Welcome to the ‘New Normal’
In just a few short months, the world we’ve known has changed.
But despite this somewhat challenging time, remember that the generations before us faced hardships. Our ancestors, just like us, were resilient, compassionate and driven. The Covid-19 pandemic is temporary. We will come out of this stronger and on the other side.
Unlike anything we have experienced in our lifetimes, Covid-19 has resulted in wide-spread concern for businesses and communities all over the world. It continues to do so. It has impacted many industries, and the automotive industry is no exception. As with every difficult situation, leaders must put their personal concerns aside and dedicate their resources and efforts towards the greater good. True leaders have foresight. They are forward-thinkers, they foster creation, and innovation. They offer reassurance. I believe the UAE leadership has excelled in protecting their citizens and residents throughout this pandemic. With lockdown measures, social distancing norms and reassessing priorities, we’ve all come to the same conclusion globally; health, family and our freedom come above all else.
But what is this ‘new normal’ that everyone keeps talking about?
For the next few months, we will be recovering from the crisis and then rebuilding our economy from the ground up. This is our new normal; the rebuilding of our society, based on pandemic learnings.
New Buying Behaviors
At Al Masaood Automobiles, we were already prepared for the ‘new normal’ in our post-pandemic world. Predicting the impact of Industry 4.0, we launched Project Falcon to digitize and create an omni-channel car buying experience a few years ago. Over the last month, we have further optimized our online processes, including our Nissan e-commerce website. The pandemic is temporary, but as we move into the new normal, a ‘convenient’ journey for consumers to purchase products and services will continue to remain at the forefront. Many companies have realized that people crave an experience and they are rapidly transforming to cater to this.
But while digitizing your offerings is key, I still firmly believe in the power of human interaction. We will still want to go to the supermarket or go to the mall for the experience in the new normal. A car is the second largest purchase you will make after a house, so it’s natural to want to see, feel and experience it in person, especially as cars begin to take on more autonomous and complex capabilities.
Online Teams
Along with improved online processors we’ve also seen multitudes of companies declare an increased productivity over the past two months while their employees quarantine and work from home. So, is this what we’re moving towards in our new normal? Has society been wrong in thinking that great company culture and corporate atmosphere lies between the walls of office space?
No. I attribute a lot of Al Masaood Automobiles’ success to our office interaction. Spending 8 hours, 5 days a week with your team members builds relationships. You feed off of each other’s energy, and this increases creativity and productivity. We love the socializing aspect of our team interactions, from dinners and inside jokes, to spending 4 hours on the golf course, laughing when the golf ball misses the hole.
Effective Global Business
I’m a global citizen and the travel ban has had an intriguing impact. Covid-19 has helped us developed new virtual muscles. Many businesses have realized how effective business meetings can be through virtual platforms such as Zoom and Microsoft Teams, saving time on travel.
The Silver Lining
As we barrel towards the new world, we’re reminded of one thing; stop and smell the roses once in a while. We were compelled to change our lives overnight and to learn to live without the luxuries we once believed to be normal.
So now let’s strive towards a healthy future.
About the author
Irfan Tansel: Global Citizen and CEO of Al Masaood Automobiles
After starting his career as an apprentice to become a car mechanic at the age of 15, Irfan Tansel has over 40 years’ experience working for family offices spanning across 3 continents. An entrepreneurial and visionary leader, Irfan is credited for his unique approach to company strategy, culture building within organizations and more recently, succeeding in a challenging market; this year Al Masaood Automobiles gained global recognition for achieving 68% growth after re-strategizing, repositioning on the automotive market and hiring a diverse workforce.
Driven to build a legacy, Irfan has a competitive nature. And, after achieving his goals and reaching the peak of his career, Irfan is determined to inspire tomorrow’s leaders by sharing his career of 4 decades Automotive knowledge.
When Irfan isn’t preparing for a future of disruption as electric cars, connectivity, autonomous vehicles and ride-sharing comes into play, you can find him spending time with his family and playing golf.
For media and keynote inquiries, please email his brand manager Jen at Jen@prestidgegroup.com or call +971 55 719 3601. DOWNLOAD IRFAN’S MEDIA KIT.
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