Lockdown is coming to an end in most parts of the country.

The future is still uncertain but we know that at some point normality will return.

Businesses are reopening and your employees are probably coming back to the office (unless they’ve decided they love working from home so much they want to stay there).

Some employees may be coming off furlough and hopefully business will be picking up again. Even if it isn’t there’s plenty to be getting on with.

Now isn’t the time to be easing back into things. There are most likely choppy waters ahead and the last thing you want is to run into too many unnecessary hurdles.

The months ahead can be navigated by spending the time you’ve got now, wisely and effectively.

Here are six actions your business can look into and implement to make sure you hit the ground running, drive up revenue and head towards a positive future.

1. STAY SAFE

You’re probably already hyper aware of this. However, it’s worth repeating as it’s so important that businesses do their bit to stop further spread of the virus. 

It’s still out there so limiting potential spread within your organisation is not only good for the country as a whole but also means you have your whole workforce available.

A couple of things you can do to make sure your business is safe and secure:

• Install screens on desks.
• Wall mounted hand sanitiser.
• One-way systems in corridors.
• Limit unnecessary contact.
• Social distancing at meetings.
• Obviously, if you’re ill, don’t come in!

2. PERFORM AN IT RISK ASSESSMENT

A great way to make sure your business is equipped for anything that gets thrown at it is to perform an IT risk assessment.

The last thing you want to deal with in turbulent times is IT issues and security breaches. They could bring the business to a halt at a time when it can’t afford to slow down.

So, what are some things you should do in an IT risk assessment?

LOCATE VULNERABILITIES

• What security software do you have in place? Are phishing attacks likely to be an issue?
• Do you have just one form of storage and could you upgrade to the latest most secure tech?

WHAT DATA IS AT RISK

• It might be a good idea to take stock of what data you have on file.
• What do you really need to keep hold of?
• Is there anything that’s sitting in an unsecure location?
• What can be got rid of or stored in a more secure location out of the way?

RISK MITIGATION PLAN

• In the unfortunate event of a security breach, what happens?
• Can you recover quickly?
• Do you know what to do to ensure as little time and data is lost as possible?

3. BE SECURITY AWARE

Coronavirus is not the only kind of virus your employees could be bringing in to work.

A big part of the risk assessment should be whether you are ready for staff to return to your office securely.

If they’ve been using their own devices whilst working from home or being on furlough then they may be relaxed on the appropriate security measures. We’d hope they were following your company’s security protocols but there’s no way of being certain.

Bringing in USB drives with files or even logging onto the company network with their own devices is a bad idea. Make sure they are using email or the cloud to share files and maybe re-educate them on the basic security practices you have in place.

4. GET GOOD ACCOUNTANCY SOFTWARE IN PLACE

If you don’t already have a good accountancy solution in place, there’s no better time than now to get one or improve on the one you currently have.

You need to be on top of your numbers if you’re going to navigate this next quarter successfully. Having a good grasp of all the money and costs coming in and out of the business is essential.

We obviously recommend Sage, partly because of its great expansions and complementary software but you need to find what works for your business. What’s important is that you don’t have to worry about the intricacies of accounting and can instead focus on the business.

5. DON’T SLOUCH ON MARKETING

People need to know where you are and why they should buy from you. Contrary to what your intuition might be it’s not time to trim down the marketing budget – that’s a last resort!

If you want more leads and more income in the business then you need to be getting out there and staying visible.

Do you have a good marketing strategy? Does your local business network know who you are and why you’re the best? Are you visible on social media, answering people’s questions, engaging with people, putting out useful and interesting content (like this article!)?

6. GET YOUR CRM UP TO SPEED

Part of any efficient marketing strategy, a CRM will help with lead generation, making sure you’ve got a good stream of leads who hopefully convert into clients and customers.

Who are your potential customers? How likely are they to buy from you? How easy is it for them to contact you again?

We wrote about what a CRM does as well as one we recommend here.

THE SCOUT MOTTO: BE PREPARED…

Now is the time for action. There you go. Some essential things you can put in place to ensure you are ready for whatever the next few months throws at you.

If you need help and support with your IT, let us know and we will be there in a flash!