Disruptions to your business can be costly, especially when you’re dealing with lost power. Regardless of your industry, your business depends on electricity and a blackout can create operational delays that will negatively impact your reputation and bottom line.
The solution is to have a power continuity system in place so that anytime the power goes out for any reason, you can start working on a solution without being impacted by the disruption. If you don’t already have power continuity, here’s why it’s an essential part of minimizing operational disruptions.
Power disruptions can harm your business in the following ways:
- Operational delays. As long as the power is out, you won’t be able to continue business as usual. Production lines will come to a halt, shipping and receiving won’t be able to scan items in and out, and office workers will have nothing to do without their computers and the internet.
- Financial loss.Downtime is costly, both directly and indirectly. It can halt all revenue, and if it costs you more to operate during a power outage, your operational costs will increase.
- Reputational damage. If you can’t deliver results for your clients and customers, it can impact your reputation in a negative way. Customers may lose trust in your brand.
- Data loss. Depending on how the power went out, you could end up with damage to your computers, resulting in corrupted or lost data.
- IT problems. Power outages can negatively impact IT infrastructure.
All of these potential consequences can be avoided to a large degree with the right power continuity plan.
Strategies to ensure power continuity
There are several strategies you can use to ensure your business continues to operate while the power is out. It’s equally important to have a plan to fix the source of the outage as fast as possible. For example, document all the possible ways the power might fail, and then create a plan to address each cause.
For instance, if you rely on a dry-type transformer for power, you need a plan for replacing it either with a new or refurbished unit if it fails. It would be smart to have a transformer manufacturer in mind before there’s a problem.
If your employees rely on an internet connection in the office, it helps to have your router and employee computers connected to an uninterruptible power supply. The batteries may not last more than several hours, but it will be long enough for them to save their work and avoid lost data.
In addition to creating a plan for fixing each potential cause based on your individual needs, the following strategies are universal.
- Implement an uninterruptible power supply system (UPS). Having a UPS can provide your business with immediate power during an outage. However, there are different types and it’s crucial to get the right one for your needs.
- Have a backup generator ortwo. Generators can save the day when the power goes out, but they can be bulky, loud, and expensive to fuel. Still, they’re an excellent source of backup power.
- Use battery storagesystems. Power banks are a good example of battery storage systems and they can be incredibly useful. However, they are limited and are better suited for small needs, like powering routers and computers. They also need to be recharged more frequently than other solutions.
- Have redundant power sources. Withredundant power sources, you’ll have multiple power supply units that are capable of powering your entire load on their own. This is the only way to avoid the consequences of single points of failure.
- Perform routine inspections. Inspections are critical for spotting issues with your backup power systems before you need to use them.
- Perform scheduled maintenance. Regular maintenance will keep your backup power sources running smoothly so they’ll be reliable when you need them most. For example, have your transformer regularly inspected according to the manufacturer’s recommendations.
- Regularly test your backup systems. It’s crucial to test your backup power systems to ensure they will work as planned. Testing will also give you insight into shortcomings and issues so you can resolve them before a power emergency.
- Get advanced monitoring. Sometimes power outages can be predicted under certain circumstances with monitoring technology. This tech uses sensors to detect abnormalities in your main power sources that you wouldn’t see otherwise.
Power continuity will protect your profits
When the power goes out, your business can suffer great financial loss. Don’t let that happen to you. Implement a comprehensive power continuity plan to minimize the impact of lost power on your operations, and protect your reputation and profits.
