A new world with new opportunities

Jon Richardson • Jun 15, 2020

How technology can be a business accelerator

The world is slowly emerging from lockdown, and I believe we are witnessing an evolutionary change. There are so many things we have had to adapt to during the last few months that we never thought would be necessary. For most of us, total lockdown was something only reserved for sci-fi movies or authoritarian regimes. However 2020 has changed that perception and most of us wouldn’t be surprised if we have further lockdowns or restrictions in the months ahead.

"As we emerge into this new world, one where we are still fighting the virus that threatened to set us back decades, what has changed?"

At Overt Digital Media we embrace technology and recognise how vital it is to help business owners become successful online. We have been doing this long before the lockdown started and now our services have become a really big deal! In most cases the only opportunity businesses had to trade was to trade online, so our website and apps have gone from something people would get around to setting up “someday”, to something they had to have, and quickly!

Our team, far from being furloughed, has had to scale up and expand due to the increased demand. A.I Websites, mobile ordering apps, Google G-Suite with screen share, Zoom integration with websites and of course all of the marketing support that goes with these tools have been in high demand.

With retail, hairdressers, pubs, bars and restaurants now planning their social distancing strategy, we’re seeing another wave of business come our way. Apps that take bookings, manage orders and deal with customers questions are now flooding into us to help maximise our clients’ profits within the restrictions that now apply for enclosed areas.

My prediction…

We’re being accelerated into a way of doing business that we would have arrived at anyway, regardless of the pandemic. I have singled out just three industries that I believe will not look back once they embrace the beauty of technology. There are lots more of course but we will start here.

Barbers

Booking your slot at the barbers using an app so you don’t have to sit and wait just makes more sense. But many barbers didn’t embrace this route prior to lockdown as, if they were busy, the incentive wasn’t there for them, or their customers, to take the initiative. Now they are being forced to use a solution like this. Both customers and business owners will embrace the tech and realise it’s so much better, social distancing or not.

Pubs and bars

Ordering your round of drinks from the table using a smartphone app is a much more efficient way of doing things. No more being overlooked by the server at the bar or leaving your friends behind for ages whilst you wait for your turn. From the owners’ perspective, collating orders as they come in from the app is much more effective and efficient and they will be able to serve more people quicker and easier.

Gyms

Booking classes and managing personal training sessions is another obvious win for mobile app features. Managing the flow of people in and out of the gym can be easily managed through these basic functions as well as being able to notify and communicate with customers quickly and efficiently.

Many businesses are starting to embrace the idea that far from being a hassle, using technology to make more money and keep their customers loyal is a huge advantage in the post lockdown world. As customers ourselves, we will see that this new way of doing things is more convenient and saves us time, something we all need more of.

There is always a silver lining to every cloud and always an opportunity in every adversity. Technology far from being a cost is, when used correctly, a business accelerator and allows you to do more with less, less time, less money and less people.

To understand how technology can help your business come out of the lockdown stronger than ever please contact us for a free and informal consultation.