What strategic actions have companies implemented to overcome post-Covid difficulties?

The last year has forced companies in our country to face new, considerable challenges: the profound change in the historical context we are currently experiencing has significantly changed the priorities of brands which, today more than ever, have come to understand the importance of the digital component in the company and the need to invest in new figures in this important area.  

The challenges to face 

Among the main challenges companies have had to face in the last year, the most apparent ones are:  

• Difficulties in effectively managing customer relations: with the loss of the possibility of meeting face-to-face (which was the main way companies managed relations with customers), problems relating to correctly managing the relationship with the customer have been exacerbated. Furthermore, in some cases this shortfall has not been compensated by an adequately digitised sales network or by prepared, responsive customer service.  

• Reduction in productivity: 39% of companies have had to deal with this kind of problem. In fact, remote work and the need to create new ways of working and synergy between individual team members has led to a significant reduction in productivity.  

• Difficulty developing new business opportunities: although this phenomenon has presented itself differently based on the sector of activity, on average 59% of companies in our country have encountered significant difficulties in creating new job opportunities.  

In light of these data, according to our study, we can state that 29% of the companies in Türkiye have encountered serious difficulties moving from office work to remote work.  

The main solutions adopted by companies  

As soon as the most significant problems that have arisen in companies are understood, it is best to understand what solutions have been adopted. On this topic, it can be said that the main areas of intervention were (and probably will be in the near future):  

• Implementing the remote work model: providing employees with the most appropriate equipment has been one of companies' main concerns.  

• Investing in technology and technological development: this was a priority for 46% of the companies.

• Diversifying the business model: the need to identify new products and new business lines was fundamental for 33% of companies.  

• Implementing an omnichannel model: for almost 46% of companies, this was the main response for facing the change in the market, integrating digital communication, e-commerce (especially for B2C companies) and physical interaction with the customer within a single process consisting of touchpoints both online and offline. 

In particular, among the actions put in place to overcome the difficulties set forth by Covid, and consequently diversify the offer, it should be noted that 57% of companies are committed to launching new products and services, have identified new ways to contact their customers and have worked on identifying new, still unexplored markets.  

If you would like to learn more about the strategic actions companies have used to overcome the difficulties imposed by Covid-19, you can download the complete infographic.