Author: Manjula Nairr, CEO, A Buzz Company
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| Manjula Nairr, CEO, A Buzz Company |
March
2020, World Health Organisation declared Covid-19 a global pandemic. Corona
virus had reached the shores of almost all major countries across the world.
Governments were not prepared for this sudden outbreak. But as its always said
– Prevention is better than cure- measures were put in place to prevent the
spread. Measures like Social distancing, sanitization and the most courageous
but needed of all – Lockdowns. India declared its first lockdown i.e. Lockdown
#1 on 25th March 2020.
2020, World Health Organisation declared Covid-19 a global pandemic. Corona
virus had reached the shores of almost all major countries across the world.
Governments were not prepared for this sudden outbreak. But as its always said
– Prevention is better than cure- measures were put in place to prevent the
spread. Measures like Social distancing, sanitization and the most courageous
but needed of all – Lockdowns. India declared its first lockdown i.e. Lockdown
#1 on 25th March 2020.
The
situation is unprecedented, something not been experienced since the 1918
Spanish flu. Due to the lockdown- there were immediate concerns about the
enthusiastic Start Up ecosystem of India. With a halt in supply, demand,
transport and communication– the cog wheels of economies grinded to a halt. Due
to the nature of the pandemic, it was but obvious that all project and
investments were put on hold. But every cloud has a silver lining – likewise
every crisis can teach a lesson.
situation is unprecedented, something not been experienced since the 1918
Spanish flu. Due to the lockdown- there were immediate concerns about the
enthusiastic Start Up ecosystem of India. With a halt in supply, demand,
transport and communication– the cog wheels of economies grinded to a halt. Due
to the nature of the pandemic, it was but obvious that all project and
investments were put on hold. But every cloud has a silver lining – likewise
every crisis can teach a lesson.
The
lockdown brought about a change in how the societies functioned. Every single
person in all countries under lockdown, were spending on things which were only
necessary. Every single member of the household, took upon himself various
roles to keep the house running. Resources were saved or managed economically-
the buck was stretched. Everyone knew the economic impact of the lockdown and
moulded themselves for the imminent impact.
lockdown brought about a change in how the societies functioned. Every single
person in all countries under lockdown, were spending on things which were only
necessary. Every single member of the household, took upon himself various
roles to keep the house running. Resources were saved or managed economically-
the buck was stretched. Everyone knew the economic impact of the lockdown and
moulded themselves for the imminent impact.
What
did lockdown teach us?
did lockdown teach us?
Modesty, Multi-Tasking & Managing Efficiently
These
can be the 3M’s to recovery, as well.
can be the 3M’s to recovery, as well.
Large
organisations- who promise everything under one roof- are giving a re-thought
to realign million-dollar projects. For these large organisations, optimization
is also a cost. Start-ups, as against large organisations, are small in
headcount, have a laser focus on their solution and services, low overheads and
most of all dedicated and motivated work minds– ingredients
which make an organisation agile and effective.
organisations- who promise everything under one roof- are giving a re-thought
to realign million-dollar projects. For these large organisations, optimization
is also a cost. Start-ups, as against large organisations, are small in
headcount, have a laser focus on their solution and services, low overheads and
most of all dedicated and motivated work minds– ingredients
which make an organisation agile and effective.
The
lessons learnt from lockdowns- can be put to good use by Start-ups, like:
lessons learnt from lockdowns- can be put to good use by Start-ups, like:
Modesty
Cut
down on frills
down on frills
o Coffee house
meetings – a strict no no. Implement social distancing, meet online using
softwares that enable meetings to be virtually face to face like Webex or
Indian home-grown platforms like https://vebinarr.com/Home
meetings – a strict no no. Implement social distancing, meet online using
softwares that enable meetings to be virtually face to face like Webex or
Indian home-grown platforms like https://vebinarr.com/Home
o No need for the
pool table or the Friday evening pizza chats that usually we use to enjoy in
office premises
pool table or the Friday evening pizza chats that usually we use to enjoy in
office premises
Go
Digital
Digital
o Make the most of
digital medium. Use aggressive digital marketing campaigns- organic and paid.
Reach out to the right persons as economically as possible.
digital medium. Use aggressive digital marketing campaigns- organic and paid.
Reach out to the right persons as economically as possible.
o Improve customer
facing services by being prompt and using digital solutions
facing services by being prompt and using digital solutions
Multi-Tasking
Smart
Task management
Task management
o Implement JIRA,
Teamwork, Trello for remote collaboration & task management.
Teamwork, Trello for remote collaboration & task management.
o Be a motivator
rather than a task master.
rather than a task master.
Tap
into hidden skills
into hidden skills
o Programmers can
be great UX designers- find the multi skilled person amongst the ranks.
be great UX designers- find the multi skilled person amongst the ranks.
o Toss a real
challenge and listen to the creative solutions suggested and award
implementations.
challenge and listen to the creative solutions suggested and award
implementations.
Management
Resources
are investment
are investment
o Rental office
spaces – not needed. Remote working – good to go, we will soon see housing
societies having co-working spaces / plug and work office spaces as facilities
along with club houses and gyms. This was originally a plan of smart city
development now we can see its effective use in near future.
spaces – not needed. Remote working – good to go, we will soon see housing
societies having co-working spaces / plug and work office spaces as facilities
along with club houses and gyms. This was originally a plan of smart city
development now we can see its effective use in near future.
o Use funds
intelligently, as they are not going to come by easily in the near future.
intelligently, as they are not going to come by easily in the near future.
Solution
orientation
orientation
o Promote solution
mind set i.e. Instead ‘What now?’ promote ‘What if!’
mind set i.e. Instead ‘What now?’ promote ‘What if!’
o Motivate result
orientation- results which are scale-able and secure.
orientation- results which are scale-able and secure.
A
start up in times of pandemic situation can be a
start up in times of pandemic situation can be a
David & Goliath story
David won, he was smart and agile!
The
pandemic gave rise to many opportunities. Recently a lot of security concerns
were raised about Zoom app; Inscripts a Mumbai based start-up developed ‘Say
Namaste’ an indigenous alternative. Currently in Beta stage – it already boasts
of 5 lakh users- a mean feat in itself.
pandemic gave rise to many opportunities. Recently a lot of security concerns
were raised about Zoom app; Inscripts a Mumbai based start-up developed ‘Say
Namaste’ an indigenous alternative. Currently in Beta stage – it already boasts
of 5 lakh users- a mean feat in itself.
Likewise,
many start-ups like Griffyn Robotics http://www.griffyn.io/ developed
ventilators under the brand name ‘Shwaas’.
many start-ups like Griffyn Robotics http://www.griffyn.io/ developed
ventilators under the brand name ‘Shwaas’.
Fideltech
technologies – http://www.fideltech.com/, developed AI based localisations
solutions, a much-needed service in the near future.
technologies – http://www.fideltech.com/, developed AI based localisations
solutions, a much-needed service in the near future.
Chennai
based startup http://www.rayreachtech.com/ is using computer vision
to detect voilations in Covid-19 Situation
based startup http://www.rayreachtech.com/ is using computer vision
to detect voilations in Covid-19 Situation
To
summarise the situation there are tons of examples which have proven that
disruptions, though unwelcome, offer opportunities. For start-ups, with proper
optimization and deft use of resources, they can be successful making the most
of the situation by learnings gained from the lockdown.
summarise the situation there are tons of examples which have proven that
disruptions, though unwelcome, offer opportunities. For start-ups, with proper
optimization and deft use of resources, they can be successful making the most
of the situation by learnings gained from the lockdown.
May
the force be with them.
the force be with them.
Let’s stay safe, stay healthy and remain creative.
(Manjula Nairr is the CEO of A Buzz
Company. Views expressed in the article are of the author)
Company. Views expressed in the article are of the author)
