Showroom
In line with Government advice, our Portsmouth showroom is currently closed, but will be re-opening for Click and Collect orders from 9am on Monday 12th April.
We would like to stress, however, that we will be fulfilling any online orders as usual.
Staff who would normally be working in the showroom have been re-assigned to other departments, to aid in the increased workloads seen across production and logistics due to the influx of orders for hardware and mobile workstations, now required by many businesses, customers and clients.
Production & Logistics
Our production department is still fully operational, as well as our courier service. Lead times are not expected to change, and in the event of any delays, these would be slight at the worst (a day or two at most). Through a combination of taking on new staff and bolstering with existing employees from the showroom, we are more than coping with the increased demand.
As per Government advice, strict measures are still in effect - this includes a stringent 2m distancing policy and regular, thorough washing of hands, both to be adhered to at all times. Staff are also working in shifts and taking staggered break periods, with break rooms now restricted to no more than two (distanced) employees at any given time. We are also providing staff with appropriate PPE to minimise contact with surfaces and products.
Supply Chain
In the lead up to the COVID-19 global outbreak, we were very pro-active in stocking up on the many items shipped to us from China. As a result, we now have several months' worth of stock, allowing for plenty of time for China's electronics industry to recover and restart operations, something which has in fact, already started; within a fairly short period, we expect so see stock-flow returning to normal.
Support & Sales
We are continuing our long-implemented 'remote working' policy, which has seen over 40% of our workforce moved out of the building to work from home. This means that we are still able to continue to offer our services, as usual. We would, therefore, remind our customers, both past, present and future, that our support is available to you as always, via our live chat services, or by telephone on 02392 322 500.
Company-wide care & general update
Currently, we have had no confirmed cases of Coronavirus within the business, and would like to stress once more that our employees' safety is of the greatest importance to us. We are continuing to support and care for them in whatever means necessary; alongside strict health and safety, social distancing and hygiene regimes, followed by all company staff to the letter. These are strange times, and we understand that stress and anxiety can affect us all us in different ways, our Mental Health First Aiders are on hand, to help teammates and families in any way they can.
We would also like to thank all of our employees so far, for their unyielding resilience and continued and fervent dedication to helping to keep the business running in these difficult times.
We hope that these efforts to reduce the transmission of COVID-19 will prove to be effective, aiding the fight against the virus and expediting the time until normality can be restored.
We wish everyone good health and mental wellbeing and look forward to seeing you all again once these self-isolation and social distancing measures come to an end.
Stay safe and stay healthy.
Kind regards,
The Novatech team
