How Will Business Survive the Coronavirus

For a long time we, in New Zealand have been talking about the need to be self-sufficient. Well, perhaps the time to start thinking about this is upon us.

I'll start where I started my day yesterday, which was my local New World Supermarket. Lots of people had been there before me and I am really interested to see what the industry will do about it.

First, there is the issue of trying to maintain stock levels. This will be made all the more difficult because each supplier will have their own problems, especially those who are importing from countries more affected than New Zealand where only one person has caught the Coronavirus so far.

With supermarket inventory and purchase systems based on the historic stock turn and seasonal demand, combined with promotions, it will be very difficult for wholesalers and distributors to keep stocks on an even keel, given panic buying has already left many shelf facings out of stock.

Buying skills will be put to the test and organisations like Foodstuffs will have their work cut out for them, as will their suppliers. It won't be about promotions for the staple items, it will be keeping up with demand. Of course, this includes not only purchasing and merchandising, but extra staff may be needed in the short time, as will quick and efficient freight services. The stock has to get to the warehouses, distribution plans put in place and extra trucks and drivers (already in short supply) will be needed.

This is potentially a great opportunity for New Zealand food and consumable manufacturers who may be struggling to transport their goods to export markets, to compensate by providing more product to the hungry domestic market.

I suspect that we will soon be facing increased traffic congestion and I wonder if organisations like NZTA, Auckland Transport and their counterparts in other cities have planned for the risk that commuters will not wish to sit next to each other on public transport. Even more so given a shortage of suitable face masks.

If people decide to drive instead of catching buses and trains, our already heavy traffic congestion will go from bad to worse. This means that, more than ever, we need people working on an area that I am very passionate about, but no longer able to assist with, is influencing people to make smarter decisions about their travel choices. The increased traffic jams, accidents and road rage will not help those extra trucks get your food and consumables to the supermarket shelves. They can't all be delivered in the early hours of the morning, or can they?

One of those choices is of course not to commute. I have long been an advocate of telecommuting and many businesses have taken the convenient route of saving that thinking for a rainy day. I suggest that the rainy day has arrived. Not only is this important for the continuation of BAU for companies, but it can also have a beneficial impact on reducing or limiting the impact of all of those people who have hopped off the buses for the sanitation and safety of their private vehicles.

I might just finish this article with a brief mention of tourism. Last week I heard a radio news story (no I still don't listen to the radio, it was on Amazon Alexa) where a Franz Josef tourist guide was complaining about disinformation, saying that the townships and the awesome local attractions were unavailable, stopping people from going down there.

This seems to me to be an awesome opportunity to attract domestic tourists. I'll bet that a lot of the people who are cancelling cruises, Asian ski holidays and visiting Italy, haven't experienced some of the amazing sights we have right here.

It seems ironic to me that when I see advertising on TV or in the newspaper, it's promoting cruises and special air travel deals because people are staying away in droves, yet I see very little in the way of marketing, advertising or even in social media. Even the business in Frans Josef that was complaining only has a Facebook post every few days.

We have an amazing opportunity right now to get smart in how we respond to the many issues that are resulting from our first case of Coronavirus. Imagine what it will be like when two people are confirmed to have it!

#PublicTransport #CORVID19 #Coronavirus #Panicbuying #telecommuting #trafficcongestion #AT #Tourism