The COVID-19 pandemic has changed “business as usual” across thousands of industries. Many of these changes are likely to become permanent and will force industry pros to abandon old practices. Business owners using technology to adapt to the ever-changing rules and safety regulations have not just been able to survive, but have thrived in the midst of COVID-19
What the pandemic has taught us about our industry:
People will always need lawn care!
According to the National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP) landscape services have been deemed essential, because “without the landscape industry conducting these valuable services, we will undoubtedly see increased instances where people may be harmed or become sick from other illnesses compounding our already stretched resources.”
In this open letter written by Britt Wood, CEO of the NALP, the reasons landscape services have been deemed essential include:
“Landscapers are protectors of public health performing essential treatments to lawns and green spaces to reduce the transmission of dangerous and deadly diseases through pests like mosquitoes, ticks, and fleas.
Landscapers protect property and maintain greenspaces that could otherwise jeopardize public safety. Unkept fields and green spaces increase the chance of injuries. Crime rates are increased in areas where green spaces are not maintained. Tree removal is also a critical function of our industry to avoid damaging homes and their families.
Landscapers play a critical role in boosting morale and mental health during a difficult time for our Nation. Without landscape services fields, parks, businesses, and homes will become overgrown and unkept, which can have dramatic psychological effects on the mental … wellbeing of our communities.”
Seeing that lawn care is so important, even during a global pandemic, is a great indicator for the industry as a whole as it shows that lawn care companies can expect continued success and income in all economic conditions.
Safety is more important than ever in our industry, especially social distancing.
Do you know the changes to your local, state, and federal safety regulations? They outline the new rules for your personal and business-related safety procedures. To stay operational during the pandemic, understanding these changes can be crucial to avoiding fines and keeping your people and customers safe. Here is a list of common best practices lawn and landscaping owners have implemented over the last few months:
Please note that this list was not written by a medical professional, health organization, or policymaker. For CDC recommendations on how to protect yourself and others, click here.
- • Require regular hand washing (20 seconds+) and provide hand sanitizer to your crew
- • Regularly wipe down equipment and vehicle interiors and handles between uses
- • Wear masks when working close together or riding together in vehicles
- • Maintain social distance (6ft) when working
- • Avoid physical contact with other crew members and clients (no handshakes, no entering homes, no physical payments)
How accepting digital payments can help you adapt:
As previously mentioned, avoiding physical contact is a crucial industry change as a result of COVID-19. This means small business owners need to accept payments in ways other than physically collecting checks and cash.
One of the most important reasons to have no-contact payments is understanding the desire of your clients to maintain social distancing during COVID-19. Customers of every industry are paying close attention to the safety measures taken by service providers and their spending habits will reflect who they think is doing an adequate job. Safety precautions will not only keep you and your crew safe, but they will also ensure you keep your customers.
Additionally, many people are likely going to continue to practice social distancing and added safety measures after the pandemic is over. Having no-contact payment capabilities will be an added bonus for those clients.
Besides aiding with social distancing, there is the huge benefit of allowing customers to pay from wherever they are. If you have ever struggled with a client not being home while you are providing services or having to track down a physical payment, you understand how helpful digital invoicing and payment acceptance can be. You can get paid the same day even if your client is at work, out of town, or just doesn’t want to come outside.
Lastly, accepting digital payments allows you to keep a better record of your company’s money. Never misplace an envelope or miscalculate important tax figures again.
Check out Lawn Buddy’s video on automatic invoicing for more info on no-contact payment methods:
For businesses, quick adaptation has been the saving grace during the COVID-19 pandemic. Shifting to online sales, working from home, and no-contact payments have made all the difference for many companies. Ensure that you are prepared to weather the rest of this storm and others to come by taking advantage of the innovative tools technology has to offer that will help you adapt faster.
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