"Customer relationship has improved"
A survey of members of the Event Management Circle concludes that customer relationships have actually improved during the COVID-19 crisis. The members are slightly optimistic about the future.
With a survey among its members, the EMC aimed to take the pulse of the event industry among those directly affected. Some 22 event and corporate specialists took part and described their situation to the EMC board. The meeting of the Federal Council with representatives of the tourism industry sent a positive signal.
Two thirds with short-time work
Two-thirds of respondents have applied for short-time work. In relation to the Swiss economy as a whole, where a total of one-third of employees are registered for short-time work, this is very high due to the sector. Nevertheless, 90 percent of respondents rated the Federal Council's measures as necessary and basically very good.
66% in home office
According to official regulations, the event industry is also obliged not to carry out its work in an open-plan office. For this reason, around two-thirds currently work in a home office. However, even in the event industry, only a portion of employees work primarily at a computer.
Strong change in external communication
External communication has changed significantly in many companies in recent weeks. It mainly takes place via email and video calls, but increasingly also via WhatsApp and other chat systems, and occasionally via newsletters.
Strengthened customer relationships
Despite the more difficult circumstances, many of the respondents state that the customer relationship has tended to improve in these challenging times. These are positive signs and a good basis for a long-term customer relationship. After all, in the final analysis, customer and supplier are in the same boat and must first and foremost find constructive solutions that help both sides. And the event industry seems to have understood this.
