Covid-19 has changed the way in which many businesses work, writes Curtis Williams, Marketing Manager, Digital Storm.

It’s forced companies to rethink how they operate in order to survive.

In 2020, the importance of embracing digital to capture the attention of your customers is clearer than ever before, as more and more people use technology to find information.

And during these unprecedented times, many local businesses have embraced technology and digitised their services in order to thrive.

For us at Digital Storm, it has been a thought-provoking time.

We continued to invest in technology to help our clients, old and new, find their success online and plan out their digital-led recoveries from the lockdown period.

Studies have consistently proved that companies that maintain, or increase, their marketing efforts in times of business downturns get the edge over their competitors.

So here are a few of the projects we’ve been implementing over the last few months.

Hopefully, they can provide inspiration for other Dorset businesses.

Online learning

During lockdown we worked with The Colour Works, a Ferndown-based training and development company and the UK’s largest distributor of the Insights Discovery colour model, to introduce a new virtual learning and training dashboard.

This new product sought to digitise some of their personality theory resources, allowing users to learn more about themselves and how they work with others.

As well as these new virtual learning solutions to support and inspire teams throughout these challenging times, The Colour Works also started a series of virtual workshops via Zoom for both furloughed workers and practising teams.

360 photography and virtual tours

Covid-19 has reinforced the importance of virtual experiences.

Over the past few months, we have invested in upgrading our 360 photography equipment to help local schools and colleges digitise their open days.

We assisted Kingston Maurward College in Dorchester and The Burgate School and Sixth Form Centre in Fordingbridge to produce ‘virtual open days’.

Digitising the open day experience for schools and colleges makes so much sense, regardless of the pandemic.

It gives students and guardians the ability to look around the facilities of a campus from the comfort of their homes and allows access to videos and information which can be consumed at their own pace.

Above all, though, it’s the benefit of convenience – being able to access these virtual open days whenever they wish.

We are also working with SafeWise, Dorset’s life skills learning programme for children, to create a virtual learning experience where children can visit their immersive safety skills learning environment.

Following the initial test virtual safety experience, we are now working with SafeWise on the development of a digital product they can offer to schools which has tours produced specific to different key stage groups along with downloadable resources.

Planning a digital-led recovery from Covid-19

The pandemic has ultimately changed many aspects of our personal and professional lives but it also creates opportunities for businesses.

Why not join the above Dorset businesses in embracing technology and digital media to create new and unique online experiences for your customers?

Don’t just survive, thrive during these difficult times with a digital-led recovery plan.

• Digital Storm is offering free consultations to help businesses steer through and start capitalising on the opportunities available. Give our team of marketing, design and web development experts a call on 01202 298392.