There are many orders and few hands, and the express takeaway industry is ＂facing the peak＂ to protect people’s livelihood

　　Xinhua News Agency, Shanghai, December 24 (Reporter He Xinrong, Zhou Rui, Yang Youzong) Recently, with the increase in the number of infections, the express delivery industry is facing a situation where there are many orders and few hands. Faced with the challenge, many courier companies and takeaway platforms are actively responding and doing everything possible to ensure the needs of people’s livelihood.

　　"The more this time, the more attention must be paid to protection"

　　"In recent days, I’ve been coming out at 8 am and leaving work at 11 pm." Wang Jin, the delivery brother, is the "single king" of Meituan Takeaway Shanghai Global Port Station. On the most day, he delivered 105 orders.

　　Ma Liang, the head of Meituan Takeaway Shanghai Global Port Station, opened the computer, and the business data of each takeaway brother in it was rising rapidly. "Overall, the order volume has increased by 40%, but our staff on duty is less than 70% of the original due to infection. There are more orders and less manpower, so the workload of the staff on duty has greatly increased."

　　Ma Liang analyzed that there are three main reasons for the increase in orders: First, the weather is cold, and fewer people go out. Second, in order to prevent infection, many people choose not to go out and buy online or order takeout at home. Third, the Spring Festival is approaching, and the demand for preparing New Year’s goods has also increased. "I estimate that such an order summit will last until January next year."

　　Wang Jin told reporters that now not only is the order increasing, but there is also a lot of demand for purchasing medicines and medical supplies. "Recently, I received a call from a regular customer who wanted to buy a mercury thermometer, but the nearby pharmacy did not have it. I said that I had a large range and could help him try it, and then I bought it."

　　The delivery guy running on the streets of Shanghai. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Yang Youzong

　　Wang Jin felt that the more this time, the more important it is to pay attention to protection. "Many customers will leave us a special message when picking up the order. They don’t need to hand it over in person, just put it on the courier rack or hang it on the door handle. We also bring N95 masks ourselves to avoid unnecessary personnel loss."

　　"Work overtime until 11 o’clock, and also clear the express of the day"

　　In a courtyard on Longshui South Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai, express vehicles continue to enter and exit near 5 pm. For Yang Bo, the head of the Shanghai Xuhui South Station of Zhongtong Express, it is still early to get off work at 5 pm.

　　"There are more than 60 people in our outlets, and there are about 10. These people are responsible for the delivery area, and we have not stopped. Other couriers will help them deliver after finishing their own work. Usually we get off work at seven or eight o’clock, and we often work overtime until ten or eleven o’clock these days. Make sure to clear the express of the day, otherwise the more backlog, the more troublesome it will be." Yang Bo said.

　　Yang Bo said that one of his most important tasks at the moment is to reduce infections. "Colleagues with fever symptoms, hurry up and send people home. It can’t cause a large number of outlets, and everyone will lose their combat effectiveness."

　　Zhongtong Express brother is busy working at the outlet. (Photo provided by the interviewee)

　　Zhongtong Express said that in response to the current shortage of sorting and terminal delivery personnel, Zhongtong’s existing on-duty salespeople have opened the "night delivery" mode and proactively extended the delivery time to relieve the backlog as much as possible. In addition, the delivery force is also supplemented by third-party recruitment of part-time or temporary staff. At the same time, recovered employees are encouraged to return to work as soon as possible, optimize the shift schedule, and give priority to meeting the delivery needs of urgent shipments such as medicines or necessities of life.

　　"Now, some of the first batch of infected couriers have recovered and returned to work. As long as the precautions are in place and the management is scientific, we are confident that the business will not stop," Yang Bo said.

　　"I hope more social forces will join the ranks of the temporary’courier brother ‘"

　　Ai Pengcheng, from Shaoyang, Hunan, is a newly recruited delivery worker for Dingdong Maicai. A few days ago, he and his fellow villagers drove more than 1,000 kilometers to Shanghai.

　　"After the fellow who works as a delivery staff in Dingdong Maicai learned that we wanted to come out to work, he helped us with the referral. After completing the online interview, we came to Shanghai and went through the health check, the onboarding process, etc., before we officially started working." These two days, Ai Pengcheng is working hard to familiarize himself with the work of Dingdong Maicai Beicai site.

　　"I’m going to work in Shanghai this year for the Chinese New Year." Ai Pengcheng said that because the platform happens to have an event that "does not close for the Chinese New Year", the income of sending orders during the Chinese New Year is higher. "Someone has to stay and deliver food."

　　According to the person in charge of human security at Dingdong Maicai, Dingdong Maicai has increased the recruitment of delivery staff, through internal recommendation of employees, recruitment of temporary workers and other methods to increase personnel reserves. There are already hundreds of new delivery staff, sorters and other front-line employees like Ai Pengcheng. "At the same time, the’large-time centralized delivery ‘method has been opened, and the’half-hour delivery’ has been temporarily changed to 2-hour delivery to ensure sufficient transportation capacity."

　　In the front warehouse of Dingdong Maicai, employees are busy working. (Photo provided by the interviewee)

　　Meituan Takeaway said that about 5,000 new riders have registered in Shanghai in the last week. In the next month, Meituan will invest more than 20 million yuan in subsidies in Shanghai to attract and encourage more riders to run orders, adding security to the city’s supply.

　　The Shanghai Express Industry Association issued an initiative on the 23rd, hoping that more social forces, with the permission of individuals and families, can choose the nearest express outlets or post stations to join the ranks of temporary "express brothers" and participate in the "express volunteer" action under the condition of ensuring their own health. Let’s overcome the difficulties together and protect our homes.