One of any business’s best (and worst) responsibilities is that its operations often affect people, sometimes entirely. For example, a bank providing account utilities to an individual isn’t just offering a product, they’re providing a means for that person to plan, organize, and structure their life.
As such, it’s important to note where and how you affect people. Sometimes, it’s as simple as making sure individuals and groups alike are safe when attending your business premises, be that sitting in a comfortable waiting area or finding their way around your store.
One principal responsibility that comes from this is the need to direct the careful flow of people around your commercial premises. This not only helps you improve foot traffic but enhances safety and limits the chances of things going wrong.
We’ll discuss a few measures you can use to direct the careful flow of individuals around your commercial premises.
Assess Traffic Flow
The old phrase “don’t fix what isn’t broken” is usually a good marker of how to manage public spaces, but that doesn’t mean improvements shouldn’t or couldn’t be made. First, it’s important to identify any issues you’re having. Perhaps you’ve noticed attendees ask staff where your public restrooms are, or they seem to hang around one spot. Maybe you’ve noticed that your staff tend to take their breaks at the front of the building, and that puts off individuals just trying to come in and see the place anew. If you can assess issues, you can focus on fixing them.
Safety Should Always, Always, Always Come First
Let’s say you find a measure that allows more people to come into your store, walk its aisles, and increase spending per head. But to do that, you have to increase the average evacuation time of guests in the event of a fire. Is it worth doing? Almost always, no. From installing commercial railings for safety to shutting off areas where you need to clean or resolve issues, having systems in place to prevent people from coming in or being directed in the wrong way can, quite seriously, save lives. It’s hard to think of a better priority to keep.
Train Staff On Crowd Management Techniques
Ultimately, nothing you could install or implement is as important as well-trained staff able to assess situations and direct people. You should provide comprehensive training on techniques for managing crowds effectively, including how to assist individuals in finding their way around the premises, directing traffic flow during busy periods, and ensuring emergency procedures are followed in case of evacuation This helps you gain a real-time understanding of any issues taking place, and you can use problems reported to help innovate and change your approach as time goes on. Of course, it’s also important to be clear about what staff can and can’t do – you shouldn’t expect store workers to prevent theft by physical means, for example, instead hiring specialist security if needed.
With this advice, you’ll be sure to direct the flow of people around your commercial premises with care and caution.