Businesses Pivoting their way out of the Covid-19 Crisis

Businesses Pivoting their way out of the Covid-19 Crisis

Businesses across South Africa are showing tenacity, innovation and real digital disruption in the face of Lockdown and its tiered, vague levels of protocol. Many are pivoting their business models and offerings to adapt to the current operating constraints. During this time of economic upheaval and the growing distrust in Government decision-making, these innovators have remained positive, proactive and relevant. 

“This crisis has fast-tracked digital disruption and out-the-box thinking,” says Derek Cikes, COO at payment fintech company, Payflex. “COVID-19 has forced digital transformation to the top of the agenda, with companies pivoting their business model in order to provide viable service offerings.”

Cikes looks at some interesting examples of how South African businesses have pivoted in response to the current lockdown, providing insights into actionable steps to restructure and transform business offerings during this uncertain time. 

Digital Consultations

At face value, it would seem like the opportunity is currently lost for many retailers whose business deals directly with consumers.  However, bathroom company, Bella Bathrooms and Tiles, has used digital transformation to pivot their business and change the entire landscape of their business’s operating model.

The bathroom company is providing an innovative décor service allowing homeowners to download the Bella Bathrooms décor app which accesses the person’s cell phone camera (with the relevant permissions of course). In this way, homeowners can enjoy a virtual consultation from the safety of their own homes with their bathroom designer. 

“If you believe your sales and consultations can only be done face-to-face, it might be time to reevaluate your entire sales process and transform it,” says Cikes. 

This ‘new normal’ demands that businesses find innovative ways to digitally engage with potential clients and to figure out how existing services can be offered in new ways.  

“By using technology to create alternative avenues of communication and engagement, businesses can enhance their service offering while accommodating lockdown regulations and support customers’ goals of staying safely at home”.

Closing the (social distancing) gap

During this time, alcohol sales have been prohibited. But boutique liquor company, Dry Dock, has been providing virtual wine tasting events, discussing various wines in online webinars. Participants who have a wine collection at home can open the same bottle of wine as the host sommelier. The sommelier will discuss the differences between their wine and the other brand. 

“Here’s a perfect example of how a company digitally updated an age-old way of doing something in order to accommodate the current restricted parameters. They’re staying relevant even at a time when many businesses in their industry have ground to a halt”, says Cikes.

Business can pivot to transform tangible, interactive experiences into online alternatives.  This allows for a personalised environment where participants can enjoy a one-on-one engagement with the host. Using a digital platform also extends audience reach to include a potential global audience that could experience your expertise at the click of a button. 

Servicing the COVID-19 Economy 

Epione, a healthcare technology platform, has added a COVID-19 pre-screening symptom checker onto its platform which provides seamless access to health professionals. This new facility enables patients to monitor and evaluate the progression of their symptoms remotely. 

“An important lesson from this crisis is creating flexible solutions to meet people’s needs within the current environment,” says Cikes. “By using expertise in your particular domain, business can focus on a key feature that addresses consumer demand and pain points at a given time.”

Leveraging Current Infrastructure

Website developers Redshift onboarded local supermarkets and suppliers onto their platform. This allowed shop owners to accept orders from shoppers during lockdown. The pivot enabled Redshift to expand their business offering and help to support retailers providing essential services.

“This is an example of using current digital infrastructure to expand offerings to remain operational and viable in a challenging economic time,” says Cikes.  “Think about your core infrastructure and how this can be leveraged as an additional service which creates a new revenue stream.”

Showing Solidarity

Pivoting doesn’t always mean reorganising your business for gain or profit. Some businesses and organisations have pivoted to bring their solutions to frontlines to pull South Africa through the pandemic. 

A shining example is Kim Whitaker. A hospitality broker who decided to lend a hand while her own business had come to a halt. She founded Ubuntu Beds. This initiative aims to unite hospitality businesses that now stand empty, with our healthcare workers who are fighting the virus on the front lines. 

Payflex has also used its digital platform for good. We’re providing payment infrastructure for the Solidarity Fund which enables donations to be paid in 4 interest-free instalments. 

“By giving South Africans the opportunity to donate in instalments, we are providing a more flexible option. It’s for those wanting to make a difference while accommodating different budgets,” explains Cikes. 

“Pivoting to address specific needs of groups such as the educational community allows a brand to demonstrate empathy and understanding. This communicates a message of solidarity with a focus that goes beyond profit.

By striving to make a meaningful difference to those around you, brands can foster brand loyalty and alignment. They can also make a positive impact on people’s lives both during and long after the crisis,” says Cikes. 

The solution is in the problem

Facilitating the signing of legal documents has enabled innovative digital disruption in the legal arena.  Registered Communication is an electronic communications provider which has transformed the traditional paper-based notification and hard-copy delivery of contractual documents into a legally compliant digital alternative.

This business has found a way to solve a new problem. It is creating services that solve the challenges of this new normal.  

Think of the problems companies or people are facing. See these as opportunities to find the relevant solutions. We need to rethink the problems we’re solving. Leveraging technology can help restructure your service offerings to meet new demand and generate welcome revenue. 

Conclusion 

Pivoting has always been an integral part of innovation even in every day business management.  However, the COVID-19 environment is accelerating the need to transform, forcing disruptions of business models in order to ensure continuity.

“Businesses are re-imagining themselves. Although pivoting comes with risk, inaction can pose a far greater threat to survival during this time and beyond,” concludes Cikes.