Most business owners know they should have a plan in case disaster strikes, but we all struggle to prioritise something which might never happen – even if the impact to the business could be catastrophic.
Five steps to peace of mind
It’s a good idea to put some time aside to make sure that your business’s contingency planning is second to none. The following steps will not just prepare you for the unknown, they can also help to improve efficiency and cut overheads at the same time:
- Remote working
Many companies already enable staff to work from home where possible. They can enjoy the added flexibility and work life balance home working can offer, which in turn can enhance the quality of service they provide to our customers. - Cloud-based systems
Having your software and services in the cloud is a must for effective business continuity. Data centres are designed to deal with the unexpected. Risk-reducing features such as back-up generators and ‘co-located’ data – where it is stored in one or more locations – ensure they are usually a far better place to keep your company data than any office would be. - Contingency planning
Not only useful for when all-out disaster strikes, it can also expose everyday weaknesses within your organisation. For example key workers can be incapacitated or leave suddenly at any time – mitigating this risk improves efficiency even when disaster doesn’t strike. - Insurance
It’s easy to regard insurance as a necessary but unwelcome cost. It’s true that if disaster strikes it can be the only thing that keeps a business going. But even when disaster doesn’t strike, emphasising your contingency planning and insurance cover can help differentiate you from your competitors. - Using an answering service
We know our customers feel more confident in uncertain times having a reliable virtual receptionist service on-board to ensure business continuity. They know that calls will still be answered if staff are sick or can’t work.
Don’t be complacent. Keep reviewing your contingency plans in light of the threat level – be it a flood, or the threat of a new virus on the horizon. Maybe, with many others doing the same, more resilient and better-prepared businesses will continue to successfully thrive and weather the storms.
