At the recent webinar entitled “E-Huddle” hosted by telecommunications company Eastern Communications, the panelists highlighted the need for future-proof businesses to meet the challenge of another disruption head-on.

Highlighting digital trends and best practices, Eastern’s “E-Huddle” was an avenue for businesses to learn how to cope and thrive in the now normal.

Accelerate digitization

Sharing his experience with Cisco during the crisis, Ronald Van Kleunen, SD-WAN sales specialist at Cisco, noted that to achieve a resilient enterprise architecture, one must have the ability to be flexible to shift and scale IT capacity, capability, and resources where the demand lies and as the market environment evolves.

Eastern Communications powers QC’s community Wi-Fi for citizens

Embracing the disruptive forces in the new business landscape

One key way to future-proof the business is to implement technologies that can better equip the company for uncertain circumstances, such as cloud and cybersecurity. Whether a startup or a large company, digital transformation can help drive productivity and optimize workforce management.  

“You must have the ability to develop and automate new capabilities in an agile manner as the business need arises. No compromise on employee safety, security, productivity, and experience across a flexible distributed working environment,” said Ronald.

Utilize remote collaboration

Remote work will stay for a while even post-pandemic. This means utilizing remote collaboration within the business is imperative to remain productive despite the distance. Van Kleunen shared that this can help a company act proactively and adapt to new work environments while promoting efficiency and productivity.

Collaborating across cities, countries, and time zones does not have to be a daunting task. Once businesses found the right combination for their team, they will be able to work as effectively and efficiently as they would in an office environment.

Incorporate sustainability

According to Abdelrahman Ayman, managing partner, Major Oak, companies should also consider the importance of incorporating sustainability initiatives and practices using the Triple Bottom Line: people, profit, and the planet. He said companies should commit to focusing as much on social and environmental concerns as they do on profits.

Corporate sustainability measures the resiliency of the business, based on its impact on the environment, relationship to the community, and contribution to the economy. All three factors play a major role in determining if their business can stand the test of time.

Empower customers

Gian Carlo Conde, head of Enterprise Marketing, Eastern Communications, shared that taking customers into consideration also plays a big role in keeping their businesses future-proof. Consumer behaviors constantly change, hence working and collaborating with them will allow companies to provide the best product or solutions possible.

“Empowering your customer starts with listening to them and getting a better understanding of where they are currently and where they want to be. Don’t sell just for the sake of making sales, the transition from product selling to solution selling based on pain points or needs,” he said.

The pandemic has taught lessons among many industries in its most challenging ways. Businesses should adopt a forward-looking mindset to thrive as they continuously navigate the pandemic era and hereafter.