This year has been a hell of a ride. Many of us have sacrificed a lot and must now redesign their personal and professional lives, while few of us are fortunate enough to survive the year with relatively insignificant loss. Whatever our current circumstances are, 2020 is almost over, and 2021 is waiting in the corner. After fighting a hard battle in 2020, we will need to prepare for the ones we will have in 2021. While the future has always been something uncertain, the pandemic has strengthened the atmosphere of uncertainty for business plans. If designing a strategy for your business to face 2021 has been challenging, we have gathered 5 tips that may help you.

1. Focusing on what you have

In 2020, you may have made decisions that are difficult and actions that can’t be undone. Throughout the ordeals, you may have spent great amount of resources and energies, leaving you with only few options. If that is the case, now is the best time to look at the things that remain and whatever resources you have. These are the things you’ve worked so hard to preserve, so focusing on these things can be a great start to prepare against the upcoming challenges in 2021.

2. Empowering the Digital

The world has been migrating to the digital world, and the pandemic serves as a catalyst which accelerates the process. A research suggests that as many as 3.8 billion people used social media in early 2020, and more than half the world population are projected to be connected to the internet in 2021. If you haven’t really been paying attention to the digital aspects of your business, your plan for 2021 should start incorporating this element. Improving SEO for your business, for example, can be one of your primary goals in 2021.

3. Aiming for Quality Company-Customer Relationship

Forbes notes that customers will continue becoming smarter since they’ve known better alternatives. At the same time, Gartner predicts that there will be 15% increase of customers who consult outside help. These predictions mean that you may have to choose between company-customer relationship and cost efficiency. While many companies might opt to cut the budget for customer support, this can create an opportunity for your business to stand out by planning for the best customer experience in 2021.

4. From surviving to thriving

The highly infectious 2020 pandemic has also influenced how companies carefully shape their brand image and promote their products, particularly with the use of jargons such as safety, health risks, and remote working. However, some experts have predicted that Indonesia will emerge out of recession in 2021. The government also expects that the economy will improve by 4.5-5.5 in 2021. If in 2020 many businesses focused on survival and risks, these predictions may inspire you to instill hope for your business strategies to thrive in 2021.

5. Preparing multiple plans

At the same time, adaptability and flexibility will remain necessary for your 2021 business plan. News of a possibly successful vaccine development are everywhere, and the end of this pandemic may be near. However, a leader should always prepare for the worst, as businesses may take a few more months or years to recover. Outlining your business SWOT at the end of this year is absolutely necessary. Furthermore, designing multiple plans according to what you have can be a wise step to take in preparing for 2021.