Amazon deliveries safe, taking steps to protect customers, says ecommerce giant
18 April, 2020
Amazon India is calling customers to assure them that acquiring deliveries through its platform is safe, and that it continues to take preventative hygiene measures across its sites. The move comes a day after a pizza delivery boy in the location tested positive for COVID-19, and 72 families that had are exposed to him were put under quarantine.
The development created concern around whether obtaining home delivery of food and other items is a safe option.
Amazon, in a statement, said it has advised its delivery associates to completely clean all frequently touched surfaces of their vehicles and delivery devices in the beginning and end of routes.
It has also mandated all delivery associates to remain home if indeed they feel sick or have a fever.
"...as an added way of measuring safety, (Amazon) has temporarily changed the way it's delivering your items. Based on regional regulations and social distancing requirements in the brand new process, the delivery associate will place your package at your doorstep and keep maintaining a 2 metre distance," it noted.
In order to stick to social distancing, and as additional precautionary measure, Amazon in addition has temporarily suspended processes like exchange and return of products.
The company said it has additionally increased the frequency and intensity of cleaning at all sites and work stations.
E-commerce companies are gearing up to deliver products like cell phones and refrigerators to customers in areas that usually do not fall under COVID-19 hotspots from April 20.
Beneath the first phase of lockdown between March 24-April 14, the federal government had only allowed delivery of essential goods, including food, pharmaceuticals and medical equipment through e-commerce platforms.
Earlier this week, it issued detailed guidelines allowing e-commerce companies to operate.
Following the guidelines by the house Affairs Ministry, states like Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Odisha also have issued directions for e-commerce businesses in the state.
Walmart-owned Flipkart can be taking stringent measures to make certain that its warehouse and delivery partners are adhering to government and WHO guidelines during deliveries.
"We are also constantly monitoring the fitness of our employees and delivery associates using thermal scans/thermal guns," Flipkart said in response to an emailed query.
The company said additionally it is keeping a regular an eye on the influenced areas through its centralised security team in order to avoid exposure of employees in those regions.
A Snapdeal spokesperson said its deliveries are handled by leading third-party logistics companies.
"We will be working closely with them towards the compliance of the safety and sanitization norms mandated by the federal government for e-commerce operations," the spokesperson said.
The spokesperson added that Snapdeal may also guide buyers in regards to to safe practices to be followed while receiving e-commerce packets, including encouraging contactless deliveries.
Grofers CEO and co-founder Albinder Dhindsa said the business is taking similar steps to make sure safety of its customers and warehouse and delivery teams.
"...we are following multiple safety and preventive measures across our warehouses, delivery fleet, production of goods aswell as for our customers," he said.
Dhindsa said Grofers is conducting mandatory screening of staff using infrared contactless thermometers, and disinfecting and sanitising warehouses after each few hours to keep the complete inventory virus-free.
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