Here we are, five weeks into lockdown and beginning to realise that things will not return to normal any time soon.
For all of us in business, our attentions are turning to pondering what will be the new normal? Whatever it is, it will surely include a far greater application of communications technology to do business.
Having successfully used such media to conduct business from Europe for several weeks at a stretch, I often wondered why people ‘marvelled’ at what could be done online and digitally, but still jumped into cars or boarded planes and trains to spend a full day – or more – to attend a two hour meeting. And, if we’re honest, a meeting which could easily have been conducted via videolink.
Perhaps the draw of shopping in the West End, taking in a match at Old Trafford or a night in a nice hotel are contributory factors in the way we used to work?
Now, through necessity, we have been doing business differently; harnessing all of the benefits technology offers. And we’re saving money in the process. For some, big businesses, lots of money.
When we know the final cost of all this and the survivors start to consider how to claw back some of the losses, I expect travel and stays away will be among the low hanging fruit. Hard luck for businesses in these sectors but I suspect the penny has dropped in many board rooms.
It will also be interesting to see what affect all this home working has had on productivity. Might it be that we can continue to do so for much of the week, saving time, money and helping to protect the environment by reducing travel. Will we need such large offices? Could businesses operate with staff attending on a rota basis. I am sure all these things will be considered.
So, when we reach the new normal, having stayed in for weeks on end, will we find that staying in business means………yes, you’ve guessed it……….staying in!
Paul Dobbie
