5 Pressing Challenges Facing Today’s Warehousing & Logistics in The Age of COVID-19

The ongoing threat and impact of COVID-19 has left the UK’s warehouses & logistical processes incredibly vulnerable.

Since March 2020, the nation - like most of the world - has drifted in and out of isolation. Early spaits of consumer panic buying and a sharp rise in online shopping has placed a significant pressure on warehousing facilities & logistics chains.

While the demand for warehousing employment is at an all-time high, the continual onslaught of the virus presents a raft of ongoing challenges for those in charge of warehousing management and logistics.

To provide greater clarity and present viable solutions, here we look at the five most pressing challenges for the warehousing management and logistics in the age of COVID-19.

1. Reduced productivity

Your personnel are the beating heart of your business - they are the very people that keep the wheels turning.

According to a mix of reports, a raft of major warehousing & logistics facilities have experienced mass COVID-19 outbreaks over the past 12 months.

Even with a vaccine program in progress, many employees will have to self-isolate and remain off work for some time to come - particularly as the virus is likely to become a threat again next winter.

With the virus ever-present, some major warehousing facilities have seen a significant reduction in staff availability, driving down productivity levels as a result. This is a problem that isn’t going away anytime soon - and complacency will cost you dearly.

2. Penalties for failing to meet obligations

As a direct offshoot of continual personnel management and productivity issues, strained warehouse & logistics facilities are still struggling to meet particular standards and obligations.

A failure to adhere to governmental legislation and workplace safety standards are becoming all too real for warehouses, plants, and factories across the board.

Dips in operational productivity coupled with a wider range of focus (keeping staff safe and putting COVID complaint processes in place, for instance) mean that keeping on top of obligations is an uphill struggle - one that can prove costly.

3 Safety breaches & compromises

Managing the workforce and keeping staff as well as partners safe in the face of the virus is a colossal task. There is a wealth of stringent rules and processes to consider at all times - initiatives that are made increasingly difficult due to the constant concern of an outbreak.

If a warehouse or logistics organisation is deemed to have compromised safety due to non-compliance (or even a simple mistake), costly claims will be raised, productivity will grind to a halt, and the entire operation flat.

4. Employee distrust or disengagement

With so many aspects to consider and staff to look after across the organisation, poor personnel management or inadequate staff safety measures are likely to result in employee distrust or disengagement.

If your staff don’t feel safe, they won’t feel valued and cracks will quickly form. Building a sense of trust is essential in these challenging times - and as such, warehousing & logistics suppliers are under increased pressure to demonstrate a transparent commitment to staff safety - not just now, but for the foreseeable future.

5. Reputational damage

Finally, all of these issues combined can have a seriously negative impact on your brand or business reputation.

Staff mutiny, poor productivity levels, and safety breaches can all have devastating consequences to brand reputation.

If you suffer negative publicity as a result of mismanagement during the pandemic, you are likely to suffer further dips in productivity as well as a hit on your revenue for years after the pandemic is under control.

Catenae’s Covid Operating System: enabling businesses to mitigate the pandemic challenges

Cohesive and transparent personnel management is essential to maintain consistent productivity levels and remain compliant in the age of COVID-19. Catenae’s Covid Operating System provides that solution.

Our App, Intelligent Dashboards and secure platform provide the digital tools to enable businesses to keep productivity levels consistent, protect your brand reputation, and ensure employees are safe and at all times.

Discover how Catenae's cutting-edge Operating System can help keep your business operational, boost employee engagement and give your managers full visibility of COVID impacts, get in touch. We’ll be happy to answer any of your questions.