Of Hygiene, Transformation and Building Confidence

August 08 , 2020

Publication: ET World

 

Source: https://bit.ly/3kAjCcs

In the current scenario, as lockdowns and restrictions ease and the unlock phase is underway the main challenge for companies is to keep operations running, get business back on track while still minimising the risk to their employees.

 

The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted economies and industries across the world. It has also altered the way companies have been functioning. Employees working from home, reduced employee-strength in office, increased use of digital tools and technology, social distancing, de-congestion of spaces, etc have become the new normal and employers have become extremely concerned about the health and safety of their employees.

In the current scenario, as lockdowns and restrictions ease and the unlock phase is underway the main challenge for companies is to keep operations running, get business back on track while still minimising the risk to their employees.

Being in the logistics sector, our operations have never been shut, as logistics services have been categorised as an essential service. Our warehouses across the country, Container Freight Stations, projects and equipment service sites and other facilities were functional even during the lockdown.

To keep our operations running, we followed strict regulatory and precautionary measures in all our premises. We provided masks, sanitizers, and face-shields as needed to our employees who came to office during that time. We regularly disinfected our offices and carried out mandatory temperature checks for employees as well as visitors.

As we were working with minimum employee strength on-site and in offices, we optimised our systems and processes and leveraged software and digital tools to enable our teams to work remotely from the safety of their homes. We also enhanced the digital efficiency of our operations with e-bill of lading, e-delivery order and e-payment facilities to support our customers better. Our state-of-the-art online platform ECU360, launched in some countries, allowed customers to ship with a click and conduct business 24x7. We’ll continue with these arrangements in the foreseeable future.

Going forward, our priority is to ensure safety of our employees. We plan to continue our operations with 10 per cent capacity or lesser at our office premises. Given the present scenario, we have allowed more than 50 per cent of our employees to continue working from home. Apart from optimising operations digitally, we have adopted an innovative, flexible and most importantly scalable approach to make the return-to-work of our employees safe and hassle-free. A COVID-19 task force comprising of senior leaders from various departments is leading the way with a three-pronged focus on COVID-19 care and safety which includes preventive measures, medical services and facilities in case an employee turns COVID-19 positive as well as arranging for self-isolation and quarantine when necessary.

The logistics ecosystem is essentially an integrated one, as elements like infrastructure, technology, manpower management and on-ground transport systems depend on each other to enhance the delivery model. Therefore, we have set up an effective system so that each of the segments functions without any interruption. Consequently, implementing tech-driven solutions is one of our key focus areas.

Our offices too have been re-engineered to comply with social distancing norms. Re-arrangement of desks, common areas, pathways, etc will not only reduce virus transmission risks in office significantly but also offer employees a sense of safety. De-congesting the workspace is one of our top priorities at the moment. We are also looking at developing ‘touch-free’ workspace facilities wherever possible. We have increased ventilation rates and fresh air exchanges in offices. Signages on the importance of maintaining adequate hand hygiene, social distancing, disinfecting and using masks properly have been put at different locations to create awareness. All our efforts have been directed towards preventing the hand-to-surface-to-hand transmission of the virus. We have also trained our security and housekeeping staff to follow all hygienic measures including sanitising frequently-touched surfaces.

In general, a staggered workforce is becoming a new normal across the world, as employees are working in small groups and their shifts will rotate after certain days. We are also following that norm. This arrangement will reduce the density of the workforce in offices and help to keep our employees safe.

All in all, ensuring safe ‘return-to-work’ for employees is a continuous process across multiple aspects and we continue to address each of them with utmost sincerity, concern and care.

MORE NEWS

ALLCARGO TO GET INTO LAST-MILE DELIVERY; EYES RS 1500CR INCOME.

July 19 , 2017 | CATEGORY : SERVICES

Avashya Foundation undertakes a Tree Plantation drive in Karnataka

July 14 , 2016 | CATEGORY : SERVICES

On March 04, 2017, the Allcargo-Avvashya team defeated the Osian cricket club to win the final of th...

April 19 , 2017 | CATEGORY : SERVICES