When it comes to businesses that rely on emergency power systems, generator maintenance cannot be overlooked.

Regular maintenance and upkeep of a generator is essential for keeping it in top working condition and ensuring it is ready to go when the need arises. This article will cover the importance of generator maintenance, including the steps involved, common problems that require attention, the benefits of proper maintenance, and why outsourcing to a professional service provider may be a good idea. Learn how Agility simplifies generator maintenance and makes sure your business is always prepared.

Generator Maintenance: Overview

Generator maintenance is critical to keeping businesses that rely on emergency power systems running smoothly. As with any machine, generators need to be regularly inspected, cleaned, and tested to ensure they are ready when needed. Regular maintenance helps ensure generators will work efficiently in an emergency situation and can prevent costly downtime or damage due to malfunction.

Understanding the different types of maintenance tasks required for your generator set is important for ensuring its reliability and performance. The most important tasks include changing the oil or cooling fluid, inspecting filters, lubricating moving parts, testing the battery starter system, cleaning the fuel tank, and checking safety features such as smoke detectors. For businesses that don’t have in-house resources to carry out these tasks themselves, outsourcing generator maintenance to a professional service provider can be beneficial in terms of time, money, and resources.

The benefits of regular generator maintenance are clear: it prevents costly downtime due to unexpected faults, maximizes efficiency by ensuring that all components are working correctly, prolongs the life span of the generator, reduces emissions, meets regulatory compliance requirements, and helps maintain warranty conditions. Taking proactive steps to maintain your generator set also reduces stress during an emergency so you’ll have peace of mind knowing that your system is ready when you need it most.

Finally, hiring a professional service provider for generator maintenance ensures that all tasks are performed correctly according to industry standards. They can provide expertise on how best to maintain your equipment as well as offer timely advice on any potential issues before they arise. This can save money in the long run by avoiding expensive repairs down the line due to negligence or lack of knowledge regarding proper maintenance practices.

Overall, with regular care and attention from a trusted professional service provider, businesses can rest assured knowing their generators are always ready when needed – thus reducing stress during an emergency power outage situation and helping them stay productive even during difficult times.

Steps of Generator Maintenance

Maintaining a generator is important to ensure it is always ready to go when needed. Regular checks of the oil level, air filter, radiator, belts, hoses, clamps, battery charge level and charging system, and wiring should all be performed as part of regular maintenance. In addition to these checks and inspections, testing the generator and fuel can reveal any potential problems before they become major issues.

To test the generator itself, start by running it at full load for at least twenty minutes or longer if possible. This helps identify any weak parts within the system that may need servicing or replacement. Make sure to check for leaks during this process as well; if there are any present, it’s best to address them immediately rather than wait until later when the problem becomes more serious.

After running the generator at full load, reduce its load incrementally until it reaches idle speed and then shut it down completely. Open up the engine compartment and inspect all the components inside to ensure everything is in proper working order before restarting it again. Be sure to check for signs of wear or damage on any of its moving parts, as these can lead to costly repairs in the future if not addressed quickly enough.

Finally, check your fuel source for any contaminants that may have built up over time, such as dirt or debris, that could cause engine failure if left unchecked. If you find anything suspicious, then take measures to remove these contaminants immediately before proceeding with further tests or use of your generator system.

Regularly following these steps will ensure your generator is always in top condition and ready to provide power whenever necessary without interruption or delay. Additionally, you’ll also save yourself both time and money by avoiding costly repairs due to lack of maintenance down the line.

Common Issues That Require Maintenance

Generator maintenance is critical for any business that relies on emergency power systems. When neglected, costly repairs or complete system failure can occur. It's important to be aware of the common problems that require proactive measures to avoid such issues. Clogged fuel filters due to inadequate fuel quality, malfunctioning parts from insufficient lubrication, incorrect voltage regulator settings, and faulty engine speed governor calibration are all typical examples of preventable generator problems. To keep your fuel filter from becoming clogged, it's essential to regularly check the quality of the fuel and replace any contaminated or degraded product immediately. Sufficient lubrication is also key for keeping parts like fans and bearings functioning properly. Checking oil levels and replacing old oil with new should be done regularly as a preventive measure. In addition to these steps, it's also important to ensure that your voltage regulator is set correctly and that the engine speed governor is calibrated appropriately to maintain peak performance during periods of high demand or longer shut-down times. Finally, dirt and debris should be cleared away from around the unit at regular intervals so foreign objects don't get into moving parts like fans or switches, which could cause serious damage if left unchecked. By being mindful of these common generator problems and taking proactive measures, businesses can ensure their backup power system is always ready when they need it most.

Benefits of Proper Maintenance

Having a generator that is well maintained and in optimal condition is essential for businesses that rely on emergency power systems. Regular servicing of these generators can provide numerous benefits, from cost savings to improved reliability and efficiency.

Maintaining your generator helps to reduce unanticipated expenses due to sudden mechanical failure or costly repairs. You can save money in the long run by opting for regular checkups and upkeep. Furthermore, keeping your generator properly maintained minimizes the risk of potential damage to property or personnel due to mechanical issues, as it ensures all safety features are working correctly and compliant with regulations.

Reliability is another key benefit of investing in proper maintenance for your generator. A well-serviced system will supply power whenever needed most – during energy outages caused by extreme weather conditions or other emergencies – helping businesses keep running with little interruption. Regular servicing also prevents parts from wearing out over time or becoming blocked with dirt or debris, which could cause malfunctions when needed the most.

Also, properly maintaining a generator improves efficiency by ensuring every component runs optimally without unnecessarily wasting fuel resources. This means you get more value from each liter of fuel used while maintaining a safe operating environment for people and equipment alike.

By investing in regular maintenance for their generators, companies gain access to reliable backup power while simultaneously reducing repair costs and improving overall performance through increased safety measures, enhanced reliability, and better energy efficiency.

Why Outsourcing Makes Sense for Businesses

Outsourcing generator maintenance to a professional service provider can provide several benefits for businesses that rely on emergency power systems. A knowledgeable and experienced third-party team can help minimize downtime, maximize efficiency, and identify potential problems before they become major issues. Additionally, having a third-party provider for generator maintenance can save time and money as well as provide an expert who can offer timely advice on any issues. One of the major advantages of outsourcing maintenance is that it allows businesses to focus their attention on other aspects of their operations while an experienced provider handles all the day-to-day upkeep required to keep the generator running efficiently. Furthermore, having a dedicated team of professionals who specialize in generator maintenance will ensure all necessary steps are taken to maintain and repair your equipment should something go wrong. Another benefit is that third-party providers often have access to fuel solutions, which allows them to consolidate contracts and vendor reliance. Doing so means you don't have to worry about sourcing fuel from multiple vendors or managing multiple contracts at once.

Ultimately, by taking advantage of these solutions, you can save money in the long run by avoiding unnecessary expenses due to mismanagement or inefficient use of resources.

A reliable and efficient generator is essential for businesses relying on emergency power systems. Outsourcing your generator maintenance needs allows you access expert help quickly when needed so you can be sure your system will always be ready when disaster strikes. Additionally, having a dedicated team of professionals handle regular checkups helps prevent expensive downtime and keeps your generator running smoothly at all times. Reach out to us today to learn how Agility can help your organization keep its generator up and running.

Power outages have always been a threat to business continuity, but in recent years, they have become more frequent and longer. According to analysis by the Associated Press (AP) since 2017, the number of power outages nationwide has doubled compared to the previous six years​. This trend is expected to continue, posing a significant risk to businesses of all sizes and sectors. This blog will examine the growing reliance on power for business operations and the strain it puts on an aging power grid, as well as the direct and indirect costs that power loss can have on businesses. Finally, we have some recommendations for businesses to be more prepared for power outages and ensure continuity in the face of this growing threat.

The Growing Reliance on Power for Business Operations

Businesses have become increasingly reliant on power to run their operations. From lighting and HVAC systems to manufacturing equipment and computer networks, power is the lifeblood that keeps the wheels of commerce turning. Without a reliable source of electricity, businesses can quickly grind to a halt, resulting in lost productivity, damaged reputations, and, in some cases, even threats to public safety. The cascading effects of failure on an aging power grid can be significant.

When a power outage occurs, it can disrupt not only the business that directly relies on it but also those that are interconnected through the same grid. For example, if a manufacturing plant experiences a power outage, it may not be able to produce products, which could disrupt the supply chain for other businesses that rely on those products. Similarly, if a hospital loses power, it may not be able to provide critical care, putting patients’ lives at risk. The financial losses caused by power outages can also be significant. A power outage can result in lost revenue, increased operating costs, and reduced profitability for businesses that rely on power to produce and sell goods. In extreme cases, power outages can even lead to bankruptcy or closure of the business.

The Changing Landscape of Power Generation and Distribution

The current state of power generation and distribution in the world is a mix of different energy sources and the infrastructure that supports them. Coal, natural gas, nuclear, hydroelectric, and renewable sources such as solar and wind all contribute to the global energy mix. However, the infrastructure supporting power generation and distribution is aging, which presents significant challenges to the industry. Many power plants and transmission lines were built decades ago and are reaching the end of their useful life. The cost of upgrading or replacing this infrastructure is substantial, and the investment required can deter some utility companies.

Cybersecurity threats are another major challenge for the power industry. Power generation and distribution systems are becoming increasingly digitized and connected, which makes them vulnerable to cyberattacks. A successful attack on a power grid could have catastrophic consequences, including power outages and system failures that could impact entire regions or even countries.

Natural disasters such as hurricanes, earthquakes, and wildfires are also a challenge for power generation and distribution. These events can damage power plants and fuel supplies. When natural disasters strike, the impact on power availability can be severe, and recovery can be slow. A power outage can disrupt supply chains, damage equipment, and lead to lost productivity. It can damage a company’s reputation and lead to lost revenue, and in extreme cases, power outages can threaten public safety.

The Importance of Power Protection and Backup Solutions

Given the significant financial losses and reputational damage that can result from power outages, businesses must have power protection and backup solutions in place. These solutions can help ensure continuity in the face of power disruptions and enable businesses to maintain their operations and minimize losses. One of the most common types of power protection and backup solutions is a backup generator. Backup generators are designed to provide power automatically when a power outage occurs. Backup generators are often used by businesses that need to maintain power for critical operational systems like hospitals or manufacturing plants. In addition to backup power solutions, businesses can also invest in technology to ensure internet connection during power outages.

A technology solution like Agility’s on-demand technology can provide businesses with backup resources and an internet connection that does not rely on a traditional wired connection. This can help businesses maintain their operations and communication channels even when the power is out. Overall, power protection and backup solutions are critical for businesses to ensure continuity in the face of power outages. These solutions can minimize the risk of financial losses and reputational damage and help businesses maintain their operations during challenging times.

Recommendations to Mitigate Damages from Power Loss

Power loss poses one of the greatest threats to business continuity in 2023. Businesses have become increasingly reliant on power to run their operations, and a power outage can cause significant financial losses and reputational damage. With challenges facing the power industry, including the aging infrastructure, cybersecurity threats, and natural disasters, it is critical to be prepared for an extended outage. To mitigate the risk of power outages, businesses should invest in power protection and backup solutions. Solutions, such as backup generators, mobile workspace, and cellular failover technology, can help ensure continuity in the face of power disruptions.

We recommend that businesses test their backup power plan and equipment regularly, prioritize recovery for mission-critical operations, develop alternative continuity strategies for remote functions, and secure assured vendor support prior to an interruption. Creating diversified access to resources when possible will help businesses avoid both supply chain and infrastructure-related delays and ensure all vendor contracts meet their current RTO. By implementing these recommendations, businesses can improve their resilience to power outages and minimize the risk of financial losses and reputational damage. In this age of increasing power disruption, it is critical for businesses to be prepared and take proactive measures to ensure their continuity in the face of power loss.

As we’ve seen, natural disasters and climate-related interruptions are on the rise nationwide. However, at Agility, we’ve noticed a shift in our customers needing our assistance in the last quarter that we wanted to share.

As we talk through the trends we’re seeing, here are two helpful terms to know: Alert : When a customer goes on alert status, they are letting Agility know that they may need our services. Perhaps there is a storm that may affect their region. Declare : When a customer moves from alert to declare status, they are activating their coverage and requesting immediate assistance with equipment and/or services they have contracted with Agility. Historically, Texas and Louisiana see the highest number of declares in the second quarter of the year. This isn’t surprising, given things like early-season hurricanes and heat-related power outages. Power needs are usually the main driver of these declares. However, the second quarter of 2022 was markedly different – and the busiest second quarter on record for Agility, with declares up 113% versus the second quarter of 2021. In just the first half of 2022, we saw 14 states with customers declaring; for comparison, in all of 2021, customers in 25 states activated coverage. Comparing Q2 2022 to Q2 2021, Texas customer declares were down 57% , and Louisiana customer declares were down 80% . Rather than only declaring for power needs, these states saw rises in declares around technology, space , and connectivity. The increase in natural disasters across the Midwest has affected declare locations and types. For example, in just the last year and a half, we’ve seen 12 times more declares than in the preceding seven years in Kentucky, mostly related to the tornadoes that tore through the state last winter. Half of the declares were related to power, and the other half were related to network concerns. We also see new trends in conversion rates. In the 10 years previous, the likelihood of an alert turning into a declare was 20%. In the past year, alerts converted to declares nearly 50% of the time – showing us that if a customer goes on alert status, they are highly likely to need our assistance. Finally, in the past, the main driver of customer declares has been power needs (generators, electricians, etc.), but now, many more customers have needs around network connectivity and IT assets . We have seen declares in this space from both network outages impacting employees in a work-from-anywhere configuration as well as office declares resulting from ransomware attacks in which the customer requested servers. As always, Agility is ready to spring into action to serve our customers. We keep a close eye on major events that may impact our customers’ regions, but there has been a shift in where these services are needed at different times of the year. We will continue to watch these shifts in needs and interruption types and ensure your business is taken care of and resilient.

The summer season doesn’t always promise nonchalant days filled with sunny afternoons and fun outdoor festivities. It’s easy to forget about triple-digit temperatures, whipping thunderstorms, wildfires, and other severe summer threats. During the summer months, Mother Nature can surprise your critical business systems by unleashing myriad summer weather business threats between the end of the school year and Labor Day. As the hurricane season is already underway, along with some wildfires happening across the country, there’s hope for us to catch a breath. Let’s take a look at summer’s greatest perils.

Hurricanes

Recent hurricane seasons have been above average, creating widespread damage and loss of life. This image below from AccuWeather shows the average track density for tropical systems in the Atlantic between 1988 and 2018.

This tropical track density map was developed by evaluation of analog years, which are previous years that have weather patterns similar to current and projected weather patterns. Analog years are typically used to predict possible impacts during a hurricane season. Scientists also contend that climate change is expected to lead to stronger, wetter hurricanes (New York Times) overall. It has also made them more destructive. Because global sea levels have risen, hurricanes create storm surges that go further inland, flooding homes and businesses.

Thunderstorms

A thunderstorm is a rain shower accompanied by thunder and lightning. A thunderstorm is assigned a severe category when it contains hail one inch or bigger, winds excessing 57.5 mph, or a tornado. Below is an example of a thunderstorm outlook from NOAA.

There are about 100,000 thunderstorms each year in the U.S. alone, with roughly 2,000 of them in progress (NOAA). About 10% of these reach severe levels.

Many threats are associated with thunderstorms. Under certain conditions, rainfall from thunderstorms causes flash flooding, killing more people each year than hurricanes, tornadoes, or lightning. Lightning causes fires around the world each year, resulting in fatalities. Hail up to the size of softballs damages buildings. Wind gusts up to more than 120 mph knock down trees, power lines, and mobile homes. And tornadoes can destroy anything on their path. We’ve developed a comprehensive checklist for tornado preparedness to help your organization get prepared. Download it and distribute across your teams.

Flooding

While the risk of flood damage varies from property to property, unexpected floods can happen anytime, anywhere. Summertime’s plethora of wild weather — including hurricanes, thunderstorms, and monsoons — makes the season susceptible to floods. Flooding is a temporary overflow of water onto land that is typically dry. Failing to evacuate flooded areas, entering flood waters, or remaining after a flood has passed can be deadly. Floods may:

• Be a result of rain, snow, coastal storms, storm surges, and overflows of dams.
• Develop slowly or quickly, with flash floods occurring with no warning.
• Cause outages, obstruct transportation, damage buildings, and create landslides.

Most companies can save between 20% and 90% on the cost of stock and portable equipment by taking action to prepare in advance of flooding. Our flood guide and flood checklist will help mitigate your organization’s risk and protect your assets, revenue, and, most importantly, your people.

Monsoons

Monsoons occur during the summer and can be defined as a regional atmospheric circulation pattern that brings humidity to areas that otherwise are typically dry. The large-scale shifts in wind direction bring massive, daily thunderstorms to regions that stay dry seven or eight months a year. North America’s monsoon season officially kicks off by the end of June, beginning in New Mexico and Arizona, affecting western Texas, southern Utah, Colorado, and southern Nevada.

Wildfires

A wildfire season typically aligns with times when there’s an excess of dry fuels, winds and temperatures are above average, and humidity is low, which creates hot, dry conditions. However, experts believe the new pattern for wildfires is emerging,  erasing the typical wildfire season timeline. As wildfires become costlier each year, they happen more frequently. Overall, there were 8,619 wildfires in 2021, consuming almost 2.6 million acres (NOAA). Based on scientific data, most of them are caused by humans.

Extreme Heat

Even a single power outage event can have a significant and lasting effect on revenue, productivity, capacity, and labor. On average, 70% of Agility customers’ business interruptions involve a power outage . As a result, a company can no longer provide services to its customer, leading to extensive losses. Annually, businesses lose more than $27 billion due to power outages. Power outages are widespread during hot summer days, taking down different appliances and triggering a domino effect that occurs on the heat-sensitive power grid. Air-conditioners turned up to the max contribute significantly to the cause, overloading transmission lines which have limited capacity. Additionally, their ability to transport power decreases even more when during the summer season. The problem is intensified because the lines naturally heat up when carrying a lot of power. When one line shuts down, others have to pick up the load, leading them to go through the same cycle. As the lines struggle to carry additional power, they can no longer keep voltages at their intended level. These declining voltage levels can subsequently cause lights to dim and equipment to operate at speeds that cause excessive wear and tear on components.

Did you know that the United States experiences the most power outages ? Compared to other developed nations, the U.S. experiences more extensive and severe power outages that can leave people without electricity for an average of four hours; many of these outages result from severe spring weather. Power outages aren't the only impact spring can have on the weather. High risks for flooding and storm damage can harm your business, consumers, and employees. How can you prepare for severe weather this spring? We have put together a complete guide on how you can start prepping now for upcoming weather, so keep reading for more information!

How Severe Weather Affects Businesses

Business continuity starts with expecting the unexpected. Weather can drastically impede how your business functions and, in return, how it performs. Here are a few ways that severe weather hurts your business :

• – Customer habits
• – Prices
• – Employee performance
• – Property

Customers change their habits based on the weather, and you should closely analyze how your business does quarterly for a better idea of how weather plays a role. You might notice an increase in consumer traffic or purchases during certain months, which can affect your staffing and business operations. Price fluctuations and weather can go hand-in-hand. For example, poor weather or winter months can increase oil demand and prices, and agricultural businesses rely heavily on weather patterns that affect crop yield. Employee performance can also tie into the weather since bad weather could affect an employee's ability to get to work or finish a project promptly. Luckily, remote work has helped lessen the effects of poor work performance if your business can adopt flexibility. Lastly, storm damage can directly result in business property damage. Your business's property includes both IT and physical property. Storms can cause power outages and lost data, which is critical for companies requiring 24/7 online support. When your house loses power, you can sit back, light some candles, and enjoy each other's company. With your business, even hours of being down can result in significant losses in revenue.

Spring Predictions

On March 20th, the shift into spring officially begins. What can you expect for spring weather this year? For many, spring weather isn't necessarily something to look forward to when trying to keep a business flourishing. In Southern and Western states and parts of the Midwest, we can expect higher than average rainfall, increasing the chances of flooding . Warmer-than-average weather can draw more people outside and increase online or in-person traffic to your business. Start preparing now for flood and storm damage by ensuring that you have a business continuity plan in place.

Physical Recovery

Physical recovery is relatively straightforward and can help your business recover from power outages, natural disasters, and more. Approximately 40% of businesses who experience power outages never reopen, so don't let that be you! If your business is physically compromised, you have a few options:

• – Backup tech equipment
• – Office space
• – Backup generators
• – Maintaining networks

Spring weather can act similar to the hurricane season with unrelenting winds, rain, and floods. Be sure your business is ready by checking in on these five key business points:

• – Employees and customers
• – Property
• – Processes
• – Products
• – Partners

Ensure your property is physically secure and that your files are safely backed up . Confirm continuity plans and emergency action with your partners and employees so that everyone is on the same page. Lastly, keep tabs on your products and manage customer expectations when preparing for storms this spring.

Remote Work

A business continuity plan can include remote work or options to work from other offices. Look for products like ReadyTechGo technology , which provides:

• – 40 hours of battery life
• – Cellular connectivity
• – WiFi set-up
• – 24/7 technical support
• – Portability (e.g., water-resistant, lightweight)
• – Flexible shipping

It's the ultimate emergency tool to have on hand that can keep your business up and running this spring, useful for critical workers or accessing necessary business documents.

Data Recovery Importance

What is the importance of quick data recovery ? Backing up your data in a cloud or through other means ensures your business is back online within hours versus days or weeks. Small- to medium-sized businesses can benefit from the added cost of data recovery services since minor hiccups can lead to permanent shutdowns or loss of revenue.

Keep Your Business Running This Spring

Is your business ready this spring? Spring weather can bring flooding and storm damage to your business. Not only can you physically not make it into work, but you could experience downed power lines and data crashes. Luckily, you have plenty of time to start developing emergency plans for your business that help you tackle any problem thrown your way. For business continuity testing and recovery solutions, contact us today and let Agility Recovery help you get started.

Whether or not your business has been impacted by power loss in the past, preparing for fast power restoration is an absolute foundation in business sustainability. On average, losing power for just four hours costs an organization between $10,000 to $20,000 , so the question is no longer whether companies can afford planning and recovery, but instead, how much will a business save by investing in a comprehensive business continuity plan that includes power restoration support? Your company’s safety, productivity, and revenue should never be left vulnerable to power loss. An effective power recovery plan includes strategies to address many contingencies. To do this, planners must avoid outdated power recovery myths and consider these critical facts:

Myth #1: Local vendors will be able to assist in the event of a major outage.

Fact: Without a formal agreement that includes guaranteed access to generators, fuel, and connection services, local vendors may allocate their inventory to larger organizations. We recently supported a small business that believed their agreement with a local provider was all they needed to secure a backup power solution. Unfortunately, as storms took out critical lines throughout their community, the provider was approached by a larger corporation that needed all available generator inventory to support its various locations. Because the small business lacked buying power compared to their enterprise-sized competition, the vendor canceled their agreement with the small business to serve a larger customer with a bigger budget. Fortunately, Agility was able to step in and quickly source, service, and connect a generator for this small business. Otherwise, the vendor’s questionable business practices could have meant a critical loss of revenue and reputation for the small business. While it may seem safe to assume that what you need will be available when you need it, unpredictable storm seasons, supply chain issues, and inflated demand lead to severe resource scarcity and price gouging. When local availability is compromised, this could cost you days, weeks – or even longer – of downtime. If we’ve learned anything from disasters like Hurricanes Harvey and Ida, 9/11, and the initial panic of the COVID pandemic, local fuel scarcity can cause incredible delays and increases in the cost of recovery. Unless you manage a large fuel storage unit on site, your power recovery plan must include quick access to the kind of fuel you need to operate your business’s gasoline- and diesel-dependent equipment. Lesson: While Agility guarantees rapid deployment of power recovery assets to all contracted customers, many providers do not offer this promise. Be sure to get your power recovery agreement in writing and review contracts for clauses that allow vendors to prioritize larger customers. When securing power recovery assets, be sure to include a plan for quick delivery of fuel to keep your generators , vehicles, and other equipment operational.

Myth: Buying our own generator will provide our company with the best value and fastest power recovery.

Fact: The initial investment you make in a generator is just that – initial. Cost over time will only increase as the reliability of your unit inevitably decreases. The investment made when a generator is purchased is only the beginning. Several factors significantly increase the total cost of a backup generator over time, including:

• Delivery and connection fees
• Ongoing maintenance
• Storage
• Training and testing
• Fuel
• Repairs

Even regularly serviced generators and other power recovery resources are vulnerable to damage caused by severe storms and other natural disasters. If your power restoration plan is entirely dependent on an on-site generator, you need to ensure that you have a reliable backup plan for your backup plan. Lesson: Purchasing one or more backup generators may seem like an easy, cost-effective solution, but power equipment requires regular maintenance, servicing, and fuel, which could drive costs up year-over-year compared to securing power recovery services with fixed, pre-negotiated rates. And when an unexpected storm or disaster causes a major outage, there’s no guarantee that on-site generators and fuel won’t be impacted, too. An effective power restoration plan accounts for these contingencies and includes assured alternative access to generators, fuel, and licensed electrical support.

Myth: Storm-related outages haven’t impacted our business before, so we don’t need to invest in a power recovery plan.

Fact: Historically, storm-prone regions are no longer the only parts of North America where storms cause significant power outages. In addition to storm-related outages, non-weather-related power loss is also rising. In recent years, some of the most damaging storms have been completely unseasonable and largely unpredictable. Lack of preparedness for these events – including the 2021 Texas ice storm – has resulted in critical community damage, economic loss, and permanent business closures. The United States’ aging power grid means that storm-related power outages are more of a threat to all regions and that non-weather-related outages are a growing threat every business should be prepared for. Common non-weather power outages are caused by various disruptions, including vehicles/accidents, animals, vandalism, trees, cyberattacks , and planned outages . Combined with a power grid in desperate need of an overhaul, these events are linked to more frequent, longer-lasting outages . Lesson: Unseasonable and unpredictable storms will increase in regions not traditionally impacted by severe weather. As the threat of non-weather-related outages grows across North America, businesses everywhere are vulnerable to revenue and productivity impacts caused by power loss. An effective recovery plan with services that include access to generators, fuel, connection, and testing will return thousands over the program’s cost after only one power-loss event.

While most of us are used to the idea of reliable constant electrical energy, the reality is that it can be one tenuous string. In many parts of the country, storms, deep freezes, snow, and other natural disasters can rapidly cut regional electricity for hours or even days. Furthermore, even if your business is located in a reasonably weather-stable area, there’s always the possibility of freak accidents, human error, or planned outages. The reality is that there’s no way to be sure about the constant reliability of any externally derived electrical source. For businesses and organizations of many kinds, a loss of electricity can be catastrophic, even if it lasts for just a few minutes; a multi-day electrical shortage can cause financial, data, and logistical effects on any organization. Just how costly can these events be? Research estimates indicate that power outages cost U.S businesses more than $27 billion per year, and the cost trend is growing upwards, not downwards. You need to protect yourself and maintain business continuity, and the one surefire way to do that is by maintaining your own internal backup power supply, ideally, one that’s capable of keeping the lights on and your systems running for several days or longer if needed. This guide explains the five crucial things you need to consider for achieving just this sort of secure redundancy.

Maintain a Robust Portable Generator

Depending on the size of your business installations and power needs, your quickest, best, and most useful source of emergency electrical power will be a compact portable generator that you keep on standby. These can be bought in almost any hardware store, and larger, truck-mounted models are capable of supplying electricity for days. The critical thing to keep in mind for these generators is to buy and have them ready before the next power outage occurs. Once disaster strikes, retailers tend to run out of items like generators of any kind rapidly (as we saw during recent hurricanes and wildfires), and even fuel can rapidly become scarce. For these reasons, you should have your portable generator ready well in advance, have it inspected regularly, and always keep it fully fueled, or contract with a company that guarantees this preparation.

Maintain Long-Term Standby Generators

While portable generators are a rapid and often highly affordable solution to power outages, they’re far from appropriate for all situations or power needs. Furthermore, many of them require you to plug equipment directly into them and turn them on manually. All of these measures will take time and can cause unexpected problems. A standby generator is an even more robust solution for emergency power. These power systems work much like portable generators but do so on a larger scale. They’re also crucially different in that they’re installed directly into your organization’s internal electrical system so that they can kick into gear as soon as the power goes out. Standby generators tend to be much costlier to buy, install, maintain and often require permits for their specialized installation, which is why we recommend partnering with a company that takes care of this for you and minimizes the chances of a supply shortage. With all that in mind, if your business needs genuinely robust, long-lasting emergency electricity, these devices are an extremely effective option.

Ensure Uninterruptible Power Supplies (UPS)

Even with the best standby generators waiting to kick into gear automatically, most grid power failures will mean at least a few seconds or minutes of zero electricity for your facilities and equipment. This isn’t a problem for many businesses, but if you have time-critical computer systems running, even a single moment of electrical loss can mean enormously costly data losses. There are also susceptible electronic devices running in some facilities, which cannot be suddenly shut down without the risk of damage. For these contexts, you should also invest in what are called Uninterruptible Power Supplies, or UPS devices. These are generally inexpensive and can integrate with your existing emergency power systems to provide those few crucial minutes of continuous electricity when the power grid dies and your alternative power system kicks into life.

Work Towards Long-Term Alternative Power Sources

While generators and continuous power supply systems are superbly helpful for most business needs, your best bet for secure long-term electrical power will be to switch over to alternative renewable electrical sources if at all possible. By these, we’re referring to systems such as roof-top solar power arrays, wind energy devices on your property, or possibly even other sources of ultra-localized, consistent, and renewable electricity. Your transition to your own renewables doesn’t need to be total. As a middle choice, it’s possible to invest in them for the sake of crucial systems power provision. This way, you’ll have peace of mind knowing that even if the general grid goes down, the most critical part of your electrical needs was never relying on it in the first place. Your own renewable power sources, combined with emergency generators in the case of extreme emergencies, should make your organization all but impervious to even the worst power cuts.

Further Solutions for Reducing the Effects of Power Outages

Ensuring a robust and continuous supply of emergency energy is a powerful tool against disaster in almost any context. Still, there are also ways to lighten your possible harm if your electrical systems fail. Keep some of these tips in mind for achieving this: Minimal perishable inventory: If you’re in a business that involves highly perishable products that are only kept fresh with constant electrical resources, work to keep a reduced inventory that will minimize your losses in the event of an energy cut. External cloud solutions: If your company depends on a heavy dose of software and data storage to function, one solution is to invest heavily in cloud-based data backup and business-data management systems. By having these active in the background at all times, power losses don’t need to become data losses, and you might even be able to rapidly relocate your business functions to a place where electricity still works. You can then reconnect with your cloud provider accounts. Emergency response exercises: When the power goes out, and especially if it does so in the middle of a general emergency, you should have your staff trained on handling all the needed tasks for activating generators, saving data, and saving crucial capital assets or inventory. This means training them beforehand and ensuring that the training has been internalized.

Seek Professional Help and Installation

Setting up a truly robust, professionally installed recovery protocol for power outages can be a complicated task, and choosing to do so yourself can open your organization up to vulnerabilities and high costs. This applies especially if your business is more complex or has unique needs. For these situations and in any context in which you need emergency power sources, calling in professional assistance for your power backup needs is an ideal choice that will save you time, money, and stress. Agility experts can help and have the tools for a robust backup energy system for your business.

Largely as a result of the pandemic, many companies are taking a “work-from-anywhere” approach , allowing their employees to work from home or elsewhere. With this comes a host of challenges, including how to keep critical employees connected and productive in the event of a major disaster. Agility recently surveyed 229 customers representing a mix of business sectors, company sizes, locations, and roles to determine the biggest challenges faced and how companies are solving them.

Biggest Concerns About a Distributed Workforce

Data security , productivity, and internet connectivity were most frequently mentioned as the biggest concerns with a distributed workforce. C-suite respondents, however, were more likely to mention concerns about productivity and company culture. Of those prioritizing connectivity:

• – 27% of customers recognize the importance of ensuring critical employees have internet connectivity and/or a backup power supply
• – 24% have prior experience with storms and the pandemic and report a general sense of wanting to be prepared

Customers from the financial, professional services, and health care sectors were slightly more concerned about data security when employees work remotely, while government organizations are more concerned about internet connectivity for remote workers. Professional services and insurance firms have more significant concerns about a distributed workforce impacting company culture.

At the pandemic’s beginning, spotty internet for several employees was one of our major problems.

Professional Services Firm, TN

Using Work From Home as Part of a Recovery Strategy

Using a work-from-home strategy during a recovery when a disaster impacts access to an office building or workspace is more accessible after many organizations used this approach during the pandemic, with 83% of respondents reporting it as part of their ongoing recovery plans. More than 90% of professional services, insurance, and health care companies currently plan to have their employees work from home in the event of a major disaster that results in the loss of access to their workspace.

Return to Office Plans

The majority of companies (60%) are planning a hybrid return to office after the pandemic. Only 29% of respondents reported requiring employees to return to the office full time. Financial and government sector customers are slightly more likely to require employees to be in the office full time.

Disruptions When Employees Work From Home

When asked how organizations would address critical employees’ access to power and internet in the event of a major disaster when working from home, they gave a range of open-ended responses, ranging from “Unsure” to in-depth recovery plans.

If the power is out for everyone and there's a major disaster that wouldn't allow us to operate in our buildings, I'm not sure how we'd be able to function.

Education, CO

Some customers indicated that they had thought about meeting critical employees' needs remotely in the event of a disaster, but in truth, few have created detailed plans that would address remote workers' needs. Most plans involve employees working from alternative sites that have power; only about 25% who claimed to have thought about addressing employees' basic needs while working from home actually had viable plans in place.

Most Common Plans

• 48%: Employees would go to an alternate site with power/connectivity, such as the main office (with a backup generator or recovering with the help of Agility Recovery)
• 25%: Detailed plan with contingencies; critical employees’ possible needs have been addressed
• 20%: No clear plan or unknown, often relying on employees to find their own solutions
• 7%: Case-by-case basis; already have it figured out because of the pandemic

A Work-From-Anywhere Solution

When the "office" can truly be anywhere, it's essential to have plans in place to support employees and help them maintain connectivity and productivity. Customers ranked the top five requirements for a work-from-anywhere product:

1. – Unlimited high-speed internet access
2. – Backup power supply and charging mechanism for personal computer, phone, and other devices
3. – An enterprise-grade backup network connection
4. – Personal preparedness app to assist employees or individuals with survival tips in the event of a disruption
5. – Continuous monitoring and support, offered as a managed service

We listened to these concerns, and created a product to address all of these priorities: Agility ReadyTechGo , a lightweight, waterproof, rugged, work-from-anywhere product to keep critical employees connected, no matter what.

COVID-19 has forever changed the way we work. As organizations quickly transitioned to remote work models, they gradually adopted systems to retain employees and keep their businesses running. HR professionals are now tasked with maintaining continuous communication across a dispersed workforce, demanding careful planning and preparation. Human resources (HR) leaders have been forced to rethink and reorganize their office environments for a post-COVID-19 world. Most important is the strategy involved in reevaluating how work gets done, including the evolution of the workforce. Organizations that carefully plan and develop remote work strategies based on trust and transparency can increase their employees’ engagement and loyalty, which will, in turn, benefit their business. This article explores critical business continuity trends and tips for HR leaders in a remote work environment.

Business continuity trends for HR leaders in 2021 and beyond

The pandemic has created a new business climate focused on remote work. As a result, organizations have had to review and update their business programs. To ensure business continuity, HR leaders must be prepared to manage several critical phases of any crisis simultaneously: preparation, response, recovery, and resilience—and do so seamlessly despite much of their workforce being offsite.

Trend #1: Flexible and adaptive planning

An ongoing trend toward flexible and adaptive planning has continued to increase. As the traditional office workforce moved to a more distributed labor model, HR management processes evolved to align with remote work adjustments. HR leaders have had to adapt quickly to meet the challenges of a remote workforce. For example, the sudden shift from the traditional office environment to working from home created employee morale and engagement challenges. In addition, distributed workforces without proper security protocols created new vulnerabilities for employers and increased opportunities for cyberattacks.

Trend #2: Renewed emphasis on employee well-being

The impact of the recent pandemic presents many challenges for both business managers and HR professionals. Employees who are worried about their health or job stability are less productive. But HR managers can help alleviate employees’ anxiety . Such challenges present opportunities for businesses to think about how they effectively communicate with their teams, maintain the security and sustainability of remote operations, and sharpen their enterprise focus on health and well-being.

Trend #3: Testing to prepare for any disruption

Simultaneous business disruptions are on the rise—including the pandemic and numerous other outside factors. An increased focus on risk management, regulation, and compliance has pushed organizations in regulated industries to revise their business plans to avoid penalties and fines. To create a company-wide culture of preparedness and threat resilience, organizations must establish a unified business continuity testing strategy that HR leaders communicate to all employees. Conducting tests based on simultaneous threat scenarios is a definitive way to prepare your workforce and business operations for the unexpected. In addition, such testing reassures your employees that you are ready for any challenge.

Trend #4: Timely and effective incident management and crisis communication

The COVID-19 pandemic has helped illustrate the importance of an effective incident management and communication strategy. A good plan will still fail if you can't communicate through the process. HR leaders in organizations of all sizes must evaluate, plan, and execute multiple methods to communicate with employees about a disaster situation. When traditional voice communications and telecommunications are impaired, consider alternative systems such as emergency notification software so that everyone has access to the latest information.

Tips for managing and motivating a distributed workforce

Most organizations have transitioned to at least some remote work. While many people believe that employees prefer to work remotely, some members of your team might be struggling. In fact, more than seven out of 10 employers have struggled with this transition. And when researchers measured what motivates employees, they found that those forced to work from home were the least motivated . People with home offices spend more hours working in them than intended, but the home office environment can impact the quality of their work . If your organization plans to maintain a work-from-home structure, even part time, the HR team should work closely with remote employees to ensure their success. To help employees stay engaged and productive, HR leaders must consider employees’ overall well-being, both physical and psychological:

1. Be empathetic

As you maneuver the challenges of managing a remote workforce, remember to be patient. Everyone is working in a different environment and faces their own challenges. Online communication may not always convey a person's intended tone. Be aware of how a recipient might interpret an electronic message. Trust your teams, and help the company's leadership shift its focus from just meeting deadlines to delivering quality work.

2. Establish a schedule and set expectations

To maintain momentum, it’s important to set boundaries, such as work hours and breaks, as well as communicate team expectations. Decide how often you need to communicate with various teams and individual employees. Encourage the use of software that tracks progress and sends project updates, which can add transparency to cross-departmental processes. Remind employees to take time off to recharge and decompress so they don’t burn out.

3. Stay connected

Working remotely can lead to feelings of isolation or a lack of connection between team members. As Gallup research noted , isolation under normal circumstances can decrease work efficiency by 21%. The pandemic has undoubtedly increased this percentage. HR leaders should encourage managers to check in on team members, conduct virtual meetings, and publicly acknowledge employees’ efforts to deliver projects. Another aspect of staying connected is making sure that your team can indeed maintain an internet connection and power. Have you considered how a major weather event could impact work-from-home employees? Consider investing in hotspots and generators, or products like Agility ReadyTechGo , for critical employees to stay online and powered up, no matter where they are.

4. Lead by example

The HR team should demonstrate a commitment to the success of working remotely. Use the same tools to interact and share work progress within the HR team, and don't hesitate to turn on your video when chatting with employees.

5. Update roles and responsibilities

Whether due to layoffs or challenges of working remotely, some team members may have taken on more responsibilities. HR specialists can help team leaders review, update, and clarify the responsibilities of every role in the team, along with the team's objectives.

6. Ask for feedback and celebrate success

Be available to receive various teams’ perspectives to find new and improved ways to accomplish business goals. During check-ins, discuss which processes are working well and ask for suggestions on what to improve while teams are working remotely.

7. Be agile and flexible

Newly remote workforces are sure to encounter challenges that your HR team hasn’t dealt with before. Be ready to adjust to ever-changing circumstances and the inevitability of the unexpected while keeping business continuity in mind.

Communicating with a distributed workforce

Many business leaders have struggled with the concept of staying in touch when their employees are not physically in the office. With so many employees now working remotely, it's more important than ever to be able to easily communicate with them on any device—no matter where they are located. Establishing and deploying a comprehensive communications plan builds employees’ trust and increases their motivation and productivity. For example, monitoring and communicating federal, state, and local updates and guidelines as the COVID-19 pandemic evolves is part of such a plan. Updating workers on the latest company guidelines and protocols can help alleviate employee confusion and anxiety. With the right resources, HR leaders can keep the workforce up to date on any changes made to the company's business and emergency preparedness training. Platforms like Agility Central offer centralized access to a shared library of various resources and educational training for everyone on the team. Emergency notification tools can send a check-in note as a text message or an email to a specific group of people based on their department or location. These tools allow companies to target communications by geo-fencing, ensuring that the appropriate employees receive the necessary information. Maintaining timely and transparent communication with employees is integral to a successful remote work environment.

In conclusion

The COVID-19 pandemic is just one of many disruptors. Business risks and threats are continually increasing and evolving, making business continuity a top priority for organizations. HR management processes must adapt quickly, especially to meet the ever-present challenges of a remote workforce. Business leaders and especially HR professionals must establish and maintain continuous communication across the organization to ensure resilience.

Remote work or working from anywhere (WFA) has become increasingly popular in recent years. The coronavirus pandemic has forced many organizations to implement work-from-anywhere or work-from-home programs as a public health measure. To get the best out of implementing a WFA program, you need to do it right. This article looks at some of the challenges organizations face about WFA and what steps they can take to implement WFA effectively.

Work From Anywhere Can Strain the Company

Research suggests that allowing employees to work from anywhere enables companies to attract top talent, enhance morale, and save money. However, there are several cases where WFA can strain the company’s operational efficiency. Employers may fail to provide remote workers with the resources and training they need to be productive as they work from anywhere. Likewise, supervisors may lack adequate training on how to manage remote workers. Remote workers may not know how to set up a video call. Or they may not know the best way to indicate that they should not be disturbed because they are in a meeting. In many cases, employers yield to their workers’ demand to work from anywhere, only to later discontinue the remote work option when productivity takes a severe hit because employees and managers lack training and resources.

Power Backup Requirements

One of the biggest challenges remote workers can face is power outages. When your remote workers experience a power outage, all they have to rely on is their computer’s battery life; on average, laptop batteries last only about 4 hours. Events such as a downed powerline or severe weather conditions may cause power outages that may last hours or even days. You need to equip your remote workers with backup power solutions to prevent power outages from severely disrupting your operations. These options include:

• A gasoline-powered emergency generator for the entire home
• A UPS battery backup for the router, desktop computer, and other remote worker accessories
• A portable backup power station to charge laptops and phones several times
• A dedicated portable laptop charger
• A smartphone power bank
• A USB hub to transform a single port into multiple outlets for smartphones, USB sticks, webcam, microphones, and more

Providing your remote workers with one or more of these backup power solutions keeps their workspaces operational during power failures.

Cellular and Wi-Fi Access

Cellular and internet connectivity are essential to working from anywhere. Connectivity is one of the top concerns of remote employees as the reliability of their connection directly impacts their ability to collaborate with their colleagues effectively. You need to ensure your remote workers have a fast, reliable internet connection, even if their home internet goes down. Another important connectivity issue you need to address is cybersecurity. A WFA program increases the cybersecurity threats your business faces, so you need to implement measures to ensure they can work flexibly and autonomously without compromising your company’s security. Nurture an organizational culture in the attitudes and behaviors of your remote workers to minimize the company’s exposure to cybersecurity risks. Train your employees to prevent and respond to common cyberattacks such as phishing and malware. Keep your security policies up to date. Numerous apps have emerged to facilitate WFA. However, the use of insecure apps presents a significant cybersecurity risk. Ensure your remote workers use only approved apps and implement a patch policy that all approved apps are up to date across devices. Consider using a cloud access security broker (CASB) to execute your security policy. WFA means that devices will access your network remotely. Encourage your remote workers always to lock their screens when they leave their devices unattended, especially in public places. Ensure their devices are appropriately configured to encrypt data while in rest mode.

Durable, Waterproof, Lightweight Hardware and Accessories

Most employees who are new to working from anywhere don’t have well-equipped home offices. Besides backup power and fast, reliable, and secure connectivity, your remote workers need various hardware to achieve sustainable productivity. Here are a few other things they may need.

• Hotspots
• External battery backups
• Furniture
• Computer monitors
• Monitor mounts
• Laptop stands
• AC adapters
• USB cables and adapters
• Computer speakers
• Headphones
• Microphones and webcams

A suitable desk is essential to a remote workplace. Standing desks, in particular, have become popular as they offer the health benefits of limiting the number of hours spent sitting. Your remote employees also need a durable, ergonomic chair to accompany the desk. Other accessories such as monitors and monitor mounts may become necessary, especially for employees who do work that requires sizable screen space. When an employee shifts from working in the office to remote work, it may be necessary to meet to determine all the resources they’ll need to operate at peak performance.

Remote Access and Tech Support

Your employees who work from anywhere must be able to access the data and content they need quickly. Numerous technologies are available to help your remote workers log into your company network from their devices away from the office. For example, many organizations rely on desktop-as-a-service (DaaS) to deliver company desktops to employees using internet-enabled devices. Instead of using DaaS solutions, you may prefer to use a solution that provides single virtual applications, session-based desktops, or published applications. You need fast, reliable connectivity for whichever type of solution you choose.

Careful Planning and Investment

As you can see from the sections above, a lot goes into successfully implementing a work from anywhere program in which some, or all, of your employees work remotely. It requires careful planning and investment to ensure your remote workers have all the training and resources they need to be as productive away from the office as they were when in the office. Agility ReadyTechGo is the solution for the new work-from-anywhere world, combining cellular connectivity, one-touch Wi-Fi setup, live support, and power. Contact us to get started today.