Post-COVID is a funny term because we’re not technically sure it will exist. The chances are this virus will continue to live in our society; we’ll just get used to it. It’ll be relegated to the same seriousness as the flu and we can all live our lives how we used to. Still, for businesses, this pandemic has had serious implications on the business-customer relationship. As we transition into a world that’s free from any restrictions, there are things a business needs to do to make its customers feel comfortable in this ‘new’ world. 

So, what can you do to encourage people to keep coming to your business by making them as comfortable as possible? 

Maintain a focus on cleanliness

Throughout the pandemic, businesses were forced to be cleaner than ever before. This meant regularly sanitising areas of your premises and keeping the whole place as hygienic as possible. The thing is, consumers have now got used to this and will feel uncomfortable if the same standards aren’t maintained. Why should your business only care about hygiene during a pandemic?!

So, maintain a focus on cleanliness. Keep up a regular cleaning routine and don’t forget the extra things that make a difference. For instance, companies like Clean Air UK can provide air duct cleaning to ensure that your premises has clean air circulating at all times. Another easy example is offering a hand sanitiser at the entrance and exit to your building – it makes people feel more comfortable as they explore your business. 

Make use of mobile ordering

Another trend we saw through the pandemic was the rise in mobile ordering and QR codes. For restaurants and other hospitality businesses, QR codes were placed on tables, letting people scan them to pull up the menu. You’d order what you want, get it delivered and there’d be no need for a waiter to come and take orders. Not only does this make people feel more comfortable, but it also improves the customer experience by speeding things up. 

Another way to use mobile ordering is through apps or websites. Let people place orders remotely via your app or store, then they can either come and pick it up or get it delivered. It’s all about this idea of minimising close contact with other humans. Even as the pandemic ends, consumers will still want to avoid interacting with people if they don’t need to. It’s not so much a fear of getting the virus thing, it’s more of a convenience thing. It’s simply more comfortable and convenient to order remotely than it is to go into a store or restaurant and wait for someone to take your order. 

Ultimately, your job as a business owner is to make customers feel comfortable while we transition into a new normal. It would be unwise to think that everything will go back to how it was pre-pandemic. As a nation and a species, we’ve changed our attitudes to things. Therefore, you need to learn how to adapt – and what to do to make people feel comfortable when shopping with you.