Be Ready for the Unexpected During Covid 19

By Monica Vornbrock, Marketing and Design Solutions.

Tips for making sure your business is ready to survive and thrive.

The unexpected introduction of COVID-19 into our lives, has brought with it a plethora of concerns for roofing contractors and industry professionals all across the country. In this blog we will address some of the concerns and some suggestions for dealing with them.

One of the immediate concerns facing many businesses is cash flow, and with volume of work slowing down, this is an area that is bound to feel some strain. When your business is in a state of cash shortage, there are a couple of solutions available to you:

• Consider alternate or non-traditional revenue streams. Explore ways you could temporarily, or maybe even permanently, replace the sources of your revenue. Diversify your portfolio and increase the potential for income, if you have been focusing on new construction or storm repair only, it is time to look at the whole picture, there is a lot of potential in service and maintenance.

• Organize training sessions to help your employees learn new skills from other employees in your company or even new product installation techniques; many manufacturers offer free trainings to help your team install their products correctly, some offer video training sessions. Let employees attend virtual industry conferences to sharpen their skills and potentially make important online connections.

• Look into high quality materials that are more affordable than your current product line and fulfill your job’s needs, some roof systems can save you money on equipment and labor, which is a great start. If you have a member of your crew quarantined for being potentially exposed but is asymptomatic, have him/her work from home, look at your current client lists, focus on making calls or updating email contact lists. They can also make maintenance calls, pull permits, etc. If you have someone test positive or simply is unable to work on site, you can still make use of that employee for both your and their benefit.

Another popular concern is the upcoming COVID-19 forecast for the fall and winter months. Will there be a resurgence? While it would be great to assume there won’t be, the mixed messages being sent throughout the different news sources tell us nothing we can bet on, so what can you do to prepare?

• Look for ways to reduce the need for face-to-face interactions

• Order supplies you will need to have on hand, but don’t go overboard

• Train your staff to handle client and inter-team interactions as safely as possible by having a plan in place for your crews, whether it is a rotating schedule for crew’s dispatch, or Zoom calls at the end of the day to catch up on the status of projects instead of having in-office or on-site meetings.

• Be prepared with a “what to do if exposed to someone with the virus” plan, train on how to sanitize work trucks and tools, create a system for people who need to be in the office to be as far from each other as possible, and replace most of your paper documents with digital copies, such as digitally documenting toolbox talks, customer contracts, and using technology to provide online video job walks.

• Start contacting vendors for reserving Porta-Potties, dumpsters, and cranes, as many contractors have reported that as a current challenge (be prepared now)

Lastly, the states that face a threat for hurricanes have another worry -  what happens if COVID-19 and hurricane season collide? (Hurricane season begins June 1 and usually peaks from late August through September.)

Here are some suggestions for addressing hurricane threats during the COVID-19 outbreak:

• Teaming up with other contractors who need labor during the storm season could be an additional revenue source in a time when everyone may need the help while you need the work and the money.

• Keep safety in mind. If your business is in an area that could potentially be in a storm's path, plan now to find a safe location where you can move important equipment that will be needed after the storm. Look at potential room and board options today so there is no need for your crew to stay in a shelter where infection exposure rates may increase, and be ready should your crew have to move to an affected location. Are there vacation rentals available? Some properties are offering huge discounts, which could serve as places to stay. Calling ahead of time and working out a deal may be to your benefit.

• Purchase infrared thermometer(s) for your company to have easily accessible, this way you and your staff can be checked for any signs of fever when returning to work.

• The CDC offers a list of suggestions for hurricane preparedness, ranging from giving yourself additional time to plan as a business owner and as an individual, offering lists of local shelters, along with their recommendations and evacuation guidance should the need arise. Visit their website for the full article.

• FEMA offers guidelines that are being constantly updated as this is uncharted territory for all of us. During the latest tropical storm that affected Louisiana, some shelters offered tents inside to keep with social distancing recommendations and gave a 10 square feet per person allowance. These steps in turn affects shelters’ capacity, so having a plan of action is more important than ever.

• Lastly, communication is key. Make sure you and your team have hot spots available on your mobile devices should you need to work remotely. Create an emergency contact list and give constant updates to your team. The worst thing that disconnects teams in times of emergency is uncertainty, a clear channel of communication makes up a big part of your hurricane preparedness. People need to know what to do and who to contact during and after the storm.

Read more about preparing a game plan here.

Overall, remembering that we really are in this together, and following the cardinal rules taught to us in pre-school, be kind, play well with others and wash your hands, should carry us through these times fairly swiftly.

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