Sunbelt Rentals has been adjusting its operations to protect customers and employees from Covid-19, and some new solutions, such as curbside pickup, will become a permanent offering.
“Throughout this pandemic, it is critical that we keep our doors open and our employees and customers safe,” says Katy Lovering, senior director of strategic initiatives at Sunbelt Rentals and an Under 40 in Construction Equipment Award winner (Class of 2019). “We want our customers to know that we are a partner—we are in this with them.”
Sunbelt Rentals has implemented several new guidelines, solutions, and best practices, including:
- Curbside pickup: Implemented at the onset of the pandemic, this service will now be a permanent offering. Ideal for small tools and equipment and towables, customers can take advantage of this contactless option upon placing a reservation online or by phone.
- Sanitization and equipment cleaning: Sunbelt Rentals has put in place stringent guidelines—as directed by the CDC—for sanitizing, cleaning, and handling rental equipment in order to keep customers safe.
- Social distancing: For customers who do enter branches, Sunbelt Rentals asks that they adhere to social distancing guidelines, including wearing a face covering. In addition, the company has added signage requesting customers do not enter if they have had prolonged, direct exposure to the novel virus.
- Internal operations: Sunbelt Rentals has undertaken several efforts to keep employees safe and apprised of the constantly evolving situation. This includes the creation of an internal task force that serves as a central hub for communications, procedure, and process changes, and overall Covid-19 response; regular company calls with leadership teams; and the creation of an online resource center.
“While renting equipment online may not be the normal course of business for some, especially prior to Covid-19, we’ve seen record numbers of online orders over the last several months,” says Lovering. “This means that we need to continue to evolve and provide an omni-channel experience to our customers, for today and for the future.”
Source: Sunbelt Rentals
