Since the onset of the coronavirus outbreak, I’m sure you’ve read a lot about how businesses and organizations should be preparing for when things go back to normal. But the thing is, it won’t look like our old normal, rather our next normal.

There a vast number of possibilities when it comes to what that will actually look like, but for the past few months we’ve been thrust into a world of face masks, social distancing, and Zoom meetings.

How can companies come out of these uncertain times stronger than before?

The answer is that, well, there is no specific right answer. What we can say for sure is that there will be a shift in how we do business, connect with each other, and perhaps even what we value.

Missed opportunities can be incredibly costly to a business, especially in uncertain times like the ones we find ourselves in.

The financial challenges of the coronavirus coupled with the rapidly changing needs of employees, customers, and suppliers has proven to be an insurmountable task for too many businesses around the country and the world at large. Customer habits are changing, meaning that companies will need to redefine their digital strategies in order to capitalize on new opportunities.

For retailers and businesses with traditionally high-contact touch-points like grocery stores and restaurants, the first step on the path forward will likely involve a slew of new ideas about products, promotions, and how to redesign and plan stores with social distancing in mind in the future. For service-oriented businesses like education and healthcare, the ability to connect virtually will be more important than ever.

Customers will go elsewhere if speed isn’t a priority. In our current culture of instant gratification, the expectation that problems will be solved quickly, questions will be answered correctly the first time, and the overall experience will be seamless are becoming the norm – as they should.

Help On Demand is a real-time consumer referral system that connects people with questions to the experts in their area that can answer them. Enroll for healthcare from your couch, get answers to the legal questions you can’t by watching another episode of Law & Order, or get advice from a trained educator if your children’s school isn’t open yet.

In a time where meaningful, fast connections are becoming a hot commodity, it’s important to realize that sometimes, we all need to ask for help. Whatever it is you need, we’ll connect you with the right person to get the job done.

Call us at 1-888-245-1922 or email us at info@nullhelpondemand.com for a quick chat about how to adjust your business practices for the COVID era.

It is no secret that technology has revolutionized the way that companies handle data, communicate with their consumers, and are ultimately perceived. To say it is the force behind modern business is not hyperbolic. For these reasons, a certain level of connectivity is vital for a modernized approach to customer experience.

Here at Help On Demand, we know how important this is – in fact, it’s a huge part of how we connect businesses to their end consumers.

User experience is key to business success. If potential clients or customers can’t be serviced when and where they like, they will find another option. We live in an age of around the clock, 24/7 service, where missed connections can be the breaking point for an otherwise prosperous business model, and not just a sad subsection of Craigslist.

This need for instantaneous results can seem like a huge hurdle to jump over, but in reality, it’s an opportunity.

Increasing the connectivity of your brand and business can help boost a wide range of KPIs like social capital and brand awareness, all while generating leads that can become genuine, long-lasting connections. In short, a focus on connectivity can drive your brand to a new level of success.

Because of this, businesses need to think outside the box when it comes to creative ways to connect with their customers and stay top-of-mind. Regardless of industry, workplace practices, and other factors, this remains true. Not to mention, the best experience (for both customers and employees) generally involves an open dialogue between consumer and provider.

As one of our customers said in a testimonial, “The idea of allowing insurance agents to work with marketplace consumers was a great opportunity. The technology, the simplicity of it, really helped us to facilitate that dialogue.”

Let’s use that customer experience as an example, and talk a little bit more about the insurance industry. When a consumer goes to the federal health insurance marketplace, healthcare.gov, they can easily get contact information for agents and brokers in their area simply by clicking the “Find Local Help” button. Those agents and brokers can then provide immediate assistance directly to the people in their ZIP codes that need it most. In 15 minutes or less, an agent will contact that consumer, help them enroll, and answer any other questions they may have.

If we expect this kind of customer experience when we buy a pair of shoes or order food online, why don’t we demand the same level of attentiveness when making the big decisions in life like how to protect ourselves with insurance, how to close a deal on that new house, or how to educate our children?

Everybody is an expert when it comes to something. Let us help your customers find you. Call us at 1-888-245-1922 or email us at info@nullhelpondemand.com for a quick chat about modernizing your approach.