COVID-19 hit businesses hard on a global scale, forcing them to adapt quickly to remain viable. But amid the chaos, there are lessons that can be learned. Business continuity has been brought to the forefront by the pandemic. The concept of strategically preparing to lessen the impacts of disasters and unplanned incidents is something businesses of all sizes should recognise and employ.
The pandemic made it clear that there are unpredictable forces in this world that can hurt businesses without the proper preparation and mindset. Successive waves of the virus saw full lock-downs of cities and industries, with experts unsure of when we would see the light at the end of the tunnel. Now that things have eased, businesses are now left with a responsibility to expect the unexpected, and safeguard against an unknown future.
Be prepared and for your business continuity plan
A business continuity plan is a documented contingency plan that your business can put into action when things go wrong. While developing a business continuity plan can seem daunting, there are a few simple steps you can take to get started.
Assess potential threats
Forewarned is forearmed. Make a list of your critical business functions, and events that could impact them (for example, flooding or power outages). For many industries and businesses during the COVID-19 health crisis, preparation has been vital. Keeping abreast of latest developments and how your business (or suppliers) may be affected can help you respond rapidly if disaster strikes.
Identify your options and opportunities
As a business owner, it’s important to examine all of the opportunities available to you so your business can continue to operate (and even thrive) in the event of a disaster. This may include changing how you deliver your product or service. As COVID-19 has shown, simple tasks such as setting your staff up to work remotely can be difficult but necessary to remain viable.
Implement bulletproof back-up systems
Backing up your business files is critical in ensuring your business can continue operating with minimal disruption. Cloud back-up is simple, safe and worthwhile.
Plan a path back to normal
All things must come to an end, so to, a crisis. Developing a strategy to transition back to normal will help ensure your staff and business can smoothly get back into their regular operating rhythm.
The experts at Telstra Technology Centre Melbourne South can help you and your business through COVID-19 and any other unforeseen surprises that could arise down the track.. We’ll get your tech sorted, so you can plan for the unplanned.
Get in touch with TBTC Melbourne South to chat about your business continuity plan, and let us help you review your current situation or provide advice to create a new roadmap for preparedness. Let us help you immunise your business from disaster.
