1 Cloud Consultants debated if we should post this blog, as Coronavirus (COVID-19) is being used by many to create hysteria posts. Our conclusion was that Coronavirus (COVID-19) is an excellent opportunity to review how your business works. Could your business be more flexible, can people work remotely (easily), what happens if impacted by a flood (snow, fire, etc.) or if an employee makes a statutory request for flexible working, could your business accommodate it?
The plans to limit the spread of COVID-19 include "Unnecessary travel could be curbed and people urged to work from home". In Dublin today, 8,000 Google employees have been told to stay at homeafter a worker displayed flu like symptoms. The Google story is both about containment, but also preparation - how well are they prepared for quarantine or limitation of travel. It made us think internally how well are we prepared, and how well prepared are Zoho customers for Coronavirus (COVID-19) if it does become the reality that some people are predicting.
There is another side to this and it is the environmental impact that we as a business contribute to. For me, I have been a remote worker for over 20 years. So long as I can access the Internet I can work anywhere. Thankfully the tools to work remotely are far superior, reliable and affordable than they were 20 years ago.
Preparing for Coronavirus (COVID-19) with Zoho can actually be a positive long term benefit for your company, your employees and contribute to your environmental policy.
1 Cloud Consultants believe that whilst preparing for Coronavirus (COVID-19) companies could and should be evaluating how they work internally, how they interface with customers and what their current methodology of working impacts. As an example, do you need to drive to a customer meeting 1 hour away or could you host that meeting via web conference. Not only is it better for the environment, it is lower cost to you as a business and it is more efficient (2 hours driving time reduced to 0).
Zoho, with 45 different applications can help your customers work remotely. When preparing for Coronavirus (COVID-19) with Zoho, you have the first key advantage - all their applications work from the Cloud so wherever there is an Internet connection you can work. Zoho also have a number of mobile applications - versions of their applications streamlined for efficient mobile usage.
Aside from the obvious applications within Zoho (Zoho CRM, Zoho Mail, Zoho Campaigns, etc.), there are a number of other applications that would allow you to prepare for Coronavirus (COVID-19). Some examples are:
- File storage - can you access essential company files from one central location, with Zoho WorkDrive you can
- Zoho Office Suite (Zoho Sheet, Zoho Show and Zoho Writer) allow you to work on Presentations, Spreadsheets and Documents remotely and collaboratively with colleagues or clients
- Zoho Meeting replacing face to face meetings. Or using the Webinar facility (or Zoho ShowTime) for customer presentations or events
- Communicating internally with colleagues via instant messaging on Zoho Cliq
- Use the Portal in Zoho Projects for your customers to be kept informed of progress on Projects or collaborate / contribute to a Project
- Zoho People so that employees can self serve Time Tracking, Time Off Requests, Access company manuals, or train via the LMS (Learning Management System)
- Share reporting and metrics via password protected URLs from Zoho Analytics to keep team members informed of important metrics
- Keep passwords in a central secure password safe that can be accessed remotely with Zoho Vault
- Have a multi-channel customer support desk and portal (including a knowledge base) with Zoho Desk that allows employees to solve customer requests wherever they are working