It should come as no surprise that Covid-19 has had a dramatic impact on the economy as businesses scramble to adapt to the new normal. One of the biggest shocks has been to the supply chain. In this piece, we will be providing a few helpful ways to keep your supply chain working and your business flourishing in this uncertain time.
China was the first country to experience a direct hit from the then little known Coronavirus. Since the start of 2020, their supply chain experienced multiple disruptions in product availability. A supply chain is only as strong as its weakest link, so elements such as demand shocks and import/export restrictions left more vulnerable companies in a real crisis.
Resilience
Used to describe companies’ go-to plan in times of vulnerability and crisis, resilience refers to the ability a company has in pivoting and sourcing their materials from other places or shifting gears and offering different products based on new demand.
A great example of this is 58 Gin, a London-based Gin brand. Within a short time, they were able to turn their liquor company into a different type of alcohol, hand sanitizer. In a similar fashion, Dyson the famous vacuum makers created thousands of life-saving ventilators, while luxury fashion brands created face masks.
Adaptation
Many brick and mortar stores felt the most impact especially those who depended on in-store sales. Here too the small businesses that could act quickly saved their business and even increased their sales.
This was done by companies that anticipated bulk purchases due to increased demand and fear of shortages and were able to meet the need. Companies that were most successful added shipping and delivery options that otherwise were unavailable.
When small companies faced different ways to keep their supply chain working during Covid-19, the main focus was health and safety paired with efficient delivery. This is why so many now rely on courier services instead of in-house delivery workers.
Courier Services
The right courier service, especially in these trying times, has proven to be an invaluable asset. Some measures that courier companies are taking are:
- Block booking space for commercial and cargo delivery for international destinations
- Providing constant service updates based on varying restrictions
- Accredited delivery personnel with the latest restrictions and government regulations in place
- No-contact options either by the driver or hand-held devices
CitySprint is leading the way in dealing with the supply chain breakdown issues during Covid-19. Click here to see CitySprints full list of delivery options.
CitySprint has access to an impressive fleet of couriers that work out of more than 30 locations in the UK. The easy online options, as well as real-time tracking, helps businesses stay informed and inform their own customers on exact arrival times.
Although some people think of a courier service for a few deliveries here and there, since Coronavirus hit, practically all types of businesses are needing to use delivery services to move goods and parts between locations.
CitySprint even has a tech relocation service which has made moving IT equipment between offices and residential addresses much easier.
Delivery Flexibility
Many businesses have found that being able to offer same-day delivery and overnight deliveries have helped them to beat the competition. In fact, statistics show that during Covid-19, same-day and next-day delivery options made up the majority of Google and voice searches throughout April.
Recap
The ability to offer new products and services as well as to adapt to the current situation is what will keep businesses afloat. There are multiple ways to keep your supply chain working during Covid-19, namely adaptability and utilising alternative delivery methods such as courier services to keep your customers happy and your supply chain running smoothly. For more info, you can click here.
