How to Get Back to Business When the Storm Clouds Clear
Our thoughts continue to be with those lives have been impacted by Hurricane Harvey and Hurricane Irma. In assessing the damage, one thing that is too often overlooked is the impact these catastrophes have on business. Of course, the impact on local business is devastating, with many residents losing their livelihoods. But there are also enormous ripple effects that have implications for the global economy. If you are a freight forwarder or an NVOCC -- even if your office is half a world away -- a hurricane might have a major impact on your business.
For those of us in the ocean freight business, there may be a particularly challenging long road to recovery. Ports have been damaged, shipments have been delayed, and confidence in our infrastructure is low. We previously wrote about how we might better prepare ourselves for the next inevitable disaster. But preparing for the first days, weeks, and even months after is just as important.
Here are some tips to guide you should a natural disaster impact your business:
Stay in touch with local authorities
One of the biggest challenges in the event of catastrophe is receiving reliable information in a timely manner. Anecdotal accounts can be misleading. Television images of a reporter standing in hurricane winds tells you nothing. The rule of thumb here is to get as close as possible to authoritative sources of information.
Follow the Twitter feeds of your local government and disaster-management authorities. If your business is at a port, make sure to check their website for operational updates. Try and reach out to the people you know will be on-site as soon as possible. Contact your steamship line to get a direct report on the status of your freight.
Communicate with your clients
Uncertainty is an enormous source of business anxiety and will lead to loss of trust. The ocean freight industry will always be subject to inclement weather. But if you’re clear and proactive about what your clients can expect, chances are they’ll understand. It’s human nature: in the absence of information, people assume the worst. When you’re transparent, upfront, and in constant communication, you won’t be blamed for a storm you couldn’t control. You may even get thanked for your great customer service.
Understand what “back to normal” means
It’s tempting to think that once the dark clouds pass, it’ll be business as usual. But anyone who has seen the aftermath of a catastrophe knows that’s far from the case. It’s important to adjust your expectations once you’re back to work. Simply, there’s too much recovery to do after a high-magnitude disaster to think your work will return to full-capacity immediately.
If you’re itching for progress, keep track of your incremental steps. These can be operational and client responsibilities like restoring your phone lines or checking in on all your customers. Often, the little things get overlooked when we try to make up for lost time. But they’re very important for the recovery.
We know by now that Harvey and Irma will not be the last catastrophic storms we encounter. They’ll be many more in the years to come--maybe even this year. The next best thing to planning for a storm is getting back on your feet when it’s over.
By: CoLoadX on Sept. 14, 2017, 2:28 p.m.