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So! What’s Changed?

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Covid_19 shook things up quite a bit! …. But is dust settling in the right spaces?The shock of change and the panic of the unknown was enough to get most people questioning, searching and becoming enlightened, not only to family and business, but community, country and global matters. We became enlightened about health, trends and future prospects. We prepared for and implemented changes in response to our need for certainty. Others, hid their heads and hoped that it would be over soon so that they could get back to normal, while wondering, will our normal be the same?So, what has really changed?1. We became enlightened.With the search for information, and the jolting changes, a lot has been exposed. i.e.: corruption, politics, relationships, systems, communities and strengths we didn’t know we had. Truths and Values have been brought into light, making people question what is real and what is not. The blanket of complacency was lifted and exposed both positive and negative aspects in our society. We made changes in decisions regarding, where we live, how to make a living, where to school our children, where to purchase our goods.2. We realized that we can live with lessSalaries were cut, Finance was limited, Credit virtually impossible despite promises of help and considerations by government, landlords and banks. Jobs were reduced, work became more, business decisions halted. Accountabilities shifted based on assumptions regarding a National disaster. A fear settled in that debtors wont’ pay. Some businesses closed, others opened taking advantage of the changes, whether the need served, was short term or not. Others with capital took advantage of the closures to secure territory. Expenses were cut and we realized that we could do with less than what we had before.3. We became creativeOur thoughts were directed at solutions to solve immediate problems. We created new concepts and in some instances change business direction completely. We removed from our lives and businesses things that were once weighing us down, and re-evaluated what we were doing and how. We looked for new opportunities and exposed ourselves to things we wouldn’t have been brave enough to do before.4. We became community consciousWe sought community and support. We learned to look outward and GIVE. We looked for things that brought us together and in some cases those things that divided us. We agreed, we disagreed, went public with our opinions. Social platforms became a necessary tool for information, transformation and trend.5. We realized the impact of technology on our businessesWe identified that what we had put off for the future is necessary now. We realized that there is an online economy and this was an open playing field. Although not something we may have been familiar with we started asking the questions, “how will technology improve my business?” We identified the complexities of not knowing enough. Some may not yet have investigated technologies for fear of the unknown and stuck to what they do know. And others have followed blindly what others have told them, sometimes good and sometimes not.However, The Blanket of Complacency sets itself down againThe urgency has faded. Although there is still “imminent threat” we figure we can survive the next wave as we have done the first…. Or are we convinced that the next wave won’t come? Creditors are catching up, unemployment and crime rates are high, sales are irregular. Yet, we find comfort in the deceptive “Normal” as we cling to it for rest and comfort.1. We stop listening to the news2. We fall into our old spending habits, unknowingly3. We find comfort in the known4. We have no need for community and become self-centered5. Technology is tomorrows challenge, I’ve learned what I needed toSo we delay in decisions and weigh our risks carefully in the hope that change won’t come again soon!Keeping MomentumNo matter the positives we have seen, to embrace ongoing change, human beings need to spend energy. Are we tired? Have we exhausted our capacity? Complacency is our biggest enemy, when it comes to business. Don’t let your need for the “Normal” rob from you all that you have achieved in Change. Keep your momentum and progress, because the slippery slope backward is steep!

Restaurants future-proof business model?

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eCommerce and restaurants: What can I do to stay relevant? With the world rapidly changing all around us, restaurant owners are getting nervous as to how to stay relevant. How do you compete with fast food chains with big marketing budgets and teams to deal with online marketing for you? By now, we all have seen changes in customer behaviours. We know that people prefer to order online, whether it be food, electronics, or clothing. But you are wondering: how can I, too, be part of this new culture? How can I adapt my restaurant to embrace and also succeed in this new age? The answer? eCommerce! What is eCommerce and how does it work? Before we go into explaining how you can use eCommerce to compete with those around you, let’s look at what eCommerce is, how it works and how you use it. What is eCommerce for restaurants?First thing’s first: eCommerce refers to electronic commerce, which is the ordering of products and services online. That means that you can go onto your computer or smartphone, choose a restaurant or shop or brand and buy any products you need – right from your couch! Now, some of us are more technologically inclined than others, but shying away from technology might just be your downfall. And turns out: you can teach an old dog new tricks. You just need to have a little more patience. So, if you should decide to implement eCommerce into your business (and you should), how will that work then?  How does it work? Well, this can work in one of three ways: 1. Third Party Aggregator2. Do it yourself3. Outsource (New Trend)What differentiates this from traditional business methods, is along the lines of cost, access to customers, market, convenience, reporting etc. There are many decisions to make, but we won’t be covering the best way to launch your business online today. Right now, we just want to cover the basics.The whole point about evolution, is not to die out This is why we adapt. We take the best parts, keep it and keep improving it and then we take the bad parts, or the parts we don’t need to move forward, and toss it. Lose it. Adapt to new environments and become part of the new ecosystem that this way of business will forge.  So now we have explained the terminology, let’s get to what you really want to hear: What’s in it for me? Fair question. This is where the term ‘future-proof’ comes into play. What does future-proof mean? Well, in short it refers to a product or service that won’t die out, go out of date or fall into disuse. For example, how many of us still rent DVD’s from a video store? Even though there still are some of these stores open, there used to be one around every corner. Kind of like KFC for videos! Today, however, we just subscribe to Netflix or Showmax and stream what we want to watch online. Renting DVD’s have become out of date, because it is more convenient to watch whatever’s on your suggested list on Netflix, than to go to the store, browse through all of those DVD’s, fight with your wife on whether we’re watching that new Romcom or the new Tom Cruise action film, and then going home and falling asleep anyway. That’s a lot to take in. So, to really understand the value of an eCommerce system, we need to look at the advantages of running a restaurant online. We must also impress in upon you: Things will only be going forward from here. There will only be more development in eCommerce, so there is no going back to “the good ol’ days.” It’s 2020. Wake up. What are the benefits of eCommerce for restaurants? There are various advantages of eCommerce in for businesses. Here we have compiled a list to boil it all down and make it applicable to you and your restaurant. Advantages of eCommerce for Restaurants (in South Africa) 1. You can reach new customers2. Improved customer care3. Add an Additional Revenue Pipeline 4. No more confusing phone orders5. New insights into consumer behaviour6. Satisfied customers will always share their experience online7. Managing your restaurant online is easy8. Not bound to location 9. Outsourced deliveries 10. Cost cutting – Overheads and staff11. Customer convenience – ordering & delivery12. Digital world of commerce – where the consumer is 13. Efficiencies and automatic workflowsFinal words To sum up all that we have said – eCommerce is there to simplify your life as a business-owner, as well as to improve the customer experience. It’s a win-win situation for both the business and the customer. It’s well worth the investment, effort and time. BuzZ eCommerce: https://www.buzzgroup.co.za/services#BuzZeCommerce