Business Innovation Saving The Day

Innovation in business is admired at all times, but none more so than when it saves lives. In this article, we have the technology that’s helping China and Spain during coronavirus and how eateries can survive by adapting their business model.

Taking Everything Online

There’s no room for hesitation; now is the time to take whatever you do online. Even the enterprises who up to now have resisted the ‘online movement’ have committed to the move even when it means they need an entirely different business model.

Starbucks, for example, in the US and Canada have moved to an online operation, and their decision is right timing as President Trump recommends frequenting pubs, bars, cafes and restaurants and keeping group gatherings to a maximum of ten people.

There is no precedent for what we’re experiencing with the measures to contain coronavirus and business owners are in shock. They need to act fast to have a business at all. Eateries, bars and clubs reliant on social gatherings are no longer viable unless they change their business model and give it all they’ve got to make it work and earn a profit.

Eating Out Is Now Take Out

Some restaurants are reportedly increasing the distance between tables called ‘social distancing‘ however with the recommendation to avoid socialising altogether it’s likely to be in vain.

However, it’s not all doom and gloom as we need to eat and in many regions eating out every day is the norm. For example, the French spend more time eating and drinking than any other nation and that’s not about to change overnight. Call it convenience, laziness, or lifestyle, dining out with friends and family is the norm.

In France, the average total time spent eating and drinking each day is more than two hours whereas in America it’s just over an hour. Americans eat at home more and have kitchens up to the task, as do the other nations including Australia, Canada and South Africa.

You’re more likely to find city-based properties with small kitchens, particularly in Europe where they prefer to frequent a restaurant and why wouldn’t they when there are so many and eating out is affordable.

However, in a crisis like a coronavirus pandemic, these eateries need to revolutionise their business and fast to stay in business now the foot traffic has all but gone. The eateries that have taken their business online have a better chance at survival and remaining in business.

With online orders replacing foot traffic and dine in patronage, menus need to change as do staffing requirements. Drivers who deliver the food replace waiters. Front of house staff are not required with the online model, and instead online, and phone order takers and food packers are needed. The business is leaner, but it can get through a downturn by changing what they do to meet buyer demand.

Ready-Made Meals Home Delivery

UberEats, GrubHub, DoorDash and many other food delivery service providers have seen a big jump in demand recently. UberEats provides technology and a system that allows the eateries to focus on what do best, create the meals while they do the rest.

With lockdowns, and, less social gatherings and self-isolation demand is predicted to grow further with contactless deliveries.

Innovation in Technology

Step up the tech innovators; your call-up is needed. Never before has there been a time where we’re reliant on AI, robots and drones. China is showing it’s innovation might, and Spain has found a novel way to keep people at home.

Drones

Spanish police are using drones with speakers in public areas to warn people to stay at home, and it’s just like what you’d see in a fictional movie, but it’s happening in real life.

QR Codes

China is also using drones as well as QR codes. The innovative use of colour-based QR codes, people are checked and stopped from entering public places if they’re infected says Reuters. Once you’ve completed a questionnaire providing your details, and temperature you’re in the system, and it’s used to track your travel and health history.

Robots

Also in China, the ongoing task to remove coronavirus off surfaces in public spaces is a mammoth chore but helping out with the operation are robots who can not catch the virus, nor need rest, or sustenance, unlike their human coworkers.

AI Face Recognition Software

Though the true hero appears to be AI face recognition software which is part of China’s surveillance operations. Artificial Intelligence software firms are upping the stakes with heat detection in the face recognition software, and some can detect the temperature of anyone within a five-metre radius. The delivery of the software is mobile too as it’s embedded in helmets worn by epidemic control personnel.