Amazon Business has created a section on its website for coronavirus-related supplies that are intended to go to first responders, health care organizations and other parties battling the pandemic. Amazon says profit is not a motive and that it will "waive all standard referral fees for third-party sellers who supply products to this effort."
Construction projects are being canceled before work begins, while companies are noting a lack of personal protective equipment and worker availability, according to a survey by the Associated General Contractors of America. More than one in three respondents say furloughs or layoffs have occurred at job sites, and "we expect all of those trends are going to continue," says Ken Simonson, the association's chief economist.
Thermo Fisher Scientific and Ford will be working together to boost the production of COVID-19 collection kits. Ford engineers are helping to set up additional production machinery and assisting Thermo Fisher in adapting machinery currently used for other products.
Meeting customer needs and expectations A focus on customer service should be a priority for wholesalers, both in the current climate and moving into the future. How can businesses deliver on that? Hear from experts at NetSuite, Logistics Bureau and SmartBrief in this on-demand webinar.
Facing the need to cost cuts, distributors must address employees' concerns about job security and offer regular updates, says Mike Marks of Indian River Consulting Group. On the finance side, distributors should try to negotiate longer payment terms with suppliers instead of ceasing payments, says Brent Grover.
Shortages of personal protective equipment in hospitals have brought 3D printing, long a niche pursuit, to the forefront. "The current scenario of fragile supply chains will fast-track the development of a digital manufacturing ecosystem, driven by 3D printing technology," says Venkata Naveen of GlobalData.
Online sales meetings can be a great way to connect with customers, but it's important to handle any potential connection and technology issues beforehand whenever possible, writes Sean McPheat. Make sure to close out other programs when screen sharing and prepare your appearance, materials and surrounding environment just like you would for a face-to-face meeting, McPheat writes.
Knowing your strengths and your purpose can help you maintain energy during stressful times, which is good for any leader's self-care and also for the teams they lead, write Nicholas Eyrich, David Fessell and Gretchen Spreitzer. "Invest in relationships that energize so you can be, as much as possible, a person who helps energize others," they write.
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Do you have at least one person in each of your locations who is trained to clean and disinfect for coronavirus? NAW member ISSA and its Global Biorisk Advisory Council (GBAC) division released the GBAC Fundamentals Online Course to teach infection and contamination control measures that ensure worker safety. Take the course to learn protocols and earn a certificate of completion for $150 (50% off list price) with promo code NAWGBAC.
