The COVID-19 crisis has disrupted businesses of all sizes from various industries. While some small and mid-size enterprises (SMEs) had a temporary hiatus, others had a permanent closure.
It’s good that some businesses have managed to survive and reopen after a year or so. It appears that most of them have now managed to stay afloat amid the crisis. They have now gotten used to operating in the new normal.
But did you know that some businesses have flourished? The US Chambers of Commerce listed some thriving industries during the pandemic. On top of this is the delivery service.
Due to the pandemic restrictions, consumers have gotten used to getting their foods, groceries, and items delivered right at their doorsteps. They have realized the benefits of delivery services, which offer ease and convenience.
But as a business owner of a delivery service, do not stay lenient and complacent. Know that it takes hard work and continuous efforts to keep your business afloat and grow it over time. That said, here’s how to boost your delivery service in the new normal:
1. Study Your Target Market
Studying your industry doesn’t only happen before launching your business. It must be a continuous endeavor to stay always relevant. It is more necessary during a crisis such as the COVID-19 outbreak. It’s good that the delivery service industry has flourished during this pandemic. However, you must continue to assess the relevancy of your business and the value you can offer in your locality. Hence, it makes carrying out research and due diligence.
2. Assess Your Consumer Needs
In line with studying your market, you must delve into your consumer needs. Be sure to identify their current needs and future necessities as well. Check to see if your business caters to these needs. As a business, the only way to survive is to ensure you continue to serve your target consumers. If they see you can no longer offer something of value, they will no longer patronize your business.
3. Reevaluate Your Products and Services
As a business, you probably offer food supplies, do groceries for people, or get e-commerce items delivered to their houses. In times of a crisis, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, assess what you offer to the consumers. As a delivery service business, be sure to improve your products and services. If there’s a need to launch new offers, consider doing so. But all these boil down to how you can meet your consumer needs.
4. Create Business Value for All Stakeholders
Creating business value is paramount for your business growth and sustainability. But for the most part, you will come up with products and services that will suffice your consumer needs. But according to Forbes, business value factors in all key stakeholders involved, from your employees to your suppliers to your third-party vendors. If you provide them with value, they will continue to support and patronize your delivery service business.
5. Have Your Employees’ Interests in Mind
As the business owner, always have your employees’ best interests in mind. For a food delivery service, chances are you have a team of chefs, drivers, and administrative assistants. You must always ensure their overall welfare. For instance, get insurance for your drivers hitting the road almost every day. Should they get into a road accident, they will get covered. You can even go as far as getting a pedestrian accident lawyer for them if they happen to hit a pedestrian.
6. Invest in Digital Tools and Technologies
Business owners can no longer ignore the power of digital tools and technologies. Many big companies and small and mid-size enterprises (SMEs) have undergone a digital transformation during this pandemic. As a delivery service, you must consider this as well. Start investing in technological trends like automation for administrative work, artificial intelligence (AI) for Chatbots, Smart devices for your employees, and communications technologies for customers and suppliers.
7. Implement Digital Marketing Strategies
Did you know that most businesses have heavily relied on digital marketing strategies during this pandemic? Start by updating your website for your marketing. Consider implementing online campaigns such as search engine optimization (SEO) for online visibility and pay-per-click (PPC) advertising for website traffic. Plus, don’t forget email, content, and social media marketing for customer engagement and product/service promotion.
At this point, you now know what it takes to boost your delivery service during this pandemic. Consider the business growth strategies discussed above, from studying your market to creating business value to implementing digital marketing strategies. With all these in mind, not only will you keep your business afloat, but you’ll also be able to grow it over time. Ultimately, you’ll ensure the overall business success of your delivery service in the long run!
