Ever since the global pandemic COVID-19 started spreading all around the world, entrepreneurs have encountered a lot of struggles. We all know that people are not allowed to freely roam around different places but it does not mean that business will also need to stop. Even though it looks bad as it is, customers and clients will still find their way to purchase products and services that they want or need. This is why you need to know the potential of digital marketing for your business in this pandemic. To give you information about digital marketing, stick with us until the end.

How Can Digital Marketing Help Your Business in This Pandemic

More businesses are turning to digital marketing for help. As businesses go online to cater to client’s and customer’s needs, the online market becomes crowded and creates increased competition. Through digital marketing, businesses have a higher fighting chance against competitors in gaining new clients or customers and retaining old ones. If you are not familiar with this type of marketing, you can let professionals handle your marketing campaign and discover the different benefits it can give your business during the pandemic. Below are just some of the advantages of using digital marketing during this pandemic. 

1. Maintain Communication Without Face-to-Face Interactions

Even though you cannot physically interact with your clients and customers, you still have to make them feel like you are always ready to help them with their problems using the products and services that you offer. Optimizing your digital marketing strategy will help them easily find you especially when they need your product or service as solutions to their problems. Some of the strategies you can use are chatbots and email marketing. You can also try bulk SMS solutions for quick and easy communication.

1. Help Keep Customer Informed and Engaged

During the time of the pandemic, there is a high tendency for people to always browse the internet to look and search for the things that they need or want. You have to take advantage of this concept to make sure that your business will reach the knowledge of your target audience. You can post content such as informational videos regarding your products and services, you can even post customer reviews as proof of legitimacy.

1. Possibility of Gaining New Leads

The power of digital marketing, especially during the pandemic, is very difficult to underestimate. Since more people are using social media and browsing the internet to find what they need instead of physically going to stores or offices, digital marketing can help you reach out to those people and eventually turn them into clients or customers.

1. More Cost-Effective Option to Continue Marketing

Digital marketing is known to be more cost-effective than traditional marketing since everything is done online. You also have a lot of options to choose from such as email marketing, video marketing, affiliate marketing, social media marketing, and so on. Also, there are a lot of professional online marketers that can handle your marketing campaign if you’re a bit overwhelmed with the process since they know how to effectively take advantage of digital marketing for your business. As a result, you can avoid spending more money on such things that will not effectively help you for your marketing campaign.

To further conclude the discussion, you have to remember that it is not just your business that is struggling during the time of the pandemic. Your customers are also dealing with different challenges and they also have other priorities. Optimizing your digital marketing campaign will help your customers easily find you and rely on you when they need products and services that will serve as a solution to their difficulties and problems. You need to focus on optimizing your digital marketing strategies to let your customers and clients feel that you are always ready to help them with the products and services that you offer.

Hernaldo Turrillo

Hernaldo Turrillo is a writer and author specialised in innovation, AI, DLT, SMEs, trading, investing and new trends in technology and business. He has been working for ztudium group since 2017. He is the editor of openbusinesscouncil.org, tradersdna.com, hedgethink.com, and writes regularly for intelligenthq.com, socialmediacouncil.eu. Hernaldo was born in Spain and finally settled in London, United Kingdom, after a few years of personal growth. Hernaldo finished his Journalism bachelor degree in the University of Seville, Spain, and began working as reporter in the newspaper, Europa Sur, writing about Politics and Society. He also worked as community manager and marketing advisor in Los Barrios, Spain. Innovation, technology, politics and economy are his main interests, with special focus on new trends and ethical projects. He enjoys finding himself getting lost in words, explaining what he understands from the world and helping others. Besides a journalist, he is also a thinker and proactive in digital transformation strategies. Knowledge and ideas have no limits.

The post How Can Digital Marketing Help Your Business During the COVID-19 Pandemic appeared first on OpenBusinessCouncil Directory.

However, there are several niche sectors or voids in the marketplace that entrepreneurs may fill, allowing them to capitalize on unmet market needs while also placing their best effort forward in the corporate world.

What Business To Start After COVID-19

If you have the skills, and you’re looking to start your own business or modify the goods and/or services you currently offer to a dynamic economy, here are 10 ideas to explore.

●     Pets Services

The huge increase in pet adoptions as a result of the COVID-19 lockdowns was a positive outcome. Shelters around the country saw a 700 percent rise in adoptions and caring in 2020 compared to 2019. Animal products such as handcrafted treats and toys, as well as online pet training seminars, are in a growing market right now. So, this is an opportunity for a new business.

●     Handmade Beauty Kits

Consumers who want to treat themselves at home rather than in a salon will appreciate DIY home beauty items and packages. Industry analysts predict that holistic health and self-care items, such as facial creams, oils, and aroma products, would continue to be in high demand for the near future, even as the virus has passed.

●     Clearing Services

Cleanup and disinfecting products rushed off the shelves in 2020, and many business cleaning services were in greater supply than they had ever been. Manufacturers and building owners will continue to seek these cleaning services when more businesses reopen to the public, especially colleges and universities, to minimize the risk of viruses and bacteria and guarantee their workers feel safe and secure.

●     Education Toys

Even after schools are reopened to in-person classes or hybrid learning, parents and students continue to come up with new ways to stimulate analytical thinking and imaginative stimulation. Entrepreneurs with a love for knowledge have a fantastic chance to move in and fulfill the educational toys and activities market gap.

●     Personal Training Online

Entrepreneurs with a desire for health and a degree in physical education, exercise physiology, nutrition, or sports medicine can offer online courses or one session to the work(out)-at-home public.

●     Virtual Career Consulting

Starting a virtual resume editing and consulting firm allows those with expert manners knowledge and a love for helping others to commercialize their talents and mission. This is ideal for businesses with a personal stake in personal training and advising. You can use a professional localization service to explore your business and make it visible to others. It’s easy-peasy, you can work on a laptop anywhere in the world and all the world will know about you.

●     Device Cleaning Services

COVID-19 placed the importance of cleanliness at the forefront of everyone’s consciousness, as well as greater consumption of resources to remain connected. Entrepreneurs can dominate a specialized industry by integrating the two demands of technology and cleaning large items and providing quick response and exceptional customer service.

●     Handmade Products

The pandemic demonstrated both the resiliency of stores selling online and the need of citizens looking to support small and medium enterprises. For ambitious sellers of handcrafted goods such as knitted cloths, flavored olive oil, and other items, online shops are the greatest option.

●     Transcription Services

Transcription services, which involve hearing audio recordings and preserving them in written form. It always has been and will remain to be a different business that can meet the needs of diverse sectors. However, if you need some help with the written form, you can always use the best translating websites to help you out. Transcription services, which are most commonly employed in the medical industry, are a fascinating online business.

●     Visual Team-Building

The number of businesses adopting permanent online work practices as a result of COVID-19 continues to increase. You can propose to plan it for them if they don’t have time to design and organize their unique virtual events.

Now you know which business will thrive post-pandemic, so it’s up to you to decide which one you will lead.

Summary

Workplaces would never be the same after this. The COVID-19 pandemic will revolutionize the way we work, much as 9/11 changed the way the globe travels. These transformations will affect how people move, access workplaces, engage with others, handle responsibilities, and much more. So, you have a few ideas on how you can help people post-COVID-19 and still earn some money.

BIO:

Merissa Moore is a writer, strategist, and analyst who specializes in content creation. She enjoys conducting studies on a wide range of issues and sharing her extensive expertise with the general audience. She enjoys taking holidays and visiting new locations in her spare time.

Hernaldo Turrillo

Hernaldo Turrillo is a writer and author specialised in innovation, AI, DLT, SMEs, trading, investing and new trends in technology and business. He has been working for ztudium group since 2017. He is the editor of openbusinesscouncil.org, tradersdna.com, hedgethink.com, and writes regularly for intelligenthq.com, socialmediacouncil.eu. Hernaldo was born in Spain and finally settled in London, United Kingdom, after a few years of personal growth. Hernaldo finished his Journalism bachelor degree in the University of Seville, Spain, and began working as reporter in the newspaper, Europa Sur, writing about Politics and Society. He also worked as community manager and marketing advisor in Los Barrios, Spain. Innovation, technology, politics and economy are his main interests, with special focus on new trends and ethical projects. He enjoys finding himself getting lost in words, explaining what he understands from the world and helping others. Besides a journalist, he is also a thinker and proactive in digital transformation strategies. Knowledge and ideas have no limits.

The post 10 Ways To Get Global in Post-Quarantine World for Business appeared first on OpenBusinessCouncil Directory.

Be that as it may, you’d like to do more. Perhaps implementing a company-mandated policy for vaccinations would work. If this is something you’re considering, there are a few things you need to know. Continue reading to learn more.

Is It Legal For Employers to Mandate COVID-19 Vaccinations?

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has stated that employers will have a right to require employees to get the COVID-19 vaccine to maintain their jobs. This permission is primarily provided to companies that feel a significant health and safety risk to employees, customers, or the general public. If your startup doesn’t fall in this category, it is best to encourage employees instead.

Incentivized Vaccine Policies

Not sure you want to make COVID-19 vaccines mandatory for employees? You do have other options. Many companies have decided to offer incentives for staff interested in obtaining the vaccine. These incentives can include additional compensation, paid time off, or cash bonuses. By eliminating some of the challenges employees would have to go through to get the vaccine, employers can encourage more people to go through the process. When selecting this route, it is essential to remember not to make incentives too large to prevent claims of coercion.

Developing A Policy

Whether you’re going to mandate vaccines or merely develop an incentive program to encourage employees to get vaccinated, you’ll need to put these policies in writing. Such information is ideal for protecting your startup and educating your staff. You’ll need to keep these documents on file, administer them to new hires during the onboarding process, and create signs to place in common areas. Don’t make the mistake of trying to write these policies and contracts on your own.

Work With An Attorney

Just as you would with a background check for employment and general policies for new hires, you need to consult an attorney. Although the rules and regulations surrounding COVID-19 vaccines in the workplace are relatively new, an attorney is educated enough to help you navigate the murky waters. They can ensure that you’re not overstepping your boundaries or violating any laws that could get you in legal trouble.

Employees With Religious Beliefs or Disabilities

Employers may have a right to mandate COVID-19 vaccines for employees, but there are some exemptions. Employees that state they have religious beliefs or disabilities that prevent them from obtaining the vaccine have a right to object. Your attorney can talk you through methods you can use to accommodate their needs. Solutions might include allowing them to work remotely, transitioning to a department that’s the least exposed to the general public, or assisting individuals with disabilities in getting to and from vaccination sites safely and affordably.

You want to be careful about how you proceed with this because they are protected by the American Disabilities Act and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Failure to comply could result in legal action that could be difficult for your startup to bounce back from.

Starting a business in the middle of a pandemic is challenging for a novice entrepreneur. It is your responsibility to ensure that you provide employees with a safe and decent environment to work. While a company-mandated COVID-19 vaccine policy may seem like the most effective solution, you must consider the pros and cons. Before making a final decision or hiring staff, talk with a legal representative to develop the safest policies to protect your business, employees, customers, and the communities you serve.

Hernaldo Turrillo

Hernaldo Turrillo is a writer and author specialised in innovation, AI, DLT, SMEs, trading, investing and new trends in technology and business. He has been working for ztudium group since 2017. He is the editor of openbusinesscouncil.org, tradersdna.com, hedgethink.com, and writes regularly for intelligenthq.com, socialmediacouncil.eu. Hernaldo was born in Spain and finally settled in London, United Kingdom, after a few years of personal growth. Hernaldo finished his Journalism bachelor degree in the University of Seville, Spain, and began working as reporter in the newspaper, Europa Sur, writing about Politics and Society. He also worked as community manager and marketing advisor in Los Barrios, Spain. Innovation, technology, politics and economy are his main interests, with special focus on new trends and ethical projects. He enjoys finding himself getting lost in words, explaining what he understands from the world and helping others. Besides a journalist, he is also a thinker and proactive in digital transformation strategies. Knowledge and ideas have no limits.

The post New Business, New Hires, And COVID-19 Vaccine Policies: Considerations For Employers appeared first on OpenBusinessCouncil Directory.

As industry and business start to re-build and protect itself from future pandemics and other global challenges. It is essential that the worlds economy and industry can future proof themselves through investment and technology.

A recent report by KPMG and HFS Research highlighted how companies and governments need to make smart investments in emerging technologies if they are to prevail against future pandemics: 65% of 900 global executives polled said: “We don’t have a choice or we risk threatening our very existence if we do not invest heavily in emerging technologies”.

Economic forecasters say fallout from COVID-19 is driving huge investment within AI and Nanotechnology as healthcare investment is expected to grow at a rate of nearly 50% extra a year towards a market set to be worth $1.333 trillion by 2027*.

The acceleration highlights wide recognition that the world cannot afford the human and economic cost of another pandemic.

At present, 70% of global healthcare provision is spent on providing care for the last few months of our lives**.

It is further accepted that the pandemic has shown the inefficiency of the world’s centralised healthcare model and its poor outcomes, with far reaching economic effects and negative impacts on treating cancers, mental health, cardio-vascular conditions, and the emerging challenge from Long COVID.

But observers say this will now trigger the greatest transformation of investment in advanced healthcare technologies since World War II.

These include sophisticated nanotechnology-based diagnostics, biomarkers, vaccines, novel therapies, highly targeted nanomedicines and AI, allowing us to move to a more sustainable, digitised, decentralised and democratised point-of-care environment.

With dynamic investment these will free our economies and future-proof us from infectious diseases as well as develop solutions to antibiotic resistance, another global healthcare challenge that only technology can solve.

Investors are already switching to this accelerated model, away from traditional healthcare infrastructure and onto point of care and precision medicine. This delivers sustainable healthcare economics as well as improving life and longevity. Such investment is expected to bring transformational impact and returns over the next decade and beyond.

This trend was apparent before COVID-19 but investment in healthcare technology in the second half of 2020 has already reached record levels and is set to climb significantly over the next decade.

One particular investment group has developed a unique gateway fund to innovative and disruptive technologies, targeting current and future pandemics, as well as transforming global healthcare.

This international investment platform operated by Vector Innovation Fund. Vector Innovation Fund (VIF) has now launched a $300 million sub-fund for pandemic protection and future healthcare, aiding and supporting precision medicine, highly advanced point of care and AI technologies to support the global economy, sustainable healthcare, and life longevity.

Paul Stannard, Chairman and General Partner of VIF, said: “Politicians are always forced to defend our old, centralised healthcare model but the pandemic has proved beyond doubt it’s not fit for purpose. A new approach to emerging technologies is vital.

“We have brought together some of the world’s leading figures in biomedicine, advanced diagnostics, nano biomarkers, telemedicine, AI and machine learning to accelerate these transformational technologies into the markets, backed by sophisticated and institutional investors creating one of the most dynamic international investment structures.

“Globally, we have had to deal with Ebola, Zika Virus, Bird Flu, and now COVID-19 in one decade, but the economy must adapt to a new future, where prevention and early intervention as well as using AI to drive more sustainable models for healthcare and investment.

“One example of this is the profound change in telemedicine in just a few months. These technology solutions for GPs and patients, have allowed us to monitor and support many more patients during this pandemic – the start of an unstoppable transformation.

“The previous investment criteria were holding back innovation and only reinforcing the broken property-focused and centralised models for healthcare. Innovators have proved that they can develop and commercialise novel technologies and have some approved within months, not years, and this trend will advance beyond the current crisis, which is creating this groundswell of pent-up investment in advanced technologies.

“Our team have an excellent track record in industry, healthcare, technology and investment, with 21 exits and a total value creation of $2.4billion, including two successful IPOs.”

Paul Sheedy founder of The World Nano Foundation, an international not-for-profit organisation for the commercialisation of nanoscale technologies, said: “Nanomedicine and the decoding of the genome have been enhancing healthcare for a number of years, but the pandemic has catapulted healthcare investment creating a “hockey stick” effect for investors.

“This includes vastly improved home testing and advanced diagnostics where we know outcomes are significantly improved through early intervention. Added to this, highly targeted precision medicines or therapies are going to transform all forms of healthcare, allowing us to work in parallel with and then ultimately move away from the current archaic centralised healthcare system delivery.

“Nanotechnology is forecast to more than double from $54.2 billion this year to $126.8 billion by 2027 and will create a positive force for change when combined with AI and machine learning, forecast on its own to soar 22.5% a year through to 2027 from a $284.38 billion market in 2019.

“We are going to see these twin forces of innovation transform how we live, work, and manage our health in real time as well as develop sustainable models for everything from food production and energy to transport and pollution, all of which improve health and well-being.”

The world of philanthropy and impact investing is also undergoing significant change as we realise that we must advance everything from healthcare for all – with more affordable point of care – to climate change, improved biodiversity, and reversing pollution.

Naz Bashir trustee of global technology charity World Science Aid said: “The world has suddenly woken up to the fact that the global challenges of healthcare, pollution and climate change must now be tackled head on.

“The pandemic has proved that money has no value without sustainable life and a stable economy. The world has reinforced the mistakes of supporting tired funding models for too long, and one positive outcome from the current global crisis is recognition that we now need to invest for the future, and these new technologies can right some of the wrongs of the past. For instance, two billion of the world’s seven billion people still do not have access to clean water or simple point of care technology.

“The next generation deserve and demand a better future that these enabling technologies can offer our governments and investors towards building a better post-pandemic future.”

Hernaldo Turrillo

Hernaldo Turrillo is a writer and author specialised in innovation, AI, DLT, SMEs, trading, investing and new trends in technology and business. He has been working for ztudium group since 2017. He is the editor of openbusinesscouncil.org, tradersdna.com, hedgethink.com, and writes regularly for intelligenthq.com, socialmediacouncil.eu. Hernaldo was born in Spain and finally settled in London, United Kingdom, after a few years of personal growth. Hernaldo finished his Journalism bachelor degree in the University of Seville, Spain, and began working as reporter in the newspaper, Europa Sur, writing about Politics and Society. He also worked as community manager and marketing advisor in Los Barrios, Spain. Innovation, technology, politics and economy are his main interests, with special focus on new trends and ethical projects. He enjoys finding himself getting lost in words, explaining what he understands from the world and helping others. Besides a journalist, he is also a thinker and proactive in digital transformation strategies. Knowledge and ideas have no limits.

The post The COVID-19 Pandemic Accelerates Investment To Support Business And Industry appeared first on OpenBusinessCouncil Directory.

The vaccine for the COVID-19 virus recently began shipment. The Wall Street Journal states it will take until sometime in March of 2021 to vaccinate the first 100 million individuals with the highest priority of getting the vaccine. That would leave well over  200 million Americans still in need of the vaccine as we head into spring.

The stock market is doing very well as it hovers around 30,000 – an unbelievable achievement never seen before, even though millions of people have lost their jobs and people continue to lose their jobs on a daily basis. The stock market is based on the theory of expectation, and what it is telling us is that with a vaccine, the economy will begin to turn around and will be much better going forward.

But let’s look at this through the eyes of small businesses.

Outside of government, companies with less than $7 million in sales and fewer than 500 employees are widely considered small businesses by the U.S. Small Business Administration. And the expectation for small businesses to return to what we considered normal pre-pandemic is not going happen anytime soon.

Here’s why. Multiple states have banned indoor dining at what remaining restaurants are still open. As of Dec. 1, nearly 17% of U.S. restaurants were “closed permanently or long-term,” according to a study by the National Restaurant Association. That percentage amounts to over 110,000 service-industry businesses across the country.

The last known numbers reported at the end of September for businesses in total that had closed were approximately 170,000. And since that time, the total has possibly exceeded 200,000. It is hard to determine how many people have been affected. In November 2020, the national unemployment level of the United States stood at about 10.74 million unemployed persons, which equates to a little over 10%. However, this number only tracks the number of people who are unemployed. It doesn’t record the people who are not drawing unemployment benefits and are out of work. So, in reality the number is larger than the 10.74 million.

With businesses closing and laying people off, no jobs for people to replace what they lost, and no income for the owners of the businesses, vaccine or no vaccine there is not going to be anyone working to turn the economy around. It will take most of 2021 to make the vaccine available to the millions of people who will want it, but many of the unemployed still will have no work to go to after they get the vaccine and the economy continues to sit.

The economists tell us there will be a surge in business once a vaccine has been made available and administered to the public, but the numbers tell us differently. And here is the biggest kicker of all that the economists have not figured into the equation: People’s habits have changed over the past year.

People are not buying as many clothes as they used to because they have nowhere to go. There is little dining, virtually no entertainment, and no gatherings, so there is no need to buy new clothes. Fuel sales are down because people are not commuting to work like they used to. Any business or venue that needs a gathering of people to remain in business is either closed or ignored due to government restrictions.

It is obvious that small businesses are not going to return to pre-pandemic levels with so many businesses closed in such a short time period. We are looking at 2022 at the earliest before the idea of normalcy begins to occur. And when the economy does begin to turn around, some of our favorite businesses we used to visit will be gone. Businesses cannot survive as long as the states keep changing the rules, which creates volatility in the marketplace. Entrepreneurs and investors seek opportunities but shun regulation and volatility, which can disrupt the flow of business. We eventually will see a surge in small businesses opening, but until then small businesses are on a declining slope.

Hernaldo Turrillo

Hernaldo Turrillo is a writer and author specialised in innovation, AI, DLT, SMEs, trading, investing and new trends in technology and business. He has been working for ztudium group since 2017. He is the editor of openbusinesscouncil.org, tradersdna.com, hedgethink.com, and writes regularly for intelligenthq.com, socialmediacouncil.eu. Hernaldo was born in Spain and finally settled in London, United Kingdom, after a few years of personal growth. Hernaldo finished his Journalism bachelor degree in the University of Seville, Spain, and began working as reporter in the newspaper, Europa Sur, writing about Politics and Society. He also worked as community manager and marketing advisor in Los Barrios, Spain. Innovation, technology, politics and economy are his main interests, with special focus on new trends and ethical projects. He enjoys finding himself getting lost in words, explaining what he understands from the world and helping others. Besides a journalist, he is also a thinker and proactive in digital transformation strategies. Knowledge and ideas have no limits.

The post Why A Vaccine For COVID-19 Won’t Restore Small Businesses Overnight appeared first on OpenBusinessCouncil Directory.

Disinfectants

Using disinfectants to clean surfaces like doorknobs, tables, devices, and any frequently touched surfaces can help fight COVID-19. Some disinfectants are proven to kill the virus that causes the coronavirus. It is recommended that you use cloth dabbed in disinfectants, such as diluted bleach or chlorine, to wipe indoor surfaces rather than spraying them.  You should add one part of bleach or chlorine to forty-nine parts of water. You can also use 70-90% alcohol to disinfect contaminated surfaces effectively. For a thorough and more effective process, you should wipe the dirt off the surfaces using soap or detergents first, then proceed to disinfect them. When you return home from work or after running a few errands, you should properly wash your hands with soap or water, and use an alcohol-based hand rub before you touch anyone or anything. 

Face Masks, and Shields

COVID-19 mainly spreads through infected droplets. These droplets can be discharged through the mouth or the nose, which means that if an infected person coughs, sneezes, or even spits while talking, they will spread the virus to those near to them. This is why face masks and shields are so important. If you are wondering where to buy PPE, you can check out any medical supply store. If the infected person is wearing a face mask, these droplets will be contained, and the chances of you catching COVID-19 would be even lower if you too are wearing a mask. 

In order to be effective, face masks should properly hug the nose and extend down to the chin, covering your whole face. Face shields work pretty much the same way, except they protect your eyes as well. While taking off a face shield, you must remove it from the strap and pull it away from your head without touching your face. You should do the same with the face mask;  remove it from the straps or bands without touching the mask itself. After you remove any of your PPE, you should wash your hands with soap thoroughly and use an alcohol-based hand rub. 

Gloves

Wearing safety gloves while touching any public surfaces can be more effective in protecting you against the virus than merely disinfecting the surfaces. However, this is only applicable if you can get rid of them correctly. If you touch the used gloves when taking them off, it can end up backfiring. To safely dispose of the gloves, you should grasp them at the wrist without touching your bare skin, peel them away from your hands, turn them inside out, and throw them at the nearest bin. 

COVID-19 is a very quickly transmitted virus. Due to its high fatality rate, people can be led to believe that simple measures, such as using personal protection equipment would not be enough. However, if used correctly, PPE can protect you and your loved ones from the virus.

Hernaldo Turrillo

Hernaldo Turrillo is a writer and author specialised in innovation, AI, DLT, SMEs, trading, investing and new trends in technology and business. He has been working for ztudium group since 2017. He is the editor of openbusinesscouncil.org, tradersdna.com, hedgethink.com, and writes regularly for intelligenthq.com, socialmediacouncil.eu. Hernaldo was born in Spain and finally settled in London, United Kingdom, after a few years of personal growth. Hernaldo finished his Journalism bachelor degree in the University of Seville, Spain, and began working as reporter in the newspaper, Europa Sur, writing about Politics and Society. He also worked as community manager and marketing advisor in Los Barrios, Spain. Innovation, technology, politics and economy are his main interests, with special focus on new trends and ethical projects. He enjoys finding himself getting lost in words, explaining what he understands from the world and helping others. Besides a journalist, he is also a thinker and proactive in digital transformation strategies. Knowledge and ideas have no limits.

The post Is PPE Sufficient to Battle Against COVID-19? appeared first on OpenBusinessCouncil Directory.

The pandemic and lockdown this year have had a visual effect on the business world globally. Many people found themselves with time on their hands, starting to think about that business idea they’ve always harboured. The figures speak for themselves: in the UK a staggering 273 tech startups were filed in September alone and there has been a 181% month on month rise of startups – the highest number since 2011!

Being an entrepreneur has a glamorous appeal to it: one that we gravitate towards, founding our own business Live Tech Games. Everything you achieve directly affects the success of your company; you’re not just a small cog in a big machine; you have an impact. It also has its drawbacks, with challenges arising when you least expect them to, and even the state of the world affecting how your business may shift.

Firmly making our way through lockdown 2.0, you might now be sat drawing up a plan to start your own business. Having done the same, and launched our first app, Roshambo Live, during the height of the last lockdown, we have a few key things to bear in mind as you begin to set the wheels in motion on your own business:

1. Start

Don’t let the pandemic dissuade you. It can motivate you to finally take the plunge. It will be difficult. It won’t be without challenges, and of course more challenges than starting a business at a normal period. On the flip side, it will also be filled with more opportunities than normal life. The pandemic has brought to light gaps in the market and holes in our industries and if that excites you more than it scares you, start now.

2. Keep on top of your logistics

This may sound obvious, but with everything changing rapidly, keeping your finances, data and logistics in order will keep you ahead of the game when inevitably the tide changes again. When you start your own company, keeping track of your incomings and outgoings is necessary; during a pandemic it is vital. Plan. Do your research on the market. You may want to jump in and fill a gap before anyone else, but you’ll have a better chance of succeeding long term with a plan. It still won’t be an easy journey and in the current climate you’ll be fighting other emerging startups for your place in the market: we know from experience, the mobile games market is completely saturated, but Roshambo Live was our goal and we weren’t prepared to let competition be our roadblock. Launching your business properly is more important than launching fast.

3. Take a risk

Taking a risk in an economy doing its best just to stay afloat, may sound like the last thing you want to do right now, but it’s the only way to drive change in an industry. Our biggest learning so far is key to any business: whatever your idea, be prepared to work hard, fight the odds and take risks. Moving forwards, requires you taking the first step, even when it feels like you don’t know where your foot will go.

4. Fail. And then fail again

You’ll often have heard the age old iteration that when you fail you simply learn what to do next time. Whilst the pandemic has driven more startups to existence than before, there have also been more failures – in London over 55 more in September than August. The economy is ripe for launch, and ripe for failure; and failing is your opportunity to know where to go next. You’ll learn to prepare for the worst, how to adapt, where to shift your priorities and most of all, know that if you can overcome a pandemic, you can probably overcome anything else that comes your way.

5. Don’t marry your idea

Starting a business is always a journey, and it’s important to be flexible with your idea. Your idea needs to be strong but the entrepreneur path is paved with unforeseen obstacles. Anything can change the course of your business idea and steer you down a slightly different road to the end goal. With a pandemic adding another layer of difficulty, everything is suddenly moving towards a virtual stream. Your challenges may feel company-ending, but they could be the key you need to shift your perspective. Investors, if you have them in your sights, may be reluctant to part with their funds without seeing results, and you’ll need to re-adjust to recognise the fact that we’re living through uncertain times. If you marry your business idea you’ll be less inclined to roll with the punches; the most important thing to take into account during a pandemic.

Ultimately, launching our own business during a pandemic has been a path rife with challenges, opportunities and learning curves at every turn. Aspiring entrepreneurs are not few and far between, and the current climate is lending itself to founders stepping up and making a claim for a small part of their industry. Only 18 months into our own business we may not be experts yet, but we’re firmly on our way and to those reading this hoping to be their own boss, now is as good a time as any.

Hernaldo Turrillo

Hernaldo Turrillo is a writer and author specialised in innovation, AI, DLT, SMEs, trading, investing and new trends in technology and business. He has been working for ztudium group since 2017. He is the editor of openbusinesscouncil.org, tradersdna.com, hedgethink.com, and writes regularly for intelligenthq.com, socialmediacouncil.eu. Hernaldo was born in Spain and finally settled in London, United Kingdom, after a few years of personal growth. Hernaldo finished his Journalism bachelor degree in the University of Seville, Spain, and began working as reporter in the newspaper, Europa Sur, writing about Politics and Society. He also worked as community manager and marketing advisor in Los Barrios, Spain. Innovation, technology, politics and economy are his main interests, with special focus on new trends and ethical projects. He enjoys finding himself getting lost in words, explaining what he understands from the world and helping others. Besides a journalist, he is also a thinker and proactive in digital transformation strategies. Knowledge and ideas have no limits.

The post 5 Truths About Setting Up A Business During A Pandemic appeared first on OpenBusinessCouncil Directory.

80% of us want to get back to the office, according to a new report from Dale Office Interiors, but only if they become more than just “places to work”.

The research, which surveyed the opinions of UK employees and HR professionals, uncovered an enormous disconnect between what we believe offices should do, and the performance of our actual real-world offices – a problem HR heads feel is all the starker now that we face a return to them in a post-COVID world.

The biggest shortfalls are in four key areas, boosting productivity, promoting staff health and well-being, facilitating creativity and prioritising sustainability. The one thing they do consistently provide – a place to work – is no longer as valuable now that working from home has become the default for many businesses operating throughout the pandemic, according to HR heads.

84% of employees believe offices should boost productivity, however, less than a third (31%) felt their real-world offices fulfilled this need.  Promoting staff health and well-being was a top priority for 81%, but only 30% felt their offices supported them in this way.  The contrast between expectation and reality was just as stark when it came to facilitating creativity, with 61% listing it as a need and only 23% reporting it fulfilled, and sustainability, which a significant proportion of employees (40%) want their offices to prioritise, was only being prioritised in 13% of our real-world offices.

The report speculates that not only is this why less than half (37%) of HR Heads felt their offices contributed to staff retention, less than a third (32%) felt their offices attract staff, and only 14% of HR Heads reported that their offices successfully reduce absenteeism, but also why offices need to change post-COVID.

David Bricknell, Managing Director of Dale Office Interiors, explains, “There’s no doubt a hybrid style of working is here to stay, we’ve all woken up to the benefits of working from home, but if you do it all the time it can feel more like living at work. There’s been a lot of speculation over the future of the office post-COVID but, the reality is, most of us appreciate the idea of having a place to go and be creative, work with others and keep a certain level of separation between our work and home lives. 

“But here’s the rub – for most of us, our real-world offices don’t actually fulfil those needs. So, if businesses see the value of collaboration, productivity, creativity, staff health and well-being and the very real impact those factors can have on their bottom line, they need to take this time as an opportunity to make sure their offices are more than just places to work.”

The report also shone a light on just how critical these issues are in the minds of employees, finding that 90% of them considered office design as important to their work, and a higher priority than other employee benefits, including an extra day’s holiday (41%) and private healthcare (30%).  A considerable portion (14%) even said they would scrap monetary bonuses if it meant they could up the standard of their working environment.

David Bricknell continues, “The story goes that life survived on Earth after the asteroid hit by getting smaller and more efficient at the things they need to do to survive, offices need to do the same if they’re to survive post-COVID. If it’s not a priority to business owners right now, they need to understand that it is a priority to their staff.”

Hernaldo Turrillo

Hernaldo Turrillo is a writer and author specialised in innovation, AI, DLT, SMEs, trading, investing and new trends in technology and business. He has been working for ztudium group since 2017. He is the editor of openbusinesscouncil.org, tradersdna.com, hedgethink.com, and writes regularly for intelligenthq.com, socialmediacouncil.eu. Hernaldo was born in Spain and finally settled in London, United Kingdom, after a few years of personal growth. Hernaldo finished his Journalism bachelor degree in the University of Seville, Spain, and began working as reporter in the newspaper, Europa Sur, writing about Politics and Society. He also worked as community manager and marketing advisor in Los Barrios, Spain. Innovation, technology, politics and economy are his main interests, with special focus on new trends and ethical projects. He enjoys finding himself getting lost in words, explaining what he understands from the world and helping others. Besides a journalist, he is also a thinker and proactive in digital transformation strategies. Knowledge and ideas have no limits.

The post New Research Outlines What Our Offices Need To Do To Survive Post-COVID appeared first on OpenBusinessCouncil Directory.

Global eCommerce platform Kooomo advises retailers to optimise their online presence in response to changing consumer demands.

The ongoing pandemic is having a profound impact on consumer behaviour, now and forever. As shoppers get to grips with the new normal, discretionary spending is declining, expectations are changing and eCommerce continues to surge. In light of this, according to global eCommerce platform, Kooomo, retailers must invest more heavily in their digital presence and think innovatively about how they can enhance their services if they wish to remain competitive beyond the second wave of COVID-19.

The immense changes to consumer behaviour over the past seven months are exemplified by a recent survey by Statista which found that 46% of Britons are likely to continue avoiding the high-street even if restrictions ease. Furthermore, research by Mckinsey highlights that consumer sentiment and behaviour reflect the uncertainty surrounding COVID-19, forcing us to consider the devastating impact on the UK retail industry in the coming months.

Ciaran Bollard, CEO at Kooomo, explains: “The bottom line here is that consumers are increasingly conscious and priorities have changed. Prior to the pandemic, on average shoppers’ baskets tended to be larger and their activity more frequent. However, amid the vast economic uncertainty that comes hand-in-hand with COVID-19, people have had to think more carefully about their spending. What does and doesn’t matter to UK consumers has taken a massive U-turn.”

With this in mind, Ciaran outlines four of the key changes to consumer behaviour amid COVID-19 and how retailers can adapt in such challenging times:

1. Online shopping has increased

“First and foremost, in this new era centred on safety, online shopping has witnessed an immense surge and is set to near the £175 billion barrier by the end of the year. This change in behaviour comes as no surprise and is undoubtedly here to stay as the tightening of lockdown measures comes back into play. It is the retailers who recognise this fact and optimise their online services that will be better placed to remain competitive beyond COVID-19. For smaller, indie retailers that do not have the funds or time to facilitate this, marketplace selling is a viable alternative.”

2. Consumers want secure payment methods and diverse options

“Leading on from this greater emphasis on safety, our clients have also found that consumers are turning their attention towards secure payment methods and diverse options more than ever before. With cyber-attacks becoming increasingly prominent over the past few months, retailers must ensure they are creating a check-out process that is safe and frictionless for all users. One way in which our developers are facilitating this is by enabling the Kooomo platform to support multiple languages, currencies and VAT rates. For retailers looking to follow suit, you can find out more information about Kooomo’s latest offerings here.”

3. Brand loyalty has been jeopardised

“It is also important to note that consumers have less patience when it comes to online shopping. For example, a recent UK Consumer preferences Report – conducted between June and July – found that ease of use when accessing an eCommerce site was a deciding factor for 56% of consumers. Brand loyalty has also been jeopardised, with consumers simply switching to competitors if the items they desire are out of stock or cannot be delivered quickly. Ultimately, consumers look to sites that offer a fast, secure and reliable experience, meaning retailers must get the basics covered if they want to attract and retain customers.”

4. Consumers have higher expectations

“And finally, only once their site is safe and reliable should retailers look to creating a flawless online experience for users. With everyone and everything moving online nowadays, consumers have heightened expectations when it comes to eCommerce and tend to opt for brands that offer the ultimate customer experience. Pivotal elements when building this include investing in a seamless omnichannel experience, creating an AI chatbot and focusing on hyper-personalisation. It is retailers who embrace consumers’ new expectations and invest in their eCommerce infrastructure that will spearhead this sector’s recovery.”

Ciaran concludes: “COVID-19 has undoubtedly brought about profound, uncontrollable changes to our world and consumer behaviour is no exception to this rule. Yet, retailers should not simply back away from the fight. With Back Friday and the build up to Christmas just around the corner, retailers must ensure they are optimising their online presence and catering to consumers’ needs. Ultimately, it is retailers who respond quickly to changing demands who will remain competitive in the months to come.”

Hernaldo Turrillo

Hernaldo Turrillo is a writer and author specialised in innovation, AI, DLT, SMEs, trading, investing and new trends in technology and business. He has been working for ztudium group since 2017. He is the editor of openbusinesscouncil.org, tradersdna.com, hedgethink.com, and writes regularly for intelligenthq.com, socialmediacouncil.eu. Hernaldo was born in Spain and finally settled in London, United Kingdom, after a few years of personal growth. Hernaldo finished his Journalism bachelor degree in the University of Seville, Spain, and began working as reporter in the newspaper, Europa Sur, writing about Politics and Society. He also worked as community manager and marketing advisor in Los Barrios, Spain. Innovation, technology, politics and economy are his main interests, with special focus on new trends and ethical projects. He enjoys finding himself getting lost in words, explaining what he understands from the world and helping others. Besides a journalist, he is also a thinker and proactive in digital transformation strategies. Knowledge and ideas have no limits.

The post From Then To Now: The Permanent Changes To Consumer Behaviour Amid COVID-19 appeared first on OpenBusinessCouncil Directory.

The International Association of IT Asset Managers hosts a virtual conference where members and annual conference attendees donate to local/national charities

The International Association of IT Asset Managers (IAITAM) has hosted their global Annual Conference and Exhibition (ACE) and those registering for the virtual conference were encouraged to donate to a COVID-19 relief charity of their choice.  The result: An unexpectedly massive outpouring of $15.6 million from attendees.

In response to this IAITAM initiative, the following relief efforts were donated to support individuals and businesses affected by the coronavirus:

· Over $15 million donated in the name of COVID relief, including Feeding America, United Way of Midlands, Foodbank for the Heartland, Second Harvest Food Bank, Midwest Food Bank, and Canadian Red Cross.

· 12,670 protective face masks were donated to police, fire, hospital, and other essential workers.

· Hundreds of pounds of medical supplies, food and other necessities were donated to Boston Children’s Hospital.

· More than 120 hours were volunteered to assist organizations like The Community Action Project, United Way, and COVID Relief Fund.

IAITAM President and CEO Dr. Barbara Rembiesa said: “I am blown away by the success of our COVID-19 relief charities.  This is the kind of leadership you would expect from IT Asset Managers. These unsung heroes protect the financial investment of the organization by ensuring the operational implementation of hardware and software is done efficiently and correctly. We have members within our network from Fortune 500 companies and small businesses, alike. Every agency or business owner in this digital age should be thinking about their IT assets and how they can increase return on investment and strengthen their data security with proper ITAM training and planning.”

ACE is the world’s largest IT Asset Management (ITAM) conference and explores key topics on ITAM and COVID-19 challenges. Those in attendance included CIOs, COOs, CTOs, IT Asset Managers, IT Professionals, Finance Managers, legal professionals and more. Attendees gained information that could assist them in starting new asset management programs or improve their existing ones.

The International Association of Information Technology Asset Managers, Inc., is the professional association for individuals and organizations involved in any aspect of IT Asset Management, SAM, Hardware Asset Management, Mobile Asset Management, IT Asset Disposition and the lifecycle processes supporting IT Asset Management in organizations and industry across the globe. IAITAM certifications are the only IT Asset Management certifications that are recognized worldwide.

Hernaldo Turrillo

Hernaldo Turrillo is a writer and author specialised in innovation, AI, DLT, SMEs, trading, investing and new trends in technology and business. He has been working for ztudium group since 2017. He is the editor of openbusinesscouncil.org, tradersdna.com, hedgethink.com, and writes regularly for intelligenthq.com, socialmediacouncil.eu. Hernaldo was born in Spain and finally settled in London, United Kingdom, after a few years of personal growth. Hernaldo finished his Journalism bachelor degree in the University of Seville, Spain, and began working as reporter in the newspaper, Europa Sur, writing about Politics and Society. He also worked as community manager and marketing advisor in Los Barrios, Spain. Innovation, technology, politics and economy are his main interests, with special focus on new trends and ethical projects. He enjoys finding himself getting lost in words, explaining what he understands from the world and helping others. Besides a journalist, he is also a thinker and proactive in digital transformation strategies. Knowledge and ideas have no limits.

The post IAITAM Virtual Conference Raises $15.6 Million To Support COVID-19 Relief Charities appeared first on OpenBusinessCouncil Directory.