Adapt or become irrelevant

If there is one business sector that has been hit particularly hard during the current pandemic crisis and the resulting lockdowns across the world, it’s the hospitality industry. We have seen our favourite restaurants, cafes, coffee shops and fast food outlets close their doors temporarily. We have seen workers losing their jobs. And the short-term future looks very uncertain for the sector as a whole. So it has been interesting to see how the big fast food chains have reacted strategically this past week by adapting their established business models to this new reality. KFC and Burger King, for example, have opted to open for delivery-only in many locations; workers have to wear masks and gloves and be trained to run these new delivery-only kitchens. Working practices have also changed, with staff operating in smaller teams in split shifts in kitchens to ensure social distancing and safe environments, and health standards have been dramatically improved to satisfy anxious customers. Menus have also been simplified for delivery only. Businesses in many other sectors will have to learn to adapt in similar ways if they are to survive.