Newly Remote Workforces & Sales Shifts Top CG Execs’ List of Woes

Executives within the consumer goods industry are learning to navigate such coronavirus-prompted issues as managing newly remote workforces and coping with a negative impact on sales, according to a March CGT audience poll.

CGT conducted an online survey March 18-23 to uncover a snapshot of the impact COVID-19 is having on our audience's businesses. More than half (56%) of respondents said that the coronavirus has had a negative impact on their sales, while a third said there’s been a significant uptick in sales.

When asked specifically about their biggest supply chain disruptions, just 12% said there hadn’t been an effect. A leading 29% said they can’t keep up with production of certain products, such as household cleaners and paper products, while 24% cited consumers stocking up on items as the biggest issue.  

Keeping up with online orders was the No. 1 issue for 12%, and a shortage of staff and/or drivers was the most significant source of woes for another 12%.

When asked about workforce management, 41% said their current biggest challenge is creating an infrastructure to support a surge in remote workers.

Just 6% cited preventing the spread of the virus among their employees (though we'd expect that could change as the situation progresses), while the remaining responses were evenly divided between offering payment, financial support and other services to temporarily displaced employees; finding extra staff to support increased demand; and no workforce management issues at all.