From Surviving To Thriving: How To Reinvent Your Business After Covid-19 And Beyond

When the Covid-19 pandemic hit the United States in early March, the specialty medical services startup Faebris was in the process of renovating a new office space. Given its focus on infectious diseases, with an emphasis on patients with HIV/AIDS whose immune systems are already weakened, the Atlanta-based company knew it needed to move quickly to get its office up and running while also reconsidering how to connect with patients given widespread stay-at-home orders and risks of exposure.

“When everything shut down, we had to really rethink how we would service patients with so many limitations and barriers,” says Dr. Zan Tims-Cook, a physician at Faebris.

It’s a challenge shared by many companies as the pandemic continues to affect the way the world operates, making it imperative that businesses are set up to be agile and ready to shift in step with external forces at a moment’s notice. In order to prepare your company for nimble transitions, it’s vital to ramp up your technological footprint, rethink your meetings and reevaluate your project management.

Ramp Up Employee Technology

To thrive during Covid-19, businesses must rely on technology to bridge the gap created by social distancing and stay-at-home guidelines. With its new office space incomplete and computer-free, Faebris needed to move quickly to implement a digital system that would allow staff to collect and protect critical patient information while also providing patients with the option of virtual consultations whenever possible. 

Finding that computers were backordered almost everywhere, Dr. Tims-Cook finally turned to the tech services provider CompuCom, an Office Depot affiliate company, which quickly set up an in-office computer system complete with the right licenses for securities and compliance that are vital to helping protect private patient information. Patients could now register for appointments online without compromising their privacy. CompuCom also set up a direct service line for Faebris to call at any time of day in case issues came up.

“They implemented things I’d never even thought about us needing—complex systems that they knew would benefit the practice in the long run,” said Dr. Tims-Cook.

To thrive during Covid-19, businesses must rely on technology to bridge the gap created by social distancing and stay-at-home guidelines. With its new office space incomplete and computer-free, Faebris needed to move quickly to implement a digital system that would allow staff to collect and protect critical patient information while also providing patients with the option of virtual consultations whenever possible.

Finding that computers were backordered almost everywhere, Dr. Tims-Cook finally turned to the tech services provider CompuCom, an Office Depot affiliate company, which quickly set up an in-office computer system complete with the right licenses for securities and compliance that are vital to helping protect private patient information. Patients could now register for appointments online without compromising their privacy. CompuCom also set up a direct service line for Faebris to call at any time of day in case issues came up.

“They implemented things I’d never even thought about us needing—complex systems that they knew would benefit the practice in the long run,” said Dr. Tims-Cook.

While the medical profession has distinct needs, technology is paramount for all companies today, many of which have employees working from home and relying on their personal tech to keep daily operations running smoothly. To help remote workers set up an environment equivalent to an in-office environment, consider offering your employees a stipend to purchase products like a WiFi range extender and wireless keyboard to increase productivity levels, for instance. It’s also helpful to review your company’s cloud storage and internal communications hub to make sure they’re optimized for efficiency. For companies without an IT department, or for those that simply need extra hands on deck, Office Depot’s Tech Services team provides seamless in-home installation or tech support subscriptions for tech services via phone on the fly.