As the pandemic disrupted normal business operations throughout 2020, and then into 2021, there have been both challenges and opportunities for businesses across every sector to adapt to new ways of delivering products and services. So, what can we expect in 2022?
Working Remotely Will Continue
It is estimated that small and medium-sized businesses will continue to offer remote working opportunities to employees for the foreseeable future. Ongoing remote work options may require businesses to invest in more technology that can support employees and employers alike. This could include software to monitor employee productivity, cybersecurity, and the building out of e-commerce services.
Virtual Services Are in High Demand
According to a US Chamber of Commerce study, the pandemic has vastly increased demand for businesses that can deliver virtual health and fitness services, home security, home-based fitness, and telemedicine. Savvy businesses are partnering up with complementary service providers to share costs, attract new customers, generate referral-based business activities, and generally stay current in the new economy.
E-Commerce Reigns Supreme
Bricks and mortar-based businesses were feeling the effects of the e-commerce competition long before the pandemic. Further, a report by IBM, online shopping is now outpacing its own growth projections by a five-year-jump. So, if you are a small business, you may want to tune up your website, increase your online purchasing options, tweak your search engine optimization features (SEO) and create e-shopping carts that make it easy for your customers to do business with you online.
Elaine Allan, BA, MBA
Technology & Business Blogger
Vancouver, BC, Canada