BLOG - Last weekend I spent 30 minutes waiting in a queue to buy two items in a local store.
It was agonising to watch the staff who were clearly following the "load-shedding protocol" by writing out each barcode of every item into the receipt book.
I saw other customers turn around at the door, because who wants to stand in such a long line to pay? The staff were having to deal with frustrated customers. As much as it pains me to say it, the reality is load shedding has become a reality in South Africa and businesses need to find ways to work around it if they want to continue growing.
The festive season is on our doorstep; it's the time of year when many Mossel Bay businesses make their money. So, make it easy for customers to do business with you.
The ever optimist in me believes small and medium enterprises (SMMEs) are what will keep our South African economy alive and fighting the high unemployment rate. But, to not only survive but thrive, business owners need to be nimble and be able to adapt.
Ideas
The first step is to have a plan in place so you know how to keep your business running during load shedding.
This may mean investing in a generator or UPS (uninterrupted power supply) system so that you can keep your doors open and continue serving your customers.
A UPS would have been able to keep that point-of-sale system going, avoiding the handwritten receipts and keeping the queues moving.
Keep your customers informed. Let your customers know what your plan is so they can be prepared as well.
If you have a generator, let them know what times you'll be open during load shedding.
If you're using a UPS system, let them know how long they can expect transactions to take. The more information you can give your customers, the better prepared they'll be, and the less likely they are to get frustrated and go elsewhere.
Finally, be flexible with your plans. Load shedding is unpredictable and you may find yourself having to adjust your hours or procedures at short notice. The key is to remain calm and adapt as best you can so you can continue providing excellent service to your customers despite the challenges.
Load shedding doesn't have to be the death knell for your business. By having a plan, keeping your customers informed and being flexible, you can weather any storm, load shedding included.
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