The CEO of Sysco, the nation's largest foodservice distributor, said the company will increase its support for grocers during the coronavirus crisis as it pivots away from restaurants, where food demand has temporarily been stifled. "We are establishing new customer relationships with retail grocers to provide them with logistics services and much-needed product," Sysco CEO Kevin Hourican said.

Across the country, grocery workers and others involved in food processing and delivery are being rewarded for their efforts during the coronavirus pandemic with pay raises and better benefits. United Natural Foods, Cub Foods and Natural Grocers are among the many companies making policy changes to thank employees for being on the front lines of the outbreak and helping to keep stores open.

D&H Distributing, Ingram Micro, Synnex and Tech Data are among the distributors stepping up to support their partners during the coronavirus outbreak. "We survived the Spanish flu through World Wars, depressions, the Great Recession, so we have the fortitude to see this through and come out the other side," said Michael Schwab, D&H Distributing co-president.

Online orders are increasing as consumers stay home to combat the coronavirus, leading to delivery delays for many companies. As a result, Amazon is hiring more employees to keep up with demand, and UPS is seeking permission from governments worldwide to continue shipments to restricted areas.

Artificial intelligence, blockchain and 3D printing could help alleviate supply chain issues amid the coronavirus pandemic and help prepare for future disruptions, Aston University researchers say. AI can pinpoint patterns and make predictions to inform business decisions, while 3D printing can make products in the areas they are most needed, and blockchain can root out fraudulent items and minimize price inflation.

Businesses whose marketing efforts are being curtailed by the cancellation of traditional offline marketing channels such as trade shows, exhibitions and in-person meetings will likely turn toward digital channels to fill the customer engagement void, including social and content marketing and influencer-led campaigns, writes Bernard Marr. He predicts that businesses that make the strategic shift could find "long-term value" by continuing their efforts once the marketing world stabilizes again.

A team approach to keeping workers safe from the coronavirus is critical, and it's not too late to develop a plan for your employees, said John Howard, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health director, during a recent webinar on virus response held by the National Safety Council. "I would look at that as a crisis team," Howard said, adding, "Clearly, your emergency response plan now has to be a coronavirus emergency plan."

Many companies will be heavily reliant on technology as they turn to virtual recruiting and onboarding. Best practices for a successful virtual onboarding include carving out time for one-on-one meetings, streamlining activities to teach new hires necessary skills and using digital tools to bring employees together, writes Renato Profico, CEO of Doodle.

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