Times changed again dramatically this year. As extensions of
our clients’ internal brand and marketing teams, we were called upon not only
to maintain our media monitoring and social listening, but also to observe and
report on the pandemic and its potential effects on clients’ business
operations. COVID-19 has disrupted personal and professional lives, of course,
and it also has taken its toll on supply chains and staffing, requiring large
and small companies alike to pay attention to data like never before.
- How
many hospital beds are available in the location where a major client
facility processes orders?
- Will
the local, state or federal government shut down activity where our
client’s factory is located?
- Can
people travel to/from a particular region?
- How
will local shutdowns affect restaurants, events and destinations relevant
to our clients and audiences?
Thanks to extensive resources – including local departments
of public health, major media coverage, universities and our own Public
Relations Global Network (PRGN) partners on the ground, we have been able to
deliver extremely meaningful reports to clients as they navigate the COVID-19
crisis and pivot operations accordingly.
This level of information has been of the utmost importance
to leadership and operations teams as they determine business strategies, and
the LCWA team is thankful for its ability to play a role in this effort.