In addition to being one of the most potent forces on Earth, weather can also be a great disrupter of a company’s operations. Severe weather can cause shipments to be lost or delayed, extensive property damage, breaks in the supply chain, and dozens of other problems. In the case of drone operators, high winds can prevent them from flying. Fortunately, new technology in the form of a drone with sensors is beginning to offer solutions.
Bad weather can disrupt business continuity services in many ways. Here are five of the most common impacts on business.
1. Property Damage
Floods can destroy thousands of dollars of product in a warehouse. High winds can topple sturdy buildings. These events can be mitigated by weather alerts that inform managers of events in time for preparations to be made.
2. Operational Breakdowns
A golf match might have to shortened or extended because of the weather. Powerful forecasting tools such as interactive weather maps that show the history of weather trends over many years might have prevented such breakdowns. The golf tournament, for example, could be scheduled in a month when less rain is likely.
3. Inability To Operate
Drones that are used to survey fields or take photographs often cannot operate in bad weather conditions; however, a drone with sensors is beginning to overcome some weather situations with technology that does the following:
- Gives hourly forecasts
- Analyzes weather data
- Measures wind speed
4. Supply Chain Interruptions
A snowstorm in the mountains could prevent a shipment of product from arriving to a store in time for the grand opening. Weather forecasts and alerts can reroute shipments to prevent trucking delays.
5. Employee Absence
Some weather events prevent employees from making it into work. With advance knowledge of this through the use of interactive weather alerts, managers can prepare and plan for such occurrences.