What happens when the computers go down?

I have now been three weeks without any internet connection to my office. I am typing this sitting at a computer in my local (air conditioned) library – 40 mins from my office – as it is the nearest place I can work and be connected (and cool).

In this age of everything being done by computer and using the internet, it is sort of like your left arm has been chopped off.

So in a food business where we now do our banking on line, our accounting package is probably on the Cloud and our HR and pay systems are likely to be linked to some system away from our business, and we probably have all our records being done on our computers – what happens when the computers go down or the internet disappears?

These businesses can’t do what I have done and go down to the local library during the work day.

So what can they do?

I was at a petrol station the other day whilst on holidays and they had no computers up – they were using one of those “old” card swipe machines for credit card purchases – did you even know they were still around??

Most food businesses do not have one of these, so what can they do?

Cash sales can always be done and that is probably the main approach that businesses can take.

Going back to the old way of manual recording of pays, purchases, sales and  food safety records for the duration is really the only way and then data entry when everything comes back up.

What this all raises is the extreme importance of Risk Management and Planning.

Most businesses do not do this and get badly bitten when something goes wrong.

There is no point in shutting the gate after the horse has bolted is there??

All businesses should do a Risk Assessment when first starting and then review it each year. The key then is to put actions and plans in place t6o address any and all the identified risks – like what to do if the computers and / or internet go down.

My back up plan for my lack of internet from my Risk Assessment is my local library for doing articles and sending documents I can’t send from my mobile phone,  and they are a great resource provided to members  by your Local Council – another good reason to join the Library!!!!!