Of all the industries to be affected by the coronavirus, supply chain companies are feeling it the most. It seems that there can never be enough food and other supplies amongst the mass panic. Trucking companies are working overtime to deal with the increasing demand.
However, it’s not just supermarket demand that’s affecting supply chain providers.
Quieter roads, but less hygiene accessibility
As Forbes reports, the trucking companies are facing quieter roads and far less traffic, but “on the downside, the availability of showers and sanitizing products for drivers at truck stops is a problem.”
Nurses and doctors, truck drivers and retail workers are all ‘on the front line’, as the continued wellbeing of people depend on them. And yet many – especially nurses and doctors – are struggling to access vital equipment such as hand sanitizers, masks and basic hygiene amidst the coronavirus panic.
These are key parts of how people on the front line can keep themselves safe. Without such equipment, people are unnecessarily vulnerable. In the future, implementing better measures – such as limiting masks even during the early stages of the pandemic – will help us keep everybody safe.
A demand that can’t quite be met
Our supply chain companies are working around the clock to meet an immense demand. However, it’s a demand that’s both continuous and difficult to meet. Even with continuous stock, there simply isn’t the means – or space – to constantly keep shelves stocked.
Eventually, after the worst of the pandemic has passed, we will need to face the problem of our supply chains. The issue? While many companies are stepping up to the challenge of the crisis, many simply aren’t prepared and don’t have the resources to adequately track where supply is going.
There are multiple ways we can help with this, by optimizing processes and keeping better track of our supply chain (Blockhead has created STAMP Supply for this very purpose.) Our countries depend on supply chains, which means we should be putting the money and effort in to make them as streamlined as possible. This will, in the long and short term, will save both companies and consumers high costs.
Hopefully, this can be an opportunity for innovation for our supply chain companies, once we are past the immense pressure of the coronavirus’ peak. You can find out more about STAMP Supply here.