Small businesses warned to prepare for Olympics as 55% of London SMB’s expect business as usual!
With less than a year to go before the start of the Olympic games in London, small and medium businesses (SMB’s) are being warned to make sure they are ready for the challenges and the opportunities that await them during the Olympic Games 2012.
The warning from The London Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) comes in conjunction with new research which indicates that 50% of British SMB’s expect there to be no disruption to their business operations during the games. From the research carried out for Deloitte, a staggering 55% of London-based SMB’s do not expect the Games to impact them at all and even more surprisingly, only 14% were concerned about transport issues. Less than 10% were concerned about staff availability, according to the research, which is also alarming due to the fact that during the Vancouver 2010 Games, 28% of organisations experienced higher levels of absenteeism than normal.
Experts predict that the event will bring 11 million visitors to the capital, resulting in an extra three million journeys on the busiest days. The influx of tourists, athletes, officials and sponsors in and around London next summer offers a massive opportunity for SMB’s to capture extra business but it is also sure to put an almighty strain on an already stretched transport system.
Dr Helen Hill, policy director at the LCCI, warns businesses to plan ahead, “The Olympic Route Network will have a direct impact on some businesses and they must get to grips with the plans to ensure they can get their staff to work and their deliveries and services to their premises” she said.
With the transport system being put under additional pressure, London is sure to come to a standstill on a regular basis during the Games, which will cause delays for commuters and staff travelling in and around the city for meetings.
To prevent business being brought to a standstill, a number of companies are investing in video communications prior to the Olympic Games. Video conferencing and telepresence are being implemented as a way of replacing face-to-face meetings, which results in a quick return on investment from travel savings but also boosts productivity through increased collaboration.
By deploying video throughout your business, you’ll not only be able to ensure that you’re equipped to navigate the challenges that the games will present but also be able to react quickly to take advantage of the business opportunities that are available to SMB’s!
To check if you’re ready for the Olympic Games next year, why not assess your preparation for the games, read Cisco’s Games Readiness Checklist and make sure you can go that extra mile for customers during London 2012!