Do more with less. That seems to be a recurring theme in this economic
climate. Budgets are being trimmed and workforces are downsized. Fewer
resources are tasked with accomplishing enterprise objectives. Let’s
throw one more curve in the mix…swine flu. There is much buzz about the
illness and what it means for business (Companies Plan for a Possible Swine Flu Pandemic).
Large tech companies such as Sprint, Microsoft, General Electric, IBM,
and Dell already have pandemic contingency plans in place. They include
restricting travel, sanitizing call centers, limiting face-to-face
meetings, and enabling employees to work from home. These measures may
seem somewhat restricting, but swine flu or not, business must go on.
Look for an increase in alternative communication methods. Video
conferencing jumps to mind. New advancements in HD video conferencing
enable “just like being there” interactions. And for those without the
latest HD solutions, video calling is a quality, cost effective, plug
and play alternative. Video calling plans are available for around $30
per month. And web conferencing could play a huge role, too. These
always on solutions offer application and document sharing,
whiteboarding, chat messaging, and meeting recording in a
cross-platform environment - affordable and effective. So, for those
companies without the resources to plan ahead for the “what if”
scenario, look to simple and productive ways to keep your business in
tip top shape in the face of a possible worldwide health scare.
Erika Moskal
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