Officials at retail outlets emphasized that "remote work" during the current circumstances proved effective and successful at high rates, and boosted work efficiency.
They explained to «Emirates Today» that the expansion of “remote work” supported the application of faster technical transformation policies in outlets, and demonstrated great effectiveness and efficiency in managing retail operations, pointing to preparing employees for teleworking policies through training programs.
Aswaq Group
The CEO of the “Markets Group”, Youssef Sharaf, said that the group has implemented “remote work” systems extensively to keep pace with the safety standards followed during the current conditions to counter the spread of the emerging corona virus (Covid 19).
He added: «Currently 80% of the offices of the main offices work through the systems of remote work, especially female employees, or employees who have a history of chronic diseases, as global health standards call for these people to work remotely, in a precautionary manner, to avoid infection with the virus.»
Sharaf emphasized that the group has previous policies for remote work, and it has the necessary systems and technical infrastructure, but the recent circumstances precipitated the application of remote work, and a greater trend towards digital transformation.
He explained that the expansion of remote work, accompanied by greater qualifications of employees on the tools of remote communication, and the provision of computers, stressing that the expansion of remote work, has proven effective in business, especially administrative for retail centers.
Union Coop
In turn, the director of the Marketing and Happiness Department at the "Union Cooperative", Dr. Suhail Al Bastaki, said that the "Union Cooperative" in keeping with the safety and public health conditions in the face of the spread of the new Corona virus, has expanded in remote work systems in the administrative structures of its retail outlets, pointing to The percentage of employees working remotely has over 50%.
He emphasized that the “Union cooperative” worked to qualify the various cadres of employee departments on how to work remotely, and to raise awareness of the use of meeting software and communication with different departments, which in turn led to a significant demonstration of the effectiveness and efficiency of remote business management, agreeing that remote work work strengthened Digital transformation policies further.
Al Bastaki pointed out that the "Union Cooperative" department has plans for a gradual shift towards smart and digital policies during the next five years, but the current circumstances have accelerated the application of digital transformation processes for several departments.
He explained that the "cooperative" implements plans that depend on rotation at work and partial presence by dividing departments and employees into teams and groups working remotely and alternating among them.
Emirates Cooperative
In the same context, Walid Al-Mughrabi, Director of Procurement and Operations at Emirates Cooperative Society, said that remote work is being applied in different departments of the association, which has proven great effectiveness and efficiency in managing retail operations.
Al-Maghribi agreed that the expansion of teleworking had great effects in supporting digital transformation policies in different proportions in the retail sector, which in turn led to the development of many digital transformation tools, especially with the qualification of a large number of employees on digital communication systems, and how Using remote platforms, platforms and meetings.
He added that teleworking operations in the retail sector are defined in the administrative structures, with the need for workers in the sales outlets to be physically present to deal with consumers, while following safety and health policies.
Order delivery platforms
Waleed Al-Maghrabi, Director of Procurement and Operations at Emirates Cooperative Society, said that the expansion of relying on technical platforms to deliver orders is among the manifestations of the widespread use of technical transformation systems.
He stressed that the availability of the necessary mechanisms in the retail sector will further support the expansion in the use of digital systems.
The Union Coop has plans for a gradual shift towards smart policies within 5 years.