30 DAYS AND TICKING TILL A NEW BUSINESS WORLD?

Cultural implications and client expectations post COVID-19 Pandemic

• As we all hunker down, praying for the best, admiring our Leaders, First Responders and Medical professionals, we have to sit back and ponder the world after all this. I am old enough to recall the first gas crisis, which is the only thing comparable from a business perspective in my lifetime, as that shut everything down as well, but thankfully without the personal tragedies and illnesses of our current situation. But in looking back at 9/11, what will the business world look like after this, and what do business leaders have to consider post the current pandemic. Travel forever changed after 9/11, and I believe this is a much larger scope of change, as it is not limited to just travel and air transportation. I have a list, in no particular order, but it is my list, something you may wish to ponder, or add to your own list.... but thought leaders, and business leaders need to actively start to consider these now, as 30 days (hopefully) is not a long time to re-engineer past ways and cultural norms of how business "used to be" done compared to how clients will demand it be done. My list:
• Social distancing becomes the norm a and mandated criterion in all situations for business selection.
• We have all become somewhat germophobic.
• Handshakes and embraces, become distant memories.
• The frailty of our species will not soon be forgotten, our parents and grandparents will be more hesitant than they were prior to this. We need to consider this, as they are a valuable generation to all businesses and invaluable to all of us. Senior shopping hours may have to become the norm?
• Sanitizing, cleanliness, and awareness of all things relative to odors, becomes critically important.
• The "five second rule" of my youth for things dropped on the floor is forever dead.
• Bathrooms, sanitizers, soap dispensers are now no longer "nice to have's" but business requirements, alternative ways to dry hands required.
• Seating, proximity to other clients and guests need re-evaluation, it will reduce clients within establishments, sitting across the desk from a representative will not be acceptable.
• Remote signatures, DocuSign, single signatures of documents, and execution of documents on your tablet or iPhone is a competitive advantage initially, and in short order required.
• No interaction with any device of any kind not being your own, for example phones, computers, iPads, credit card processors.
• On line and digital selling boom, well beyond our wildest imaginations. I believe online selling and delivery in the auto business will be a requirement to be offered, you have to appeal to the wants and perceptions of the client.
• Paper brochures and materials are dead, all information is in the cloud and printable locally if desired. Features and benefits of all products need high quality presentations, crisp and informative, for all tablets, PDA's, computers and in every conceivable format.
• Sanitized delivery processes and no interaction processes are required to be offered. At Home delivery grows in all businesses.
• FaceTime, Zoom, GoToMeeting start to increase dramatically as for both socialization and meetings.
• Tele-Health and distance learning become the norm
• Travel, airports, planes are going to have to evaluate seating, and cleaning processes between flights. Hotels need to emphasize cleaning processes. Body temperature scanners for those getting on plane or entering hotels may become standard fare.
• Air quality in homes and businesses get a second look.
• Wait staff back to gloves?

I would encourage you all to complete this exercise, it is a business imperative, you have the time, it will be time well spent!