Operations & Compliance BCP: Keep Business As Usual During COVID-19

Vigilant’s Trade Compliance Program Optimization Solution

It’s no secret that global operations are facing a potentially harmful chain reaction as a result of COVID-19, also known as the Coronavirus. As more cases are reported across the world, employers are re-evaluating their in-office work policies, bandwidth and in-house expertise to maintain compliance while keeping up with increasing government restrictions. 

With employees either out sick, quarantined, or simply wanting to work from home, businesses are struggling to find ways to continue operations through the current circumstances. On an even larger scale, new travel and shipment restrictions have been put into place on a global level, making it hard for companies to see a solution for maintaining their compliance and flow of business internationally. Trade compliance support activities will increase, depending on rerouted goods and materials, and that’s just one issue among many when it comes to a pandemic such as Coronavirus.

During this time, we know it becomes even more important to keep your teams fully aligned and the company on track. But how? Without the proven ability to work remotely, potential lack of in-house expertise and reduction in staff, how do you continue business as usual? 

You need a strategy. 

Why You Need a Business Continuity Plan for Compliance

If you’re a global company who could potentially deal with a decrease in resources during this time, you’re likely focusing on whether you’ll need to reroute materials and products, as well as what that will look like from a trade compliance perspective. Can you move goods through a different part of the world to receive it quicker? Are there duties and taxes now involved due to this new route? On top of that, you’re also probably wondering how you’ll get your products in and out of certain countries. These are the primary disruptions that a Business Continuity Plan (BCP) will help prevent, allowing you to continue running your day-to-day operations and keep your business compliant.

If a BCP sounds unfamiliar to you, it’s because many companies either don’t have a BCP or never incorporated a pandemic scenario such as Coronavirus. Now that COVID-19 is upon us, many plans may include remote work, which is difficult to coordinate for a global company. 

In other words, many companies aren’t set up or ready for their personnel to work remotely, as it tends to require major adjustments and more bandwidth and support in general. Think about it. If you lost your resource who is used to working on the desktop computer in the warehouse, how will that process look as they transition to working from home? Are they still equipped to do the job that needs to be done?

Without much insight on how long the virus could be an issue, time is of the essence for regaining control over your company’s operations while maintaining compliance. So, what does your BCP look like? (It’s okay if you can’t answer that – we can.)

Defining Your Business Continuity Plan for Compliance

Every business is unique, and while COVID-19 is impacting many industries and companies overall, the effects will look different for everyone. That’s why having a unique, custom BCP in place is so crucial – a plan that fits your organization’s particular operational and trade compliance needs. However, creating an effective BCP is not an easy feat, especially when you’re trying to focus on other aspects of your business simultaneously. 

Experts like us are here for you. With our layers of industry and compliance expertise, access to best-in-class technology and client specific,  Managed Services Programs, we can save you the headache of defining and implementing your business continuity plan. Here’s why we’re the best choice for helping you through this time of global disorientation. 

• We’re remote and global: With remote workers in places like North America,  Europe and Asia, we have the convenient, widespread, bandwidth and expertise you need to keep your operations functioning as smoothly as possible.

• We’re vigilant industry experts: Our people are experienced professionals, highly familiar with the best tech solutions, and have extensive industry knowledge, allowing us to provide quality remote support seamlessly. 

• We have efficient, valuable onboarding: Because of our expertise, onboarding is a piece of cake as we can deliver immediate value within 24 to 48 hours. Our familiarity with best trade compliance practices across the board allows us to serve you quickly and efficiently as your temporary or permanent solution.

Control Your Company’s Success & Compliance

Let us be a part of your compliance team and BCP as a means of supporting you through COVID-19 and its negative business implications. We will put to use our quality Managed Services Programs, which insulate your company from any current or future compliance challenges. This way, fear of the unknown won’t control your company’s continuing success across international lines.

Act now by learning more about our Managed Services Programs and how they fit into your BCP. Schedule an appointment today. (If an employee gets sick or leaves, it’s Vigilant’s problem instead of yours.)