As a software company in the City of London
we knew that we had to prepare a Business Continuity Plan of
our own. Our extensive research and brainstorming made us aware
that too many other companies did not have a strategy in place
to deal with a crisis.
Out of this problem came our solution:
a Twelve Step plan to put your business back on the road to recovery.
Our corporate background and IT expertise, allied with our access
to knowledge from various continuity associations and relationship
with the Hiscox Insurance group, meant that we were in an unrivalled
position to help. 123BCP was born out of our own needs, but
as it is a bespoke and portable package it works across all commercial
sectors. By putting into place a set of protocols before a disaster
hits, 123BCP can future-proof a company - use it, or lose it!
Our Twelve Step Solution
Allocating key tasks and responsibility across our own workforce meant that our team was involved with, and had ownership of, the game plan for their own area of expertise. The breaking down by sector and listing of all assets and equipment allowed us to work out not only replacement costs but also allocate ancillary costs to cover being forced to move to an alternative location in the event of our premises becoming unavailable for whatever reason.
The final part of this process was to ensure that we had enough insurance cover to pay for all of our costs so that in the event of a disaster it would cost us nothing to be back in business the following day.
123BCP grew out of this consultative and experience-based initiative. By calling
in expertise, case studies and underscoring all of this with
our innovative IT and programming approach we were able to devise
a system that anyone could use.
123BCP acts as a knowledge store
but is, fundamentally, a solutions-based activity that will add
value when the worst-case scenario comes knocking. Allowing
for a consultative company-wide approach if desired, but also
incorporating prescriptive best practice, 123BCP offers transparency
of approach and usage. The application produces and collates
the agreed strategy and holds it in a protected state until it
is needed. When the unexpected happens, the 123BCP swings into
action, producing the documentation and communication that is
needed to ensure that the business lives to fight another day.
123BCP - Great Value
In simple
terms, 123BCP allows purchasers to evolve their own
disaster strategy in a cohesive, step-by-step manner.
Expertise in the field is not required.
Checklists
of tasks are included pre-loaded - and can be added
to for a bespoke plan - and can be allocated onscreen
according to expertise and suitability across your workforce
or management team. On top of that, the system includes
a simple cash flow planner to work out income and expenses
for each day of any crisis to calculate relocation costs.
If your existing IT system does not provide secure backup
then that can be supplied as an add on.
Building on our ongoing relationship with the insurers Hiscox, we negotiated modifications to their standard office product so that purchasers of 123BCP could be offered a customized quotation to cover their assets and continuity costs. Not only that, they also agreed to start paying out on valid claims within 48 hours, essential to fund restructuring. This insurance aspect is inclusive within the software: upon completion of the plan, a quote can be generated - simple.
A robust IT continuity service is essential for any business and 123BCP have teamed with established and reputable IT support company Mission IT to provide just that, in tandem with your existing IT set-up. By the process of generating their own disaster plan, all users of 123BCP ensure that Mission IT are aware in advance of the likely IT needs, in the event of a disaster. This allows them to "Pre-Book" the requisite equipment and cut out delay. Mission IT's stated aim is to have basic IT systems up and running next day (rented equipment initially) at any temporary offices. The costs associated with Mission IT's work will be paid directly by Hiscox, within 48 hours of the 123BCP purchaser making a claim that is accepted.
The final, but essential, aspect of the package is that it gives access to a web system so that allows registered users to upload their data to the Internet.
This acts as back up but also means that the disaster plan itself and key data can be instantly accessed from any web-enabled computer. Whatever has happened to the office, the key tools needed to start the process of recovery will be literally at your fingertips. With one keystroke, a pre-generated and approved SMS text message will be communicated to all of nominated staff alerting them to the system.
123BCP also holds all the information necessary to email your customers, suppliers, bank, insurers and any other pre-selected contacts in order to let them know that a disaster at has occurred at the office. The email will confirm that things are under control and you are now trading from temporary premises - one click - all done.