“ New Normal ” is a new type of normalization where it comes from culture or new practice that occurs after a major crisis. In the past, “ New Normal ” was often used with economic events such as the Tom Yam Kung crisis or the American global financial crisis in 2009 but now this term has been extended to use in many more sectors such as economic, social, everyday life or any situation that makes new things become normal. For example, the current world issue with the widespread outbreak of COVID-19 of which impacts last long in every aspect of our work and life. We all have to keep adjusting daily activity to survive and so does the business.
As a result of this adaptation, this will be recognized as ” New Normal. ” Depending on each society, these “ New Normal ” can be temporary or become a new living culture. According to the analysts around the world, they have predicted the new business-related habits in many ways as follows:
1. Contactless Society
Contactless Society or Touchless Society has become a norm before the outbreak. For example, Contactless Payment mode (like QR code, Credit card, Scan payment) is being widely used in Thailand for a while. But after this situation, apart from financial transactions, we may see many businesses keeping up with Contactless policies more and more.
Social Distancing
Social Distance or to have physical space among people is a major measurement that is encouraged during the pandemic period. During Social distancing we not only keep the distance between each other but also avoid group activities and standing/sitting closely. This policy considerably impacts many organization management rules. In order for effective results in response to social distancing, some companies take the opportunity to change their working style. For instance, changing business systems into online, using online training for employees instead of face-to-face class, working and meeting from home via online instead of going to the office. Some organizations that are not ready for big changes may gradually change their actions step by step.
Work from home
Work from home or remote work policy is an ideal policy that has been discussed for a long time but has not been used widely yet. However, due to the COVID-19 situation, we can’t help but apply the Work from home policy, which may cause issues such as low job efficiency of employees who have to work alone, human resource management and many more. To manage the Work from Home situation effectively, we recommend you to divide the work into these 3 types below.
1) Job that is no longer needed.
2) A must Job.
3) New jobs that are to be done in time.
After sorting out these jobs, each person in charge will be required to do 2 and 3 jobs, create the working manual then share it with staff in the organization. This step allows employees to review their work procedures. When the manual is published, employees can view the right workflow from their own home so the team is still able to work together and increase work efficiency and productivity during the period of social distancing.
Cashless Society
These days Thailand has a tendency to change the form of payment to the Cashless Society more and more. The government, financial institutions and large and small private sectors are eager to build a complete Cashless Society, as it can be seen from the development of the “PromptPay” system, a payment system via QR Code, Bank applications with no transaction fee etc. Online transactions are getting more and more popular until a cashless society mission is completed because online transactions will reduce costs for both the recipient and the service provider. It considerably cuts travel expenses, the cost of waiting time and various operation fees.
2. Digital Transformation
A word that has been heard for a while in Thailand. Digital Transformation is the reformation in the organization management using Digital as the key. Digital has acted as the main tool for creating, producing, managing and operating the business until it became the organization asset. For example, using Social Media, Website or Digital tools involved in company management. Another outstanding example of Digital Transformation is the retail business that nowadays, physical stores have been replaced with online trading markets through which consumers and vendors interact.
As well as the manufacturing industry that you might have heard about the automation word. This means the use of digital technology as a reform tool in administrative procedures to keep up with the changing world trends.
Online tools
When society swifts into the age of Digital, of course, the working tools are also changed. In the past, many organization information used to be stored and maintained in an office cabinet but to make it easier to access and store data, Nowadays, almost all have turned to using Cloud storage or various tools that make work efficiency even better. Various tools include Document control, Operation Management, Creativity, HRM, Training, and many more that are available to choose and support organization management to suit the digital age.
Online Training
In the past, staff training used to be a time-consuming activity in large companies. It also requires high traveling expenses and trainer costs. However, nowadays, whether it is hard skill or soft skill, everyone has the potential to access that training information equally together with a very small cost as long as they have the internet. Therefore, we will likely see the way of lectures that are less traditional as many organizations are starting to prepare more policies for online staff training.
3. Cost Reduction
Various institutions analysts have been concerned in the same direction that the economy after COVID-19 will be severely affected around the world. It is already clear that Thai economy is facing a severe recession to the point of being called an “Economic crisis” that may be harder than the “Tom Yum Kung Crisis” in 1997. Even during this period that the COVID-19 crisis has not fully recovered, the reduction of production or cost reduction policy as a business survival plan is what we can prepare now. This investment is a new extension that will result in long-term growth for the company.
For the Contactless Society, Digital Transformation and Cost Reduction, what will be the factor in this major change is “Internet”, which means “Internet” may not only be a part of life, it may become the whole of life. When consumers have easier access to the internet, entrepreneurs also have to adapt and change the service model to mainstream online. As a result, businesses must pay more attention to Digital Transformation urgently. Of course, this change may cause changes to the policy, management style or the working process of all new employees. Although the situation will affect everyone in the organization, the big change of organization is needed to be in line with this crisis. If not, the company may be hard to survive. But if any organization proceeds quickly, this change will definitely be valuable for the organization in the long run.
Teachme Biz Sample Manual: CLICK HERE
It is a perfect time to modify your products and services to accept the new behaviors as they are starting and developing to be a New normal. Time to make a real move so that it will be most beneficial to the business.
Teachme Biz - Visual SOP Management Platform that simplifies paper-based manuals, Work Instruction, Workflow or SOP into images and videos in step by step approach (Visual-based). You can create, edit and manage working procedure by all devices including mobile phone, tablet and PC. No more frustrating on unclear working instructions in your team. Staff-friendly manuals is far more effective and helps the user actually achieve a task.
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