We chatted to Paul Maitre, MD of ADA Consulting Engineers, to get his take.
Paul Maitre: Business-wise, ADA Consulting Engineers had to ensure our service to clients and projects was maintained. We set up a task team which ensured that all staff were working remotely prior to lockdown. The maintenance of daily company online meetings, programming and checking production resulted in us maintaining, if not increasing, our productivity.
Maitre: We were very fortunate to have multiple projects in the design phase and so have remained 100% productive during lockdown. The Covid-19 pandemic has had a devastating impact on the country’s economy. The lockdown was critical to flatten the curve; however, our unemployment and further loss of income will result in immeasurable suffering and hardship. The financial burden to the country with the essential financial support to the vulnerable will further compromise our junk status economy. It is estimated that it will take the large part of the next decade to recover.
Maitre: ADA Consulting immediately reduced all non-essential overheads and fixed all costs in the short term. It is critical that the company’s future is secured to ensure all employees' jobs are retained. Further to this, we are refocusing our company strategies to ensure an adequate workload is achieved during the expected reduced economic activity during the twelve months ahead.
Maitre: The challenges for all companies are maintaining a work volume enough to minimise impact on the business and salaries.
The opportunities we at ADA Consulting have identified are adapting and optimising client support and service within the restraints of the crisis better than the opposition to increase our market penetration.
Maitre:
Maitre: We have daily online huddles which include social banter and work-related issues. This keeps everyone connected both on a social level as well as keeping the work identity and sense of belonging.
Maitre: At ADA Consulting we realise that operations will never be the same, even after a vaccine is found. We will definitely use the following lessons learnt during lockdown:
Maitre: The crisis has advanced the online digital solution offerings. Remote and mobility working will promote the use of laptops and companies having all systems online for ease of access.
Maitre: The built environment will falter in the short term but will recover to original volumes with time. We must do what is necessary to ensure we remain relevant and are able to save as many jobs as possible.
Maitre: The economy has taken a blow. The next six months will involve all industries to re-establish to the new norms but volumes will be low and many companies will close doors. The building industry will not collapse, but will be operating substantially lower than pre-crisis levels.