Mitigating In-Person Risks
Note: Survey responses were collected between November 17 and December 3, 2020. This survey is part of a series to understand how Canadians are leveraging technology in the pandemic.
Tech Checkup
Organizations that increased online offerings were more likely to introduce new protections against cyber threats.
January 11, 2021
Q: Which best describes the current state of your organization’s workers who were on-site before the pandemic?
Source: The Conference Board of Canada.
(percentage of respondents; n = 112)
Many workers remain remote, but there is some movement back to the physical workplace
Organizations have changed how they do business. To adhere to social distancing measures and mitigate the risks of COVID-19, they have adopted new technologies and adapted their business models, services, and processes.
Q: Do your stakeholders need to visit your locations in person for sales or service?
(percentage of respondents; n = 106)
However, few organizations require their stakeholders to visit their locations in person
These organizations were more likely to say that they’ve introduced contactless pickup. They were also more likely to say that they seek feedback from customers and employees and review their risk management practices to prepare for subsequent waves of disruption.
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Online versus on-site
Q: Have you introduced contact tracing for employees, customers, and suppliers (or other service locations)?
Note: Total may not add to 100 due to rounding.
Source: The Conference Board of Canada.
(percentage of respondents; n = 106)
Most organizations are helping to curb the spread with contact tracing
Q: Which steps has your company/organization taken to deliver online commerce alternatives?
Source: The Conference Board of Canada.
(percentage of respondents; n = 66)
For those that have, enhancing or introducing e-commerce or self-service platforms for customers was the most common step taken
On average, hospitals, universities, and colleges took more steps to deliver online commerce alternatives compared with other types of organizations. Organizations focused on business-to-business sales took the fewest steps.
(percentage of respondents; n = 87)
Over three-quarters of organizations say they’ve taken steps to deliver online commerce alternatives
Q: Have you introduced new controls to guard against cyber threats related to these activities?
Source: The Conference Board of Canada.
(percentage of respondents; n = 66)
Still, only half of organizations that increased online commerce alternatives have introduced new controls to guard against cyber threats
Preparing for future disruptions
Q: Are you reviewing your risk management practices to prepare for future disruptions?
Source: The Conference Board of Canada.
(percentage of respondents; n = 86)
Most organizations are reviewing their risk management practices
Source: The Conference Board of Canada.
(percentage of respondents; n = 86)
Q: Is your company seeking feedback from customers and employees to prepare for subsequent waves of business disruption?
Many organizations want customers’ and employees’ opinions
Source: The Conference Board of Canada.
(percentage of respondents; n = 86)
Q: Have you reviewed your models for contactless pick-up or service appointments to account for inclement weather during the fall and winter?
Fewer organizations have reviewed their service models to account for colder weather
These organizations were more likely to have recently started providing online appointment booking services.
Source: The Conference Board of Canada.
These organizations were more likely to say that they’ve conducted store audits and are also seeking feedback from their customers and employees to prepare for subsequent waves.
(percentage of respondents; n = 86)
Q: Are you concerned that your logistics, warehouse, and shipping operations may not be able to sustain another spike in online transactions?
Fewer still are concerned that another spike in online transactions could overwhelm them
Source: The Conference Board of Canada.
Source: The Conference Board of Canada.
These changes have allowed key Canadian industries to stay connected with their clients and continue meeting their needs.
What IT changes have companies made to continue safely interacting with their stakeholders?
The Conference Board of Canada surveyed 130 IT leaders and practitioners to understand how Canadian organizations are handling change. This is what we learned.
Download the respondent profile
Download the respondent profile