. “I am advising businesses simply to restructure to a position where they can handle very low customer flows for an undefinable period of time. Then when the upturn comes, be prepared to play catch-up for a while.” You can read more about the IMF’s economic predications and comments from some key economists here.

There are so many variables that we simply can’t predict exactly what we will be looking at week to week. Basically, there are no certain answers right now, so we need to work with what information we have and plan for various scenarios. Something that is certain, is how well you know your business.  

 What you can control

 Now is the time to review your business plan, look at what you can control and how you want your operations to look in the future. Here’s a list of some aspects you can review and actions you can take: 

Review your business plan and SWOT analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats)

Assess the impact on supply chain and logistics

Forecast cashflow and forecast up to 3 scenarios (worst, expected and best case)

Look at your own health and safety measures 

Create a communication plan to keep your staff and customers updated to help minimise their feeling of uncertainty 

What systems can you put in place to future proof? 

Consider how technology can help your business moving forward 

Effective communication, preparation and planning is the best thing you can do right now. Everything can change rapidly in this period so use this time to make sure all your systems and processes are on point and ready for the next stage of change.

Coming out of this Stronger

The global impact of COVID-19 is likely to drastically change the way we do business. The business environment is constantly changing and at a time like this, it’s highlighted more than ever. Web based apps have dramatically changed how we book holidays, sell houses, catch taxis, and communicate with each other. Do you have a plan for how your business will adapt to these changes and stay relevant? With obstacles comes opportunity. Transformation is key. Look at this challenge as an opportunity to review and future proof the way you operate. You may want to look at how you can function remotely, communicate and collaborate more effectively and reduce costs (like the need for leasing large premises). 

We can help you with a range of technology solutions to make this happen and can customise a solution to suit your business needs. 

Remote Work Security Threats

Security is a huge concern and point of discussion right now  with many executives and finance departments having already been targets for fraudulent attacks. Swiftly adapting to working from home has been a good solution however remote workers don’t necessarily have the same firewalls and levels of threat protection at home. This opens your company’s infrastructure up to huge vulnerabilities.  

Ensuring your remote workers at least have a reliable antivirus and patching regime is critical. In addition to this, multifactor authentication can further protect you. Logistically  this can be challenging to manage, especially offsite which is why a managed service provider (MSP) can take this load off your mind. An MSP can ensure everyone’s devices are protected and updates are made regularly, keeping you and your business secure. If you’re unsure about the security of you staff’s devices, get in touch and we can figure out a solution. 

In these uncertain times, most people are facing some pretty big challenges so remember that a bit of kindness and support goes a long way. Jump on Zoom to catch up with everyone or keep things fun in a group chat in  Microsoft Teams. Communication is key – even if  it’s just to check in with someone. 

If you’re feeling like you don’t know where to start, give us a call and we can start with the basics like good communication systems. Let’s look at your business needs and how we can get you operating effectively at this time.


Thanks to our ITA associate Rick Clemments of BlackSanz for this article

IT Alliance Members:
CT Business Solutions - Hamilton
@Computer - Northland
Technology Partners - Tauranga
Vision Lab - Te Puke
AdvancedIT - Rotorua
BlackSANZ - New Plymouth
GTB - Kapiti, Wellington
Decision1 IT Solutions - Dunedin
IT Centre - Wanaka
Voicecom - Invercargill
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