4 Ways Service Industry Businesses are Succeeding Amid COVID-19
For more than a year, the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted businesses and everyday people worldwide. A good number of businesses, big and small alike, faced great challenges and shuttered on a temporary basis — and some permanently — as well as instituted work-from-home policies for their employees.
Meantime, retailers that sell groceries and other home essentials waited for weeks or longer for the supply chains to catch up with customer demand. Worse still, many companies were forced to lay off employees or close their doors for good.
Yet, in spite of all the challenges thrown at businesses in the past 12-plus months, it wasn’t all bad news. In fact, many businesses, especially those in the service industry, have succeeded and continue to provide great value. You might wonder how it’s possible that businesses thrived while much of the world toiled in chaos.
Here are four ways service industry businesses have succeeded — and will continue to succeed — amid COVID-19.
1. Providing Communications Services to Remote Workers and Students
It’s almost impossible to imagine how people would have continued working and earning a living throughout 2020 and early 2021 without the internet. And that seems to make good sense. According to the Brookings Institution, “the COVID-19 pandemic has graphically illustrated the importance of digital networks and service platforms.”
What’s more, everyone required fast, reliable and secure internet connections — this will continue to be the case for those who will be working from home in perpetuity — and communication service providers like Comcast came through with speedy services, offering 60 days of complementary services to provide relief for stressed-out customers.
2. Offering Video Conferencing Capabilities to Professionals Needing Some Face Time
Many people might’ve never heard of Zoom prior to March 2020, but most business professionals continue to rely on this or other video conferencing platforms to get things done.
Once a tool that professionals used to catch up with colleagues while on the go, Zoom became a household name after COVID-19 hit. Now, it’s an essential way for remote teams to maintain cohesion and a sense of organizational community and corporate culture. And the numbers don’t lie. Before COVID-19 took hold, Zoom hosted 10 million daily video call participants, and by April 2020, that number had shot up to 300 million.
3. Keeping Daily Life Essentials Flowing
Home comfort essentials like plumbing and HVAC have become critical to businesses, remote workers and students alike during the past year. Indeed, commercial and residential plumbing, waterworks and HVAC suppliers have been and continue to be on call for maintenance and repair issues.
These companies also provided critically necessary infrastructure and services to support consumers through a viral pandemic. For instance, Morsco has been — and remains — a proudly essential and community-driven company in its mission throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. The company has provided expert and thoughtful service to its community, generating strong brand recognition during an unprecedented time.
4. Helping Customers Meet Their Grocery Needs
In the past year, grocery chains like Kroger and Publix have stepped up to help customers meet their household necessities needs. While not immune to supply chain challenges, major grocery chains, thanks to dutiful employees, remained open as essential businesses over the course of the pandemic. According to CNN, early in the pandemic, Publix experienced a massive 10 percent growth, reaching $1 billion in sales. Kroger also benefited, experiencing a 30 percent growth surge in March 2020.
Many More Businesses are Becoming Essential Again
While many COVID-19-related restrictions are still in effect across the country and worldwide, many businesses are reopening, even if in limited capacities. There are some companies we’ve discovered we can’t live without, including grocers, communication and internet providers, and plumbing and HVAC services. It’s great to know there are some services we can count on during uncertain times.
