#Brands
December 20, 2024
Inspired gift ideas at Symfolia
As we enter yet another week of the COVID-19 health crisis, it is becoming more apparent that there will be dramatic long-term impact on all aspects of our social and economic life. For organisations to not only survive but to thrive, tackling situations head on, using agility, creativity and collective thinking enables them find opportunities for innovative solutions.
Examples of innovation during the current crisis abound. They are not limited by industry, country, or size, but they do tend to share several key characteristics: agile operations, a willingness to change, an openness to reinvention... A resilient workforce with the ability to redefine, reskill, redeploy, and reset, is also crucial. These attributes allow companies to leverage their internal resources in different ways to seize new opportunities.
Here are a few examples of what companies are doing globally to find opportunity in crisis. Hopefully, seeing what others are doing will spark your own ideas and prompt you to contribute to the ENL Future Fit Ideation Program.
Hotels are nearly empty, and many employees working from home have run out of space (and patience). Creating a solution for two problems, Red Roof hotels started offering day rates for remote workers. For a set rate, remote workers can have private access to a hotel room turned office suite, complete with fast internet and a quiet atmosphere.
With an unprecedented drop in commercial passengers, airlines have cancelled up to 90% of their scheduled flights. But instead of flying people, large airlines like Virgin Atlantic, Lufthansa, United Airline and American Airline, among others, are switching to cargo-only flights. The airlines use the empty passenger cabins to transport much-needed items, including food and healthcare supplies.
Even simple trips to the grocery store are now more difficult than before. Restaurants have access to fresh produce and need a revenue stream. Many restaurant chains, including Panera, California Pizza Kitchen and Subway, have begun selling fresh groceries. Customers can order items like fresh vegetables, meat, eggs and even beer, to pick up alongside their restaurant orders. Such services guarantee customers can get the grocery items they need as well as providing a much-needed lifeline to restaurants.
Many stores and restaurants have partnered with tech companies to increase their mobile ordering capabilities. Papa John’s now offers Facebook Instant Ordering, which allows customers to place orders conveniently on a platform they already use. Walgreens partnered with Postmates to deliver a wide variety of grocery items and personal care products. These partnerships allow brands to serve customers more quickly and efficiently.
Gyms and fitness companies have had to get creative with their physical locations being closed. Orange Theory, Planet Fitness and 24 Hour Fitness, are live-streaming exercise classes and releasing at-home workout plans. Fitness apparel company Under Armour is hosting a 30-day Healthy at Home fitness challenge to encourage customers to stay active. With everyone exercising at home, technology keeps the gyms connected to customers.
ENL companies are far from lagging behind in terms of inventiveness and agility. ENL Agri and Agria have gone retailing and opened online stores in response to restrictions on movement imposed by the national response to the pandemic. Courier service provider Rennel uses its fleet to support a flourishing ecommerce offers. Synergy Sports and Wellness Institute has stayed connected to its clientele through videos and since Monday, offers online fitness classes to members five times a week…
Have these examples got you thinking about further opportunities that ENL can seize? Follow the link and submit your ideas for the Future Fit Ideation Program. Be part of the change.
Jason Delorie
