How is Home Delivery Helping People During The COVID-19 Crisis?

At the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic, most parts of the world are living under some form of ‘lockdown’. Most countries are doing everything in their power to keep their population safe; however, the numbers of cases are still on the rise, making 2020 a particularly difficult for communities and businesses alike. 

People have been warned to stay inside, making a night out on the town, near to impossible. Because of this, many people are having difficulties getting ahold of both non-essential and essential items. On one hand, we have medical professionals worried about shortages of supplies, on the other hand,  there are families stuck at home with limited access to supplies. 

One of the most convenient and effective solutions for this increasingly difficult ‘lockdown’ situation is; home delivery. Many companies are now employing home delivery services to ensure people have all that they need at home, keeping them satisfied during the devastation of the Covid-19 crisis. 

Stats about home delivery services around the world:

China, for example, has more than 760 million people currently under lockdown. In oder to service the large Chinese population, the e-Commerce sector in China implemented a great delivery initiative which gave consumers quicker and faster fulfilment options. Before the coronavirus crisis, Amazon was focused on Prime customers to ensure fast delivery to their doorsteps. However since the Covid lockdown, Amazon is ensuring even faster delivery of all essentials to their customers around the world. Similarly, many other companies are investing billions to ensure timely delivery to customers stuck inside their homes, making the delivery of groceries and other essential items possible within as little as a few hours. 

Companies are now planning to restock various high demand products such as cleaning supplies and hand sanitizers. Numerous stores have also told third-party merchants to stop accepting shipmen of various items in order to keep more space in warehouses for more essential goods during this pandemic. At the same time, the workers and shipment service providers are advised to maintain social distancing and adequate sanitization protocols in order to avoid the spread of the virus. These procedures haven’t always proved successful, with a number of employees infected with Covid, making it dangerous for healthy staff members to keep work during this pandemic. 

According to NPR.org, “At Amazon, which employs some 800,000 people, workers have diagnosed positively for COVID-19 in at least 11 warehouses, forcing a prolonged closure of at least one warehouse in Kentucky. The company says it has “taken extreme measures to keep people safe,” including allowing unlimited unpaid leave time for employees who feel uncomfortable working.”

Also Read: Ways to Entertain Yourself During COVID-19 Isolation

How are home delivery services proven beneficial for the community around the world?

There are plenty of benefits of home delivery services, with large companies and corporations serving and supporting people during this global crisis. With logisitics operators prime focus being to meet the rising demands for health and safety products. At the same time, the grocery delivery stores are following reliable strategies to ensure fast delivery to the customers, with the priority being to support the older generation first and foremost. Below we have highlighted a few points on how home deliveries are being managed during the Covid-19 pandemic:

Potential steps taken for customers:

• Stores all around the world are increasing capacity for grocery delivery to ensure quick availability to consumers. 
• In order to maintain safety and to avoid the spread of Covid-19; the food markets are being cleaned reguarly. Proper sanitization protocols are followed to ensure adequate care for employees and customers alike. 
• In order to ensure more convenience to older people, some stores are opening one hour early. Elderly are receiving orders online with quicker than usual delivery options available. 
• The brick and mortar, as well as online stores, are putting more focus on high-priority items to ensure a faster delivery service. The high demand products are being stocked at all fulfilment centres so that demands in different areas can be served with ease. 
• Companies are also making efforts to combat pricing issues to assist customers during this crisis. Instead of seeking profits, they are giving more priority to serving customers. 
• Amazon is using the Alexa service to keep customers updated and informed regarding their home deliveries. 

Potential steps taken for employees:

In the hour of crisis, when Covid-19 cases are increasing, it is more challenging to make home deliveries safe for customers. The safety begins with on the ground employees, and that is why most of the home delivery service providers around the world are encouraging thorough care procedures for all of their staff. 

CBS News states, “Social distancing” guidelines recommend you maintain at least six feet between you and other people to cut down on the risk of infection, which also applies inside a building. Some stores. along with limiting the number of shoppers, are using visual guides like signs, floor markings and even robots to indicate a six-foot distance.”

Here we have listed a few steps taken for employee safety during the pandemic:

• Employees are advised and trained to follow social distancing and adequate cleaning procedures to avoid the spread of the virus. 
• All the stores are using disinfectant sprays on all of their surfaces. 
• Personal protection gear is being distributed to all employees to maintain safe operations worldwide. 
• Home delivery service providers are also following frequent testing procedures for their employees to avoid virus outbreaks.
• In a few countries, payment for employees working during the lockdown has increased. 
• Some companies, like Amazon, have created relief funds for the partners that are suffering due to quarantine and financial hardship. 

The above-mentioned efforts in the supply chain industry have made it possible for customers to receive orders at their doorstep, without having to risk their safety during this crisis. Moreover, in order to track shipments and deliveries, companies are also using logistics management software. These software tools help employees to maintain adequate tracking of all the items while ensuring proper information updates to all customers.