Khushru Patel: The impact on our business and the economy is going to be catastrophic
With the industry under lockdown, PrintWeek asks Khushru Patel, managing director, JAK Printers, how the company is dealing with the situation.
03 Apr 2020 | By PrintWeek Team
What has been the impact of Covid-19 on your business thus far?
So far, the economy was already on a ventilator and the impact on our business and the economy is going to be catastrophic.
In the short term, how are you assessing the risks and planning for the possible impact?
At the moment we are only assessing the risk of human loss, which is our valuable staff, and factory workers. And only working towards making sure we suffice their needs.
Some businesses have acted, asking staff to work from home, doing daily temperature checks, distributing critical tasks across offices, and restricting travel. What steps have you undertaken?
To begin with, we had already started explaining and creating awareness about Covid-19, temperature checks, sanitisation lessons and actual implementation. Once we learnt the greater impact, we shut down the entire press even before the state government announced the lockdown. We have not asked anyone to work from home as our industry does not demand that.
How is your company staying in touch with your partners / customers?
Technology today is the king to success, also against the fight towards Coronavirus. It is because of technology that we are less bored sitting at home and will win the fight against this unseen enemy. It is the same technology that has kept us in touch with our staff and customers.
Do you invest in health care, and is there a robust system in place?
Not really. As we are a very small firm, there is a one-on-one relationship and benefits and decisions on health care are taken on individual basis.
Confluence of creativity and technology will be the key to crafting a successful future in print. One creative print project which can make a difference?
That has always been the case with which we have succeeded to reach where we are. Now it will not be this skill only but the skill to pursue, hold on, be patient and not make mistakes which will lead us to the next decade.
One suggestion for the government?
Extremely good job by taking immediate decisions. They are doing the best they can, considering the population of our country. We as citizens need to be responsible. In time to come, we will expect them to give us business owners some reliefs.