Implementing high levels of customer service must be a key strategy for businesses hoping to make it through the economic downturn, according to one expert.

Any organisation that does not properly look after its customers "really will struggle" in the current climate, argues John Dunsmure, managing director of the British Chambers of Commerce.

Furthermore, he advises companies to review their business plans and assess whether or not they should be looking to diversify.

"This is not the time to cut back on your sales and marketing, but to really focus on it," he stresses.

Business continuity in the current climate has been high up the news agenda in recent weeks.

Mark Parker, executive chairman of Talkbiznow.com, has stated that the economic situation is likely to continue to be "tough" for the next year - but added that measures taken by the government and Bank of England could help to engineer a recovery.

He expressed the hope that things could begin to improve towards the end of 2009.

A recent survey for Connect found that one in ten companies has lost important data as a result of a backup failure. The company has now developed a unique online backup service - http://www.connect.co.uk/services/online_backup – for SMEs to ensure they can survive any disaster.