First things first:

Home improvement brands have had an increase in sales as Americans hunkered down and spent more time in their homes. More time at home means more time to pinpoint each and every element of the home that isn’t working and replacing it. Online sales of outdoor and patio furniture, hardware, and gardening supplies have spiked and will continue to do so as people hunker down for a stay-at-home summer.

What does that mean for you and your business?

It means that online businesses are a permanent way of life. For much of the pandemic, online shopping was the only way to obtain things that didn’t fall into the category of “essentials.” Even as we start to open back up, if you are not already taking advantage of E-commerce, you should put an emphasis on this. 

It also means that there are many new customers. While this is a hard metric to track, people are finding relief from their quarantine woes by taking on do-it-yourself projects. With a new wave of customers comes the need to ensure that each and every one of your customers has a good buying experience with you and your company. 

Here are 5 tips on how to limit physical interaction in your business operations today:

• Go paperless. Not only will you save the environment and eliminate user error, but going paperless also allows you to cut down on physical contact among employees. 
• Implement a chat tool for employees. Rather than risking cross-contamination, this will allow your employees to interact without having to do so in person. It encourages more frequent and effective communication which can increase productivity. 
• Use a virtual planning tool. When you are back up and running, production must continue as if nothing happened. But it can be difficult to remember your progress once you’ve been closed for a while. Virtual job-tracking tools will make it far easier to get organized.
• Provide clear instructions to employees. As you’re implementing new tools and changing your employees’ roles to suit a “new normal,” make sure you communicate that with them. 
• Equip your facilities with protective gear. Ensure your employees will be protected by following CDC guidelines to maintain social distance and minimize the spread of coronavirus in your workplace.