"Smart Restart" after Corona: What industries are proposing
On April 6, 2020, the Swiss Confederation of Commerce (sgv) presented its exit strategy from the Corona crisis. In the meantime, various industries have followed suit. In the sense of a bottom-up approach, they show how they can gradually ramp up their economic activity. This, of course, in compliance with the health and hygiene regulations of the Federal Council.
The Swiss Trade Association sgv is calling for a "Smart Restart" for the period after April 19. In line with the epidemiological situation, prohibitions and regulations on the lockdown are to be relaxed. In particular, the sgv demands that industries with increased customer contact can themselves demonstrate suitable measures that enable them to comply with the health protection of customers and employees.
What works in grocery stores also works in sporting goods stores
Individual sectors are now demonstrating with their own concepts how the "Smart Restart" could work in practice. Bottom up, more and more sectors are making proposals to the Federal Council. The sporting goods trade, the car trade and hairdressers are the first to do so. The sporting goods trade, for example, wants to rely on controlled access, visual guidance systems and digitization. It will be stipulated that only a minimum number of customers per sales area may be in the store. Customers are encouraged to pay without cash wherever possible. In addition, contact zones are to be regularly disinfected.
"Smart Restart" for car dealers
The car trade, in turn, wants to expand web- and telephone-based services. Vehicle handling will only take place during the sales talk and after the car has been disinfected. If possible, operating instructions are to be provided by video demonstration, and the need for personnel during the sales process is to be kept to a minimum. Measures are taken at the point of sale to ensure social distancing.
Hairdressers: Particularly many protective measures needed
Hairdressers have a tougher time of it: their "Smart Restart" concept calls for minimizing encounters, increased disinfection, and the wearing of masks for both employees and customers. For all services, employees must wear protective gloves and prefer to talk to customers via mirrors. Customers are advised to cancel appointments if they show even the slightest symptoms of a cold.
From practice for practice
What these concepts have in common: They come from practice and are intended for practice. However, they still need to be refined. And no industry will implement these concepts without the Federal Council making the corresponding decisions. The sgv is all the more insistent that a balance be struck between health protection and the interests of the economy and society for the phase after April 19, 2020. The "Smart Restart" is an opportunity for Switzerland to take a first step back towards normalization. In this way, the economic and human dangers of the extraordinary situation could be reduced.
Sources and further information: Swiss Trade Association sgv, ASMAS, AGVS, coiffuresuisse
