Here's To 2021: Reflecting on 2020

 

The AlphaKORians Keep Rockin' It

As I reflect on 2020 which feels like the longest year ever, my thoughts continually drift back to my team, The AlphaKORians.   Right out of the gate in January of this year, everyone, as always, was ready to go as we were heading into our 25th year!   We celebrated 25 years in business on February 25th and made it a "Champagne Anniversary" with a commemorative logo and celebration.   All this just on the eve of the pandemic striking us in mid-March.

The team pivoted overnight as most worked from home and only a few of us were in the office.  The Partners were impressed with the positive response, the eagerness of everyone to be there to help and support each other, our clients, many organizations and the community with whatever they needed.  It was one of those surreal moments I will always remember.  As the world shutdown around us and many panicked, the team was there.  Always.  Thank you for all you do!

The First Three Months

During the first three months of the pandemic, organizations were adjusting and adapting to what many called "the new normal" of working remotely.  AlphaKOR played a lead role in:

• Helping organizations run virtual meetings
• Setting up remote teams to help them work securely from home
• Helping organizations access, store and backup company data securely
• Running interactive webinars twice a week for those who needed expert advice on any subject, to discuss challenges and create a supportive environment

During this time there were the debates about best virtual meeting platforms such as Teams, Zoom, and Webex to name a few.   Speakers, cameras, microphones and laptops were impossible to source as the industry was faced with a huge surge in demand for these items.   When we live in a "just in time" world, this was near to impossible to meet the demand.

We are so grateful for the demand for our services we experienced during this time.  Service tickets were being created at a fast pace as the demand for our services went through the roof.  As many organizations need help embracing technology, we are happy our team was there to provide support and assistance.

Focus On Business

After adjusting to the "new normal", we experienced a second wave of an increased demand from new clients looking for support.  Due to shutdowns, many of their current vendors could no longer support them.  AlphaKOR was thankful for the opportunity to step in and help, working nights and weekends to ensure our clients' organizations were running safely and securely.

If we learned anything from this, it taught us businesses could remain opened and needed to change how they were doing business to cater to this challenging time.  Virtual meetings, online ordering, online appointments, contactless pick-ups and contactless deliveries were all required to keep their doors open.  Technology, equipment and digital marketing strategies were put into place and implemented.   It was not a simple, straight-forward task and required a lot of attention and support to make it work.   Overall, we are proud of our role to make a difference.

The Future

As the year 2020 comes to and end, a year I am not even sure how to describe, we look to the future.   What will 2021 bring?  We feel for so many who are isolated from their office while they work from home.   We feel for so many businesses that faced tough challenges and had to close their doors due to being in lockdown.  We take one day at a time and reflect on our challenges to see where, if any, opportunities can arise.

This year reminds us of an important message:  everyone needs help and support, not only in business but personally and for our mental health.   Remember to reach out to each other, ask how they are doing and if they need help.  This is not the time to hold back.  This is the time for all of us to be open, nurturing and vulnerable.

As we gear up for the new year, we are reaching out to as many as we can to show them we care.   The AlphaKORians' truly do care.   We look forward to moving forward together in 2021.   Cheers to your health, safety and we wish you all the best in the new year!

(Originally published on 12.29.20)