COVID-19 has made a lasting impact on everyone’s lives. The travel industry as a whole has taken a huge hit. Travelling has never been more restricted which makes it difficult for those that depend on chauffering as a source of income. With local lockdowns limiting people’s ability to travel, there has been a huge decrease in the demand for chauffers.
The loss of life is the ultimate tragedy to come from this pandemic. With our hearts focused on the future, what can we do to return back to a state of normality? Planning ahead when the industry starts to move again will separate those that acted quickly and those that didn’t act at all.
In these uncertain times, what can you do to ensure your future in the travel industry? Implementing stability where you can is the only way that you can prepare for the future during times of difficulty. Whilst local lockdowns are impacting the travel industry, it isn’t a futile decision to try and implement stability elsewhere in your business. Making your business COVID compliant if it isn’t already is a great step forward whilst the rise in lockdowns makes the future unsteady at best.
Making Your Chauffeur Business COVID Compliant:
Ensuring that your operation as a chauffeur is fully COVID compliant is vital if you plan on working under local lockdowns. Measures like not having passengers in the front seat, making face masks compulsory and also installing temporary plexiglass shields between the passengers are all best practice. Providing anti-bacterial hand sanitiser during your trips is also a good measure to take as it reduces the risk of transmission especially between passengers.
Adding yourself to the NHS’s Track & Trace database is also advised as this helps reassure your clients. Whilst the current system is in place for venues, there will be a system put into place for “public transport” which chauffeurs can then implement.
Having a policy put into place that is tailored to your specific situation is also advised. Being able to set guidelines for your business is a huge signal to your clients that you’re thinking about the current situation and that you’re working to restrictions in place. Bespoke mitigation policies have never been more important and it would be a smart choice to implement one as soon as possible.
Ensuring You Are Future Proofed:
Future-proofing your business is vital if you want to maintain your chauffeur business. Whilst the demand for chauffers, taxis and other forms of transport has dropped, there has never been a better time to future proof your business. Even with dark times looming, there are still opportunities to be had. Whilst the public sector may be quieter, universities, organisations, private schools and event spaces are still operating so there are still jobs to be gained.
Limitations with local lockdowns will undoubtedly make it hard for chauffers to operate normally, however ensuring that you’re able to be found is vital to the future of your business. People are actively looking for safer alternatives to travelling instead of public transport, so having an online presence is crucial. This could be in the form of a website or social media so that people are able to find you when they are planning their travels.
Having an online booking system is more important than ever since the industry is moving to a more formalised procedure of booking.
If you have the resources available, a mobile application is also a great way of improving your reach as a business. Utilising smart booking systems would benefit your business greatly since it makes the process much simpler for you and your clients.
Moving with the times is a common phrase coined but this has never been truer for businesses during COVID. Embracing the changes that have been caused by the global pandemic is essential for the future and progression of your business.
Cite large taxi firms like Uber who were very quick to adopt a strong stance with their COVID policy. They implemented mitigation measures immediately for their drivers, ensuring both drivers and passengers were safe. Within the transport industry, they have set the trend of adherence to COVID. Whilst they have seen a negative impact of the pandemic, they are currently weathering the storm better than most.
Finding Specific Insurance Policies That Will Protect You:
Whilst it’s a sound plan to future proof your business, mitigation measures like finding apt insurance policies are also smart when it comes to planning for the future. Having insurance policies that are specific to your needs is invaluable to those in the industry. Generic car insurance policies won’t cover you in the event of an incident so having the appropriate policy for your situation is a must. If you’re taking bookings and charging customers for the journey, chauffeur insurance is a must since the level of risk is much more varied than a regular car insurance policy. Conventional car insurance policies won’t cover you in the event of an accident if you are on the job.
As a chauffeur, it’s very likely that you’ll be transporting and carrying clients in a luxury vehicle. Usually, as a chauffeur, payments will be settled by an account’s invoice as opposed to exchanging cash within the vehicle. It’s also important to be aware that chauffeur insurance will only cover executive vehicles.
Making use of a sector-specific insurance policy is another step you can take to prepare your business for the future. Whilst it may not be COVID specific, pairing a bespoke policy with COVID mitigation measures is a surefire way of protecting your business as a whole.
A typical chauffeur insurance policy will include:
- Single Vehicle Policies
- Fleet Policies
- Breakdown Cover
- Any Driver Policies
- No Restriction for Celebrity Passengers
- Camera Systems (optional)
- Telematics Systems (available for fleet operators)
- Breakdown cover
- Direct debit facilities
Having the appropriate cover as a chauffeur is one less thing to worry about especially in current times. Knowing that you’re able to operate whilst being fully protected is a breath of fresh air when dealing with the prospect of a worrying future.
Preparing your business for the unknown is an all or nothing investment. Those that don’t jump in with both feet will be left behind due to the speed of which the industry is changing. Crucial decisions have to be made in order to guarantee your business’s survival through these trying times.
Whilst the industry is seemingly quiet, there has never been a better time to think about the sustainability of your business. Be brave and take a look at ways that you can innovate what you’re doing to stand out from the crowd. Putting effective mitigation measures in place is the only thing you should be thinking about. If you aren’t, your competitors will be.
