The worldwide pandemic of COVID-19 is no respecter of persons, nor of entities. It has left no business untouched.  Every company everywhere has had to scramble to circle the wagons and adapt, with no warning. Entire industries and millions of people have had to switch from working in an office setting to working remotely, from home, overnight. For some companies, like Godlan, it was mostly business as usual in that regard. However, for many of our clients, partners, and associates around the world, it was a drastic change that required expedient action and implementation of every single business and operational practice.

While these turbulent times are uncertain and difficult, it affords each of us a unique opportunity to assess our business strategies and long-range plans. Godlan is committed to doing whatever it takes to help you gain a competitive advantage. Believe it or not, in this time of seeming downturn, there are opportunities that are presenting themselves. We have compiled an actionable list of ways in which you can ensure your long-term success in this article. You will also find more information on our Godlan Covid-19 Resource Page. No matter where you find yourself in this trying time, you can be sure, Godlan has you covered.

1.     Federal Funding: What is available to Manufacturers?

The United States government is responding to this economic crisis with surprising swiftness. Be sure to explore all opportunities for funding programs which include grants, loans, and tax credits. Here are a few resources for you to explore:

Coronavirus (COVID-19): Small Business Guidance & Loan Resources

National Association of Manufacturer’s COVID-19 Action Policy Recommendations

2.     Remote Work/Remote Access Assessment

While working remotely may not have been high on the priority list prior to this pandemic crisis, it is now undoubtedly at the forefront of every business mind. A few things to consider:

·      What is your remote access capability? Is it across the board? Reserved for certain teams or departments?

·      How can your remote access capability be improved?

·      How can it be made more cost effective?

·      What are your virtual conferencing capabilities?

·      Are you considering Cloud Hosting or SaaS?

3.     Streamline Your Responsibilities and Drill Down on CyberSecurity- Consider Managed Hosting Services, Managed IT Services, and Managed Security Services

Managed Hosting Services save you time and money. Maintenance of your own environment is costly in both time and resources and can greatly hinder your future growth. With Godlan’s Hosting and Managed Application Services, you get what you need….when you need it. Every time.

With IT, it’s the “minor” problems that cost the most. System-wide outages are dramatic but rare. Daily micro-events go unnoticed because they are so common. Proactive IT management is the solution. With Godlan’s team of professionals continually monitoring your network, you’re not just waiting around for a problem to develop. You’re addressing it before it has a chance to develop.

A managed security service provider (MSSP) provides outsourced monitoring, maintenance, and management of security devices and systems. Common services include managed firewall, intrusion detection, virtual private network, vulnerability scanning, anti-viral services, and cyber threat drills.

·      Did you know that the average cost of a cyber-attack for a small business is $200,000?

·      43% of cyberattacks are aimed at small businesses, but only 14% are prepared to defend themselves

·      60% of small businesses will go out of business within 6 months of being victimized by a cyber-attack

·      More than half of all small businesses suffered a cyber breach within the last year

4.     System and Software Upgrades: Consider Cloud or SaaS

Software upgrades and implementations are time consuming, and there never seems to be a good time to take the system “down” to install new versions or covert to Saas or the Cloud. If there is any way to commit the resources, now is the time to do it. Bigger and better functionality is a wonderful reward for using this downtime to upgrade.

Between hardware, licenses, upgrades, and administrative and overhead costs, technology is one of the biggest items on your balance sheet; and a major drain on your resources. Make technology what it should be: a strategic asset that helps achieve your business goals.

Let Godlan show you how to reduce risk and say goodbye to the burden of traditional software, while radically enabling your digital transformation strategy.

5.     Connect with Your Clients

We are nothing without our customers, but somehow, we never have the time to follow-up and follow-through with them like we want to. Now is the perfect time to reach out and ask them about their long-range plans and goals. Even if you are unable to connect with them directly, use this downtime to research and update your CRM (Customer Relationship Management) data base. This will pay off in the long term!

6.     Schedule Training on the Under-Used or Unused Modules of Your ERP System

Take advantage of the slow down to schedule training on the components of your software that you have always WANTED to know how to use but have never had the time to actually take to do the training. Make your resources work for you.

7.     Production Scheduling and Shop Floor Visibility

If you really want to optimize your competitive advantage, be proactive and optimize your shop floor approach. Immediate benefits are realized when you are able to work remotely and monitor the shop floor from any device (phone, tablet, laptop, etc.). Use this time to drill down and improve delivery performance, reduce lead time, and overall improve your competitive position.

At Godlan, your success, defined by you, is our focus. During this time of uncertainty, we want you to know, we stand ready to serve you. Godlan.  We’ve got you covered.