Blog/News

It is apparent that everyone was not ready to deal with the pandemic and who really would be. This is an occurrence that happens once in a lifetime. COVID-19 has put many companies in some tough spots but with determination, understanding, and adaptability, Complemar was able to take all the regulations and limitations in stride to make sure that we kept our employees safe and kept our clients happy. Here are some of the things that we had to adapt and change to make sure we thrive.

Increase Technology Use

During this pandemic, technology was and still is crucial in making sure that everything is running smoothly. Since we are yet to be out of the woods and the pandemic is still looming over our heads we have used video chats and other forms of communication to make sure that we were all staying on the same page and being safe at the same time. No one ever expected to have remote meetings in their newfound “home offices”, but all of our employees took it in stride and adapted to the circumstances that we were dealt with. 

Putting an Emphasis on Employee Health

This virus has taken a toll on everyone. People are fearful of being in contact with this deadly disease and we have taken measures to make sure that our employees are as safe as possible during these trying times. We still require the use of facial coverings when they are inside of our facilities. Another safety precaution that we had put into place was taking employees’ temperature whenever they entered our facilities. One last thing that we have provided is transparency. We made it clear to all employees that we want them to voice their concerns and that we are here to listen. We wanted to make all of our employees feel safe while they are working.

We are yet to be out of the woods, but there is a light at the end of the tunnel as vaccine rollouts are occurring. We have found that communication and understanding are crucial during this time. Planning for restrictions and having a contingency plan is now something that we look at because currently, the environment is extremely unpredictable. Although the COVID-19 virus disrupted our country is going to be prevalent for months and maybe years, the fulfillment and logistics industry is always going to be present and stronger than ever. Complemar was able to act quickly and look to the future which ensured our success. We are looking forward to a new normal, but for now, we will continue to deliver essential goods that will keep the country and economy running.

We are all asking ourselves these questions... "How will we survive? How will our lives change? How long will this last? The real question is...What is the “New Normal, how will it affect our day to day lives and how will we adjust our business processes in the future to accommodate and thrive in this new world order."

During an engaging discussion with a client, a question emerged that prompted thought on the “New Normal”. She was interested in how the “New Normal” has affected the “Day in the Life of Supply Chain at Complemar." A pragmatic question that deserved my attention, mostly an outline of the actions we are taking to protect the health and well-being of Complemar associates while ensuring continued great service.

The “New Normal” has meant streamlining processes that have been successful in the past. I explained that the safety, health, and welfare of our associates are of paramount importance. COVID-19 has presented very different challenges. How does a national network of logistics and supply chain facilities with associates who work in fairly close proximity continue to meet the demand of the client’s supply chain goals while ensuring full protection against the COVID-19 virus?

Here are some of the measures we took to provide maximum protection and enhance productivity at Complemar.

Customer Care: We made it very clear from the minute this pandemic was exposed that our associates and our client partners would be well taken care of. Our teams mobilized to be sure that all client partner businesses would continue on task and goal; maintaining attention to process, procedure, and accuracy. We asked all our office employees to work from home. We divided into small teams with separate break areas to minimize any unnecessary exposure. We carefully monitor the health of our associates, taking temperatures daily, regular wipe downs and cleaning, plexiglass shields wherever possible, face shields, masks, and gloves.

Operations Fortitude: The pandemic disrupted many links in the supply chain including a variety of business closings throughout the United States. Complemar devised solutions that assisted clients in optimizing inventory locations, set up “emergency” processes where needed, created sustainability plans to ensure that orders are always processed and shipped and customers are satisfied and happy.

Net, net – client partners negatively affected by this pandemic are experiencing positive results.

A better “techno-mousetrap” is how one client partner described her experience with our systems integration during this very trying time. “How Complemar devised a plan that not only helped our end goal but provided a far better economic solution than I ever imagined, was a sheer genius, especially while the teams were working in remote locations...brilliant!” – This example of ingenuity and resourcefulness combined with patience and understanding defines the culture of Complemar in so many ways.

A Day in the Life of Supply Chain Logistics has been altered by COVID-19. What remains intact is the humanity, passion, and emotional energy exhibited every day within Complemar. Our associates are driven; attention to the “little” things is contagious; and the trend to go “above and beyond” is stronger than ever – no pun intended – feverish effect on the environment, the tenacity of the Complemar associate, and has compelled client partners to engage, work with, listen, and mutually respect the tireless effort by all.

COVID-19 is horrible. However, A Day in the Life of Supply Chain @ Complemar is consistent excellent performance today, tomorrow, next week, and next year – The insight that we have gained as a result of this epidemic event has been strengthening.