Case Study: Building Resilience for a Rapidly Growing E-commerce Leader in Romania
Client
Pioneer on e-commerce industry in Romania experiencing rapid business growth within a short timeframe.
Challenge
The dynamic nature of e-commerce presents unique challenges for business continuity planning (BCP). Our client needed a robust BCP to address potential disruptions such as:
Disaster recovery: Natural disasters or infrastructure failures could cripple online operations.
Cybersecurity threats: Data breaches and cyberattacks pose a constant risk to customer information and business systems.
Supply chain disruptions: Inventory shortages or logistical problems can negatively impact customer fulfillment.
Solution
We partnered with the client to develop a comprehensive BCP, ensuring their business remains resilient in the face of disruption. Using a typical framework approach, as depicted below, we used an extensive series of workshops and interviews to provide a tailor-made approach to our client.
Our solution included:
In-depth Business Impact Analysis (BIA): We conducted a thorough BIA to identify critical business functions (CBFs) and their acceptable downtime tolerance. This analysis determined the maximum amount of time each function could be offline without causing significant financial losses or reputational damage. We also evaluated the impact of relevant risks (e.g., cyberattacks, power outages) on business operations and continuity.
Tailored Emergency Response Plan: Designed an emergency response plan outlining specific actions to be taken during a disruption. This plan included:
Clear Communication Protocols: Established procedures for notifying stakeholders (employees, customers, partners) about the disruption and its impact.
IT Infrastructure Restoration: Defined steps for restoring critical IT infrastructure, applications, and data in the event of an outage.
Supply Chain Contingency Plans: Developed strategies to mitigate disruptions in the supply chain, such as maintaining backup inventory or establishing alternative sourcing arrangements.
Empowered Emergency Response Team: Established an emergency response team with clearly defined roles and responsibilities. This team is responsible for executing the BCP during a disruptive event and ensuring effective communication and coordination.
Financial Preparedness: Assisted the client in preparing a budget to maintain adequate financial reserves for covering expenses during periods of disruption. This ensures the company can weather the storm and resume normal operations swiftly.
Regular Testing & Review: Scheduled regular BCP tests to evaluate its effectiveness and identify areas for improvement.
Additionally, we defined a timeline for conducting periodic reviews and audits of the BCP to ensure it remains relevant and adaptable to evolving threats and business needs.
Impact
By implementing a robust BCP, the client achieved several key benefits:
Reduced Risk: The BCP mitigates the potential impact of disruptions, minimizing financial losses and reputational damage.
Enhanced Resilience: The company is now better equipped to respond to and recover from unexpected events.
Improved Business Continuity: The BCP ensures critical business functions can be restored quickly, minimizing downtime and maintaining customer satisfaction.
Long-Term Sustainability: By proactively addressing potential disruptions, the BCP helps the client achieve long-term stability and growth in a competitive market.
Ongoing Support
We maintain our status as a reliable client partner by actively engaging in the assessment of BCP test outcomes. Additionally, we contribute to the formalization and implementation of essential updates to associated processes, ensuring the continued effectiveness of the BCP in a dynamic environment.
