PARTNER FOCUS
tasks, including training and sales reviews, remotely. 41% of respondents prefer to undertake account reviews with Suppliers face-to- face, up from 18% in May.
The response to Covid-19 has demonstrated the advantages of a versatile workforce, with an increased importance in good training and upskilling. Our survey found that just over 53% of NBG Partners would prefer to continue training staff over video conference in August.
This increased significantly to 68% in November, demonstrating the growing confidence of Partners to implement the technology and an ability to adapt to the new normal.
We saw similar trends with the review process for accounts, stock and merchandising, with the majority of Partners preferring phone calls and video conferences over face-to- face visits in May and August. However, face-to- face visits saw an increase across
all review categories in the month of November.
When holding calls, the number of Partners happy to include accounts colleagues skyrocketed to 47%, up from 18% when the survey was first undertaken in May. This is a clear indication that Partners are looking to resume ‘business- as-usual’ operations. By November, 80% of Partners were planning to allow manufacturers’ representatives to visit their sites by Q2 2021. This suggests that, while adaptations to operations have been made, the importance of personal contact has not been lost. There has also been a
significant uplift in face-to-face conversations since May, most likely due to diligent Partners making their workplaces Covid- safe by installing hand sanitising stations, protective screens and wearing face masks. The number of Partners’ showrooms fully open rose by 4% from May, up to 68%
Signage, protective screens and hand-sanitiser a-plenty at NBG Partner Cowal Building Supplies.
in November. A further 29% of Partners surveyed were opening their showrooms on an appointment-only basis. Despite the raft of new challenges, NBG Partners have shown incredible resilience, with 100% of participants’ branches being open in some capacity in both August and November, albeit 14% with restricted hours
(12% of which remain closed on Saturdays).
This is an undeniable demonstration of the brilliant persistence and determination that everyone across the NBG community has shown in these testing times.
There is, however, still some way to go before things can return to normal.
January 2021
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