Swine Flu Results in Increased Demand for Live Chat Solution
Increasing fears over the swine flu outbreak are leading to a substantial rise in demand for Parker Software's Live Chat Software http://www. whoson. com as a form of contigency for business operators.
(PRWEB) July 29, 2009
Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire (PRWeb) July 27, 2009 -- Increasing fears over the swine flu outbreak are leading to a substantial rise in demand for Parker Software's Live Chat Software WhosOn.
Due to the ever increasing spread of Swine Flu over recent weeks, businesses have been putting contingency plans in place, to ensure they can cope with the pandemic, implementing WhosOn, live chat software, as another medium for customers to make contact with them via their website, is just one step businesses are taking to help keep communication channels open.
Experts have warned the outbreak could cost businesses millions and dash hopes of an economic recovery next year and doctors are warning that rates of infection are reaching epidemic levels and that several million people could become ill with either seasonal flu or swine flu by the end of the year.
More recently it has been suggested to introduce additional measures such as school closures but the wider impact on businesses and other vital services has yet to feature heavily in the media. Businesses however, are beginning to take steps and analyze how Swine Flu could impact on their day-to-day running, those companies that are failing to put emergency plans in place could face serious consequences as day to day operations will inevitably be effected.
Business development manager Ian Rowley said 'We've had an increase in the number of people wanting our Live Chat facility for their website as the software acts as another medium for communication between a business and its existing and potential new customers, rather than just face-to-face or on the phone.
'Our software can already be used on any PC where the client is installed and that has an internet connection so its an ideal fit for companies looking to keep communication channels open. The situation may arise where customers who cannot make contact with existing suppliers, as the impact of Swine Flu deepens, may influence such customers to switch suppliers who offer alternative means of contact.'
More than 400 people have died after being diagnosed with swine flu, although most already had underlying health conditions and last week the number of new cases reached an estimated 100,000.
There are fears that a pandemic could lead to 50 per cent absence rates in the workplace, costing the economy an estimated £50 billion.
A report from Ernst & Young's influential Item Club has warned that if the swine flu outbreak reaches the worst case scenario, it could knock another three per cent off UK output alone this year, leaving the economy facing its worst decline since 1921, A severe outbreak could hit output next year by another 1.7 per cent.
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