The year is 2021, and it is no secret that the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way people interact with one another. Due to the virus’s high transmission rates, people from all over the world have been relying heavily on smartphones and the internet to communicate with others regularly.
This includes how businesses talk to their employees and customers on a daily basis. Whether it’s through telecommunications or social media, various means of mobile communication have been crucial to the growth and development of businesses in the midst of a global pandemic.
Limited or No Physical Interaction
If you think putting a physical store or booth is a good way to do business, think again. More and more people stay at home and have less incentive to go out due to COVID-19. The virus spreads fast and gets transmitted from one person to another.
If you are a business owner, doing selling products online or over the phone may be the smarter and safer alternative. Apart from lessening the risk of acquiring COVID-19, you would be paying less for rent and other overhead costs. However, there are a few disadvantages.
A downside of limited or no physical interaction is not being able to create personal and emotional connections with the customer. This is especially important when you are dealing with them in person and trying to convince them to purchase your product on the spot.
Reliance on Telecommunication and Online Platforms
The world has come a long way when it comes to communication. Telecommunications and social media, in particular, have made interaction easier, faster, and more convenient like never before. Because people are not going as often out as they used to, having a smartphone is now becoming more of a necessity than a luxury. In relation to that, social media makes information travel faster than the speed of light. Just enable the mobile data, and you will access Facebook in no time.
A disadvantage of relying on telecommunication and online platforms is that not everyone gets a piece of the action. those without mobile phones or the internet may not be able to know and inquire about your product. As a result, getting customers would not be as easy and as plentiful as it used to be.
High Demand for Transparency
Nobody likes to be lied to. Just like in any relationship, trust is crucial in doing business. Given the limited means of communication, we would want to be at ease about the future rather than living with a false sense of confidence. Employees, more than ever, are now required to be more open and honest with how they do business as well as how they deal with their employees and customers.
The downside is with those who do not have firsthand experience in doing business with you. If any, customer feedback is the only basis that customers can truly rely on. That goes back to building trust and rapport with them. First impressions are crucial, and technology may only be your option.
In Summary
The way people communicate with others continues to evolve with each passing day. Businesses are no exception, and they only thrive is by dealing with customers online, utilizing telecommunications properly, and building trust and rapport from the beginning.
Now is the time to evolve. There is no turning back. We need to keep moving forward and onward!
