Top 8 ways to get around business travel restrictions.
The way we work has undergone rapid change. Businesses such as consultancies, sales companies, event coordinators and retail buyers need to adapt in the short term and consider how they will continue to operate after the coronavirus pandemic is over.
Work without travel.
First, and this is quite obvious, confirm all necessary visits for a later date. Travel is either strongly discouraged or prohibited. International travel poses a threat to many, and many countries are advised to avoid at this time. This means that the plans will probably not come to fruition for many months.
Keep the idea that you will be in a face-to-face meeting. Speak positively. Even if the situation seems bleak now, the pandemic will end and business will continue. Being positive will impact the work you do, knowing there is a purpose. Non-essential visits can be managed by other means.
Stay in touch with your clients.
In the absence of face-to-face meetings on site, you must still be in contact. These are uncertain times for you, but also for your clients. You need to convince them that your services are in demand and beneficial.
If you have extra time without using it to catch trains or planes, you have time to answer their questions and build a working relationship. Be the company they want to stay with when life gets back to normal.
Put your employees at ease.
This is the best time to be a great employer or team leader. Just as your clients fear for the future of their business, your employees fear for the future of their income. Not traveling, especially in a business like consulting where travel can be a weekly event, can indicate job insecurity. This is a bigger concern with the looming global recession.
In the worst case, it may be true that there will be job losses, but you will try to avoid that. The sense of danger trickles down from you and affects work performance. Regular communication is more difficult when everyone is at home, but more important.
Sending messages.
How you send messages probably depends on who you're contacting; clients or colleagues. There are a plethora of messaging apps available for every day and business use. Even if you don't have a subscription to something like Slack, Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp allow group messaging, so you can collaborate with colleagues on key projects.
Messaging instead of email provides more freedom to exchange creative ideas during the conversation. It is naturally a more informal platform and invites you to get to know your clients. If you prefer to keep things strictly professional, that's fine too. You can customize your message tone or maintain an email-only relationship.
Research.
No matter how confident you are in your reports and ratings, there is always more work to be done. Is your current situation making your data obsolete? Are there solutions you can isolate for clients to protect their business in the long term? Can you accurately interpret information from the current climate that dictates how clients should behave?
Do additional market research – both on competitors and clients. Markets are constantly changing, especially now. Businesses are adapting, and you don't want to be left behind. Your clients will be impressed by the extra work you do that demonstrates your value and adaptability during a crisis.
Teleconference.
If messaging doesn't allow you to get your thoughts across properly, teleconferencing is available through various platforms. Conversation inspires ideas that text does not. There is a flow that can only be achieved through speaking.
Use teleconferencing on platforms like Skype and Zoom to exchange ideas with individuals or groups. Share your findings for the day and discuss next steps at length. This is not always convenient, as video calls distract from performing daily tasks. Think about the best way to tell people about the idea or information you found.
Business travel was already declining before the pandemic and was predicted to continue to decline. Teleconferencing has already moved forward as a cheaper alternative, and the climate crisis is pushing the collective consciousness away from flying.
Enhance your teleconferences with smart glasses.
The main disadvantage of teleconferences is that they are static. To demonstrate a product or walk through a building, one party would need to have their laptop or phone. Then of course they are free to use whatever products they want to sell or show clients.
Smart glasses are as close as you can get to being in person. With one person guiding you with the glasses, you can see the workspace just like they do. With your outside perspective, you can judge things they don't consider. Passes can also be recorded for in-depth analysis.
This technology has applications beyond the pandemic. They provide solutions for industries such as manufacturing and warehousing. The lessons we learn now will affect how businesses operate in the future.
Check your business travel policy.
When the pandemic is over, you will adapt the way you work. Every step you take now is a lesson for the future. You have time to read the travel safety policy.
To look forward too.
Working around business trips will have benefits in the long run. It's in our environmental interest to limit the commuting we do, as well as your financial interest. If your operations can function well without the same amount of travel you are used to now, you will save money and time.
These are hard times, but not hopeless. Being too cavalier is unwise, but it's definitely time to be strategic in your approach.
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