Business News

Tue Sep 7

Up to 50 percent of Aussie businesses will fail to reach their potential online during COVID

Written by Tess Sanders Lazarus

With online retail growing at its fastest rate both across Australia and overseas than ever before, one ecommerce industry expert is predicting that up to 50 percent of Australian businesses will fail to reach their full potential online during the pandemic due to poor decision making.

Jam Pathirana, is CEO and founder of ecommerce organisation B dynamic – an industry leader in assisting businesses to drive growth through online sales and fulfilment services. Boasting over 25 years of experience in brand distribution, product sourcing and channel development globally, Pathirana understands ecommerce better than most.

“We are witnessing a revolution in retail at the moment,” Pathirana said.

“Consumers are shopping online in greater numbers and quite a few businesses are stepping up and turning to apps, social media and engaging sales oriented websites to enhance the path to purchase to help shoppers pull out the plastic more often.

“We are seeing businesses that straddle omni-channels such as online and physical stores finding ways to blend the two to augment sales. Others are introducing new technology such as AI and machine learning to provide customers with better online service experiences 24/7 which ultimately supports increased sales.

“At the other end of the spectrum however, there are businesses that are tinkering with their online stores trying to entice customers to buy. Some are doing it well and growing sales, while others are failing miserably.

“What we are seeing is a huge gap between those businesses that are doing well and those that are not, or are simply not going to reach the heights they should. Based on my understanding of the market and my knowledge and view of what is happening, up to 50 percent of businesses will fail to reach their online potential during the pandemic without some type of expert intervention.”

Pathirana is ideally placed to understand the market. His firm works with some of the biggest brands in the world, helping them to manage inventory and order fulfilment for their customers all over the country and across the world. B dynamic has recently helped Aldi to launch its much anticipated online store, helping customers to access Online Exclusives.

“The current COVID climate has not only brought challenges but delivered many opportunities for businesses, especially online, “ Pathirana added.

“Businesses that adapt to these changes will thrive. There is no better time to think about how you can improve your online presence and change your distribution model to capitalise on opportunities. We are helping many of our customers to transform their businesses online.

“For businesses that are already online, but are not doing it very well, we are helping them to introduce new online solutions to ramp up sales, engagement and incorporate better stock management and delivery systems.

“For some, we are completely translating their physical presence into a replicated online presence. This involves developing the ecommerce site, implementing fulfilment systems, setting up delivery mechanisms and taking care of returns.”

Pathirana has three tips for Australian businesses to flourish during the pandemic.

Unless you know how – don’t do it yourself

“Many businesses think that they can manage an increase in online sales and deal with picking, packing and shipping themselves – as well as returns,” Pathirana said.

“It takes a good system and a lot of resources to deliver this kind of operation, especially as orders reach the hundreds or more each week. We deal with tens of thousands.

“Don’t open up your business to failure or issues that lead to loss of sales or even worse, loss of loyal customers. Get the expertise you need to flourish.”

Ensure your online store is as good as it can be

“Online stores are not created equal. Ecommerce systems enable online sales as well as integration with stock management and parcel delivery,” Pathirana added.

“Don’t allow your online store to stifle your growth. Look at what your larger competitors are doing and seek out the same type of capability.”

Beef up customer support

“A key part of being an online business is about being able to respond to customer enquiries and issues in a professional, timely and effective manner,” Pathirana said.

“Well managed ecommerce based businesses have sound systems in place to receive, log and manage enquiries through to resolution. Good systems retain customers and keep them coming back to buy more. Poor systems lose customers and destroy business reputations.

“Third party providers also assist with the management of these issues and ensure customers and issues are treated in a speedy, respectful and solution oriented manner.”

Pathirana believes that with assistance, many Australian businesses will be able to drive growth online through the pandemic as long as they take meaningful steps towards onboarding the right ecommerce systems and fulfilment support.

https://bdynamic.com.au/

Sat Sep 4

COVID-19: When to Disinfect and When to Clean Your Workplaces

Written by NewsServices.com

It is no secret that cleaning and disinfecting surfaces have proven to reduce the chances of coronavirus infection. Nevertheless, the effective practices and necessary regulations differ from one facility to another since they differ depending on their uses. For instance, there are specific practices and regulations set aside for healthcare facilities. Clean Group COVID-19 Cleaning may recommend disinfecting or cleaning. Under which circumstances do professionals recommend cleaning, and when is disinfecting the most appropriate cause of action? There is only one way to find out. Keep reading to understand when to clean and when to disinfect.

When to Clean

First of all, cleaning requires products such as detergent and soap. They have several benefits, including reducing chances of infection through surfaces, removing any contaminants on them, and reducing germs. Deep cleaning is recommended when even a single COVID-1 suspected case is registered in that facility. If a suspected case warrants disinfection, it goes without saying that you should also do a thorough cleaning as soon as one case of the coronavirus pandemic is confirmed.

Companies that offer excellent COVID-19 cleaning services ensure that the services they offer are enough to decontaminate the facility completely. Everything undergoes extensive cleaning, including every piece of equipment and products used by all employees and customers. The structural surfaces are not overlooked either,which guarantees the safety of the rest of the people who use that facility despite the suspected or even the confirmed cases.

That guarantee is possible due to the use of chemicals strong enough to kill the coronavirus, thus preventing further infection. It doesn’t mean that you can’t opt for cleaning if there are no suspected or confirmed COVID-19 cases. On the contrary, it is also a preventive measure that removes the virus on the surfaces facilitating a healthy workplace with a low risk of coronavirus infection.

When to Disinfect

On the other hand, disinfection and sanitization are mostly preventive measures. It is recommended when no case of coronavirus has been suspected or confirmed in the facility. As much as no case has been confirmed yet, it is no guarantee that the COVID-19 virus can’t be on the various surfaces. That’s where disinfection comes in since it reduces the viruses and other harmful microorganisms such as bacteria from various surfaces and objects. In some cases, disinfection results in eliminating the viruses avoiding chances of infections within a facility.

Again, experts have various ways of disinfecting surfaces to mitigate the risk of people touching the surfaces before touching the eyes, nose, or mouth, leading to an infection.

Conclusion

A facility can choose to disinfect or clean the surfaces depending on the current COVID-19 status. Cleaning is often recommended if a suspected or confirmed case exists. On the other hand, disinfection is perfect for mitigating risk. In some cases, combining both may be the better option hence the need to consult a professional. It is important to note that chemicals are used in both cases. For that reason, it is not recommended to do the cleaning or disinfection on your own. Preferably, always go for a professional to avoid dangers that come with using those chemicals wrongly.