As the coronavirus pandemic has quickly become the new normal, NDA wants to celebrate the positives of our current situation.
We spoke to Simon Francis, Chief Executive Officer, Flock Associates and Ashley MacKenzie, Founder and Chief Executive, Fenestra to discover what is keeping them cheerful.
What positive impacts have you seen on how your business operates?
SF: We have twice a day video huddles and encouraged people to bring their hobbies, pets and families “to work” this has built upon an already strong sense of team spirit.
AM: How easy it is to actually operate. I always marvelled at our sparse WeWork office that had little more than a dozen desks with a dozen laptops. Our transition to a 100% cloud-based company has been seamless and simple.
What have you been most heartened about in how your staff, partners, customers or clients have reacted to the new normal?
SF: Many clients have been open to sharing experiences with other clients, for the greater good. Also, I have been impressed by how many clients have truly acted on their “purpose” and really dug deep to help their customers, consumers and key workers.
AM: The sense of camaraderie, and lack of judgement, for remote working has been great. We are seeing partners be open-minded to change like never before.
What technologies have you been most impressed with during this new situation and do you think conavirus will hasted their uptake or development?
SF: We run virtual workshops all the time using virtual voting, whiteboarding, virtual “post-its” and other collaboration tools. Many of our clients had not seen these before, and are now adopting these techniques, we’re pretty sure the virtual workshop is here to stay!
AM: I love the HangOut implementation inside Gmail, with one press of a button, I can knock on the desktop of anyone I’m connected with! My colleagues hate it, of course! Slack’s good as well.
What, if any, positive long-term impact on the digital industry will coronavirus have?
SF: Well everything is now digital! Digital shopping, virtual test-drives, appointments, video conference calls, the entire entertainment industry!
It’s hard to imagine that these digital experiences will disappear entirely especially as this may be an extended period. This will benefit all with excellent digital skills.
AM: It will force more innovation, faster to improve efficiency.
What positive impacts on long term consumer behaviour shifts will it have?
SF: One hopes that a greater sense of community will prevail and a re-evaluation of brands that deliver on a meaningful purpose.
AM: As a B2B SAAS business we’re not directly exposed to consumers but I’d be long online shopping for +50’s if I could!
