Business Continuity in Nepal during Lockdown
The COVID-19 outbreak prompted many companies in Nepal to initiate remote working for their staff. However, working from home has proven challenging for some, especially as the pandemic forced people into extended periods of remote work. The impact of COVID-19 has touched a wide range of businesses across Nepal.
“Employees are not able to perform 100% from home due to their mental state, environment, resources, data, etc.”
— Chhitiz Kiran Shrestha, Management Consultant
For many Nepalese, the biggest challenge in transitioning to remote work is the loss of routine that usually exists in an office setting. It becomes difficult to determine when to start and stop working. As Shashank Shrestha shares, “My team is performing well at home, but all of them have reported either underworking or overworking.” Maintaining focus throughout the day is another major challenge. Chhitiz Kiran Shrestha further explains that employees’ mental state, home environment, resource availability, and data accessibility all influence their ability to perform effectively from home.
Internet Connectivity Struggles
Following the lockdown, slow internet connectivity has emerged as another challenge for remote workers. With most people confined to their homes, internet usage has surged, putting pressure on service providers and leading to bandwidth issues.
Economic Impact on Motivation
Nepali businesses are also increasingly concerned about the economic fallout from the pandemic. According to Chhitiz Kiran Shrestha, “Organizations are concerned about the economic aftermath, so they are not willing to pay 100% to their staff.” This understandably affects overall motivation levels within organizations.
Despite these hurdles, many businesses continue to operate. To gain insights into how businesses and startups in Nepal are navigating this difficult period, Biruwa Advisors connected with entrepreneurs and team members through personal conversations, emails, and social media platforms. Below, we share key learnings that can help guide or reaffirm your approach during this time.
Defining Your Modus Operandi
The first step in moving forward is defining how your organization will operate under current conditions. This clarity helps teams understand the organizational direction amid ongoing challenges.
“Startups should try to define structure within this chaos. Foodmandu is using top-down communications with everyone within and outside the organization to coordinate our work.”
— Nidhaan Shrestha, CEO, Foodmandu
Drawing from past experiences such as the earthquake and blockade, it’s advisable to outline work structures and remain open to adjusting them to overcome operational challenges.
Communicate and Stay Connected
For organizations that continue their work, communication is a top priority. In this period of isolation, communication fosters clarity and confidence among team members and clients alike.
Some organizations have implemented daily team meetings to stay updated on progress and developments. Where physical presence is impossible, various digital communication channels help keep everyone informed.
Embrace Technology
Technology has played a pivotal role in ensuring business continuity. Roshan Joshi, Digital Marketing Manager at HLE Nepal, a BPO with over 150 Nepal-based team members, notes, “As a marketing team, we’re using JIRA as a project management tool and Google Hangouts for video calls. So far, so good.”
Similarly, Avigya Karki from Muna Agro Enterprise Group credits technology tools like Skype, Viber, and Zoom for enabling seamless communication across factories and production sites. Younger team members often assist in exploring and adopting new technology options.
Businesses that have adapted to use technology effectively for customer relations and service delivery are the ones continuing to thrive during this crisis.
Switch to Cashless Banking
While part of technological adaptation, cashless banking deserves special mention due to its significant impact on business processes.
Biruwa Advisors adopted online banking in early 2017 and has been utilizing digital banking services for company operations and staff payments.
Popular digital payment platforms such as eSewa, Fonepay, Khalti, and Connect IPS are widely used by organizations to handle various payments, including salary disbursements during lockdown.
Focus on Organizational Development & Management Systems
The lockdown and remote working have freed up some team members’ time, presenting an opportunity to tackle internal tasks often deprioritized during normal operations.
Organizations can focus on updating policies, streamlining workflows, and documenting additional procedures to strengthen management systems.
This is also a crucial time to strategize for potential post-lockdown scenarios and prepare accordingly.
Prioritize Work-Life Balance
Many individuals have reported either underworking or overworking while working from home. Organizations should experiment with different approaches to keep team members engaged without risking burnout.
Encourage your teams to take breaks, set aside weekends for personal time, exercise, and pursue hobbies that may have been neglected before.
Since working from home blurs the boundaries between office and personal life, it’s important for employees to consciously step away from their desks regularly.