5 Ways Smart Technology Can Help Your Business Bounce Back in a Post-Lockdown World
By the time you read this, it’s hopeful that the majority of lockdown restrictions will have begun to ease as the country takes its first tentative steps back to some level of normality. Already, scores of businesses up and down the country have been able to reopen their doors and resume trading.
While that may be good news, it doesn’t make up for the significant toll that the Covid-19 pandemic took on the business sector.
According to the Financial Times, over 500,000 businesses ceased operating altogether during lockdown. Of those that continued to trade, some 38% reported that their turnover was “substantially lower” than usual.
Meanwhile, 15,000 more businesses were classed as being in “significant distress” than in the three months prior to the late-march shutdown, with the number of those in “critical distress” rising by 10%.
The good news, however, is that despite reports of the deepest recession since the 1920, all hope is not yet lost.
There’s no denying the huge detrimental impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on businesses of all sizes, but with a few key pieces of technology, your company could once again begin to thrive in the age of the “new normal.”
There’s still plenty of time for your business to not only adapt to the new normal but to truly bounce back in a post-lockdown world and thrive like never before, especially if you’re savvy with the investments you make in your business technology over the coming months.
Here, smart technology specialists, Pro Install AV, look at five ways the latest tech innovations can help your business get back on track.
1: Using Crestron Mercury as a Zoom Rooms Controller
Though more and more workers are slowly returning to the office, the last few months of lockdown have shown that remote working really does work. In fact, it’s been such a good move for some companies that they’ve made working from home a permanent part of their culture.
If you’re thinking of doing the same, then it goes without saying that your conferencing and remote communication tools should be second-to-none, and that’s where Crestron Mercury comes in very handy indeed.
Compatible with popular video-conferencing service Zoom, Crestron Mercury functions as both a speakerphone and control system that helps make every meeting and conference call run much more smoothly.
Available as both a part of Zoom Rooms Crestron Kit or as a standalone device, Mercury is a versatile, easy-to-use product that not only improves the sound and video quality of your remote communications, but simplifies and streamlines the process of creating, scheduling, and managing your meetings.
Not a fan of Zoom? This best-selling communications tool always works with other leading platforms such as Skype, Microsoft Teams, GoToMeeting and more.
A complete AV communications and collaboration solution, Crestron Mercury integrates effortlessly into an existing Crestron automation control system, making it simple for even your least-tech-savvy employees to work remotely.
2: Crestron HomeTime for Improved Conferencing
Mercury isn’t the only tool Crestron has given us to improve the way we work in a post-lockdown world.
Crestron HomeTime combines the Logitech MeetUp conference camera with the Crestron UC Engine to optimize the Zoom Rooms experience. A comprehensive HD A/V solution, this innovative solution makes it easier than ever for users to not only join meetings but host their own without relying on a laptop, all while offering world-class control and optimization features via the Crestron app.
If your business hosts lots of multi-user remote meetings, then this is one tool you shouldn’t be without.
3: Putting Lutron Smart Lighting to Work in Revitalizing Your Workforce
If you are having your workforce return to the office, it’s worth considering what a strange experience it could be. For so many people, coronavirus and the resulting lockdown have had a detrimental impact on their wellbeing, resulting in lower productivity and a period of readjustment as they get used to being back at their desks.
This is where smart lighting can really prove invaluable, not only by creating a warm, welcoming atmosphere for recently returned staff, but also serving as an effective mood booster.
As we’ve discussed in the past, lighting can have an impact on our emotions. The right lighting can have a positive effect, improving the wellbeing of your workforce and improving productivity in the process.
4: Using Smart Energy Technology for Long-Term Savings
After such a rough couple of months, most businesses are looking to reduce costs and save money wherever they can to make up for the loss of income, and yours is unlikely to be an exception.
This is where smart thermostats and intelligent lighting can really come into their own by providing greater energy efficiency and keeping costs low.
Even the simplest steps can create big results. Switching your office lighting to LED bulbs can reduce your energy use by 20%, making the same difference to your bottom line as a 5% increase in sales. Add smart lighting control into the equation, and you could cut lighting costs by almost 90%.
5: IoT Improving the Supply Chain
There’s no denying that the COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact at just about every level of the global supply chain.
According to the World Economic Forum, this is one problem for which the Internet of Things (IoT) and other key technologies such as cloud computing and blockchain seem to be the ideal solution, transforming the entire supply chain to make it more resilient and fficient.
Need help making the most of smart technology to get your business booming in a post-lockdown world? Talk to the experts at Pro Install AV today by contacting us online or call now on +44(0)20 7096 0078.
