The COVID-19 pandemic has had a widespread impact on the transportation sector. Although logistics providers are no strangers to handling disasters, such as hurricanes and tornadoes, the unprecedented events of 2020 have presented a unique set of challenges.
“The lasting effects of the pandemic should spur companies to change their approach to business continuity planning,” said Mike Tegtmeyer, AIT’s vice president of global infrastructure and security. “Instead of affecting just individual locations, we’ve seen this disaster inhibit entire business networks at the same time.”
The pandemic response has been unique for most companies as entire workforces continue to operate from home. Tegtmeyer addressed the task of keeping quarantined offices around the world connected and operational as a challenge previously unfathomable but one that businesses have adapted to quickly.
Business continuity plans should holistically consider how to keep customers, suppliers, vendors and employees connected through the organization.
Tegtmeyer explained the importance of paying close attention to the needs of each division within a company and asking what resources they need to continue operating smoothly. Attention to detail matters greatly, he added.
With many teammates still working from home, Tegtmeyer encourages companies to explore strategies that will capitalize on long-term efficiencies. Examining systems performance from periods when a large percentage of employees were working from home can reveal IT business continuity opportunities for cost savings and scalable solutions across departments.
“Facilities should ask themselves if they really need a four-hour response time on their hardware or can they go with next business day instead?” he said. “Do we need redundant links at a location or can we get by with just one?”