It happened faster than anyone could imagine. COVID-19 is disrupting global distribution on a scale unseen in recent times, creating extreme challenges for the supply chain. The pandemic also emphasizes the critical role of supply chain and logistics and the importance of supporting and protecting people in this vital function. According to Supply Chain Digital magazine, COVID-19 has forced our industry to reshape operating models to increase our effectiveness, efficiency, and resilience.
Crescent has responded immediately to these challenges of distributing products while adapting to the limitations and changes of COVID-19, by turning this massive challenge into meaningful change.
Navigating uncertainties by putting People first
Today, we see that shared humanity at work can make all the difference in this crisis. Crescent has implemented multiple resources and ways to support our People.
Supply Chain Digital reports that many organizations have failed to communicate the health and stability of their business to their people. Consumer research has found that over 64% of the global workforce is facing high anxiety over their job security. Throughout this pandemic, Crescent has increased communication and job security in multiple ways such as:
- revisiting leave policies,
- communicating changes,
- securing the workplace of partners,
- prioritizing activities that create fuel for additional growth,
- securing the business at every stage,
- building leadership teams for reinvention,
- building agile autonomy and turning furloughed workers into flexible workers,
- retraining them in skills that enable them to refocus on areas of higher demand.
We have focused on the most vulnerable groups, such as contingent people, single parents, or those who lack adequate health benefits with the implementation of donated PTO policy, short term Leave, On-site COVID viral testing, temperature checks, supplying PPE to all People—offering mental health support and wellbeing programs to help grieving people or those managing stress and ensure to communicate and share COVID-19 experiences and best practices.
Mitigating immediate challenges by designing spaces that work
Confronted with an unprecedented public health crisis, companies everywhere have rightly concentrated first on ensuring people's safety and supporting their local communities, and Crescent is no different.
49% of businesses within Supply Chain surveyed that they have never thought about splitting shifts or allowing work from home, and didn't have the technology to do so. Crescent has diligently redesigned work to be completed more effectively to manage the business from virtual/physical teams and the extension of technical support.
We have not just created a safe environment, but a comfortable and stress managed one as well. Social distancing can strain our need for social interaction but, through limiting physical contact and enabling more flexible use of space (e.g., operating shift hours), our People who must be physically present on the frontlines can still learn, ask questions, work and support their families.
We are building a better future today!
"With the COVID-19 crisis, fundamental changes in consumer behavior, supply chains, and routes to market are knocking companies off balance. Responding to the pandemic has underscored the need for leaders to accelerate the adoption of agile ways of working and value chain transformation to help outmaneuver uncertainty. I don't think many logistics and supply chain businesses were prepared." - Forbes, George Bailey
We start with our business strategy of aligning critical processes with the business strategy and strengthening resiliency by applying innovative solutions to create an evolved working environment. With governments revising policies each day, Crescent's decision-making with trusted information and coordination is key to our success. There are more than 100,000 businesses that are closed for good or cannot re-open due to responding late to the COVID pandemic; Crescent isn't one of them.
We have created diverse teams that focus on key priorities across business functions, such as the crisis management team and increased safety and sanitation efforts, health checks, and more, to resolve new or unexpected issues.
All industries have been impacted by the COVID-19 crisis, with varying degrees of severity. Some have stronger defenses, while others will struggle to return to a constantly shifting "normal." As a Crescent family, we are continuously adapting to ensure that we are a responsible steward of the supply chain for you, our customers, and our business. The COVID-19 emergency will pass, and leaders know that the speed of the economic recovery depends on companies' and industries' ability to bounce back from the crisis. That means making decisions and taking actions now that will generate revenue, protect jobs, and support the return to growth and the future of the supply chain industry.
We will continue to communicate, support, and increase our resilience, responsibility, effectiveness, and efficiency.
Crescent, Do it Right, Do it Safe and Do it Well.
