Execulink: 5 Ways KW Businesses can stay connected during the Winter Season

• December 8^th, 2025
• Advocacy, Community

5 Ways Kitchener-Waterloo Businesses Can Stay Connected During the Winter Season

Key Takeaways

• Winter weather in the Waterloo Region can affect staff mobility, customer communication and day-to-day operations.
• Keeping contact information, phone routing and remote access tools updated reduces disruptions.
• Small steps like protecting equipment and sharing clear updates can improve customer experience.
• Preparing ahead helps teams stay productive and reachable during unpredictable conditions.

Winter in Kitchener-Waterloo often brings snow, ice and fast-changing conditions that can impact travel, staff availability and customer expectations. When this happens, businesses rely on strong communication to keep operations moving smoothly.

The good news is that a few practical adjustments can make your business more resilient. By updating your contact information, fine-tuning your phone setup, supporting remote work, protecting key equipment and communicating proactively, you can stay ready for whatever winter brings.

1. Keep your hours and contact information consistent

Winter storms and shifting conditions can affect your schedule. Consistency across platforms helps customers easily find accurate information without having to call.

Make sure your winter hours and contact details match across:

• Your website
• Your Google Business Profile
• Social media channels
• Voicemail and on-hold recordings

Clear and consistent details reduce unnecessary calls and confusion on busy days.

 

2. Tune up your phone setup for seasonal needs

December and January often bring higher call volumes and changing staff availability. A few simple phone-system adjustments can help:

• Update your auto-attendant greeting
• Add a short holiday or weather message
• Turn on voicemail-to-email for quicker follow-ups
• Use overflow rules or team ringing so more than one person can answer calls

These updates make it easier for callers to reach someone who can help, even when your team is juggling higher demand.

 

3. Make remote and flexible work easier

Snow days and icy roads can make commuting difficult. When staff work from home or switch locations, they still need to be reachable and connected to your tools.

Test these basics ahead of time:

• Can staff answer business calls from a laptop or mobile app?
• Do shared files and cloud tools work smoothly offsite?
• Are messaging and email apps syncing across devices?

A short test now can prevent delays and downtime later.

 

4. Protect must-stay-online equipment

Winter storms can cause brief power dips or outages that interrupt your internet and Wi-Fi. Preparing key equipment helps your business avoid unnecessary downtime.

• Use a small battery backup for your modem and router
• Confirm POS systems reconnect smoothly after a disruption
• Check Wi-Fi coverage in your busiest areas

These small precautions support daily operations and reduce interruptions for both customer-facing and back-office teams.

 

5. Communicate proactively during winter changes

Clear communication helps customers and partners plan around weather and schedule changes.

Consider:

• Posting updates early on your website
• Sharing changes on social media
• Using a temporary banner on your homepage
• Sending reminders or confirmations during stormy periods

When customers know what to expect, they can plan their day and trust that your business is prepared.

 

FAQs for Kitchener-Waterloo Businesses

What winter issues cause the most communication problems?
The most common issues are unexpected closures, staff delays, short power interruptions and changing hours. All of these can affect how and when customers reach you.

Should smaller businesses use backup power?
A small battery backup for your modem and router can keep your internet and Wi-Fi online during brief outages. This can be helpful for payment terminals, cloud tools and VoIP phones.

How often should we update our phone greeting?
Update your greeting anytime your hours or availability change for more than a day, especially around holidays or major storms.

What’s the easiest way to keep customers informed in winter?
Update your website, Google Business Profile and voicemail greeting. When all three match, most customers will find accurate information quickly.

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About the Author

Execulink Telecom has been serving Southwestern Ontario for over 120 years. We provide Internet, Phone, Network, TV, and Mobility solutions for local businesses, with support teams based in the communities we serve. Learn more at execulink.ca/business.