The bigger the challenges and the worse the crisis, the less helpful it is to stand around feeling sorry for ourselves. \u201cOvercoming the pandemic is the most important and urgent task, however, it isn\u2019t our only task,\u201d explains Monica Rintersbacher, Managing Director of Leitbetriebe Austria. \u201cNow of all times, our leading Austrian companies need to prove that they can keep the Austrian economy running. This can be achieved by continuing to manufacture under these difficult circumstances, by ensuring that \u2018critical infrastructure\u2019 operates effectively and by continuing to supply other companies to help safeguard their existence. What\u2019s more, they can prepare for a new start once the crisis is over. Because the sooner Austria\u2019s economy starts functioning normally again, the sooner we can reduce the unemployment rate, reduce the financial burden on households and curb government debt. Those who are now thinking and working with the future in mind will help to overcome the crisis quickly.\u201d<\/p>\n
Monica Rintersbacher has been involved in intensive discussions with many of our leading companies and has come to the conclusion that in times of crisis courage and confidence are especially important \u2018raw materials\u2019 for each company and the Austrian economy. \u201cLeitbetriebe Austria is therefore playing a critical role, which is why we want to highlight some of the many companies \u2013 and especially their highly-motivated employees \u2013 who are confronting the challenges presented by the crisis with great energy and creativity.\u201d<\/p>\n
Heading out of the crisis<\/strong><\/p>\n Austrian companies deliver the highest levels of service despite the downturn<\/strong> High-tech hygiene measures replace standard services<\/strong> Maintaining customer proximity and customer focus at a distance<\/strong> As the state of property values is of extreme financial importance for private and institutional investors, a comprehensive analysis of the effects of the coronavirus pandemic on the Austrian property market is being generated along with regular updates. As Michael Ehlmaier continues to explain, \u201cThis serves as a very important guide for our clients, which enables us to show them better than before the kind of services we can provide for them. I think that following this crisis our relationship with many of our customers will be even stronger and more positive than it was before.\u201d<\/p>\n Sales campaigns on hold, but production continues<\/strong> Disrupted supply chains open up new export opportunities<\/strong> From swimming pools to face shields<\/strong> \u2013 a surge in crisis-induced creativity<\/strong> Monica Rintersbacher certainly believes that the crisis strategies employed by Austria\u2019s leading companies deserve the greatest respect. \u201cThe energy, expertise and creativity of our leading companies is remarkable. We obviously can\u2019t expect even the best strategies to conjure away the negative effects of the crisis, however, they allow businesses to continue operating in the best way possible. Above all, they create optimal conditions for successful new beginnings. The overarching message is unequivocal: we are looking to the future and Austria is still open for business!\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The bigger the challenges and the worse the crisis, the less helpful it is to stand around feeling sorry for ourselves. \u201cOvercoming the pandemic is the most important and urgent task, however, it isn\u2019t our only task,\u201d explains Monica Rintersbacher, Managing Director of Leitbetriebe Austria. \u201cNow of all times, our leading Austrian companies need to 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bigger the challenges and the worse the crisis, the less helpful it is to stand around feeling sorry for ourselves. \u201cOvercoming the pandemic is the most important and urgent task, however, it isn\u2019t our only task,\u201d explains Monica Rintersbacher, Managing Director of Leitbetriebe Austria. \u201cNow of all times, our leading Austrian companies need 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\nDue to the times we live in, employees working from home now find themselves making their well-earned cup of coffee themselves, instead of grabbing a cup from one of the thousands of hot beverage dispensers provided by the Austrian company caf\u00e9+co. The beverage vending provider delivers a high-quality service across eleven countries, supplying hot and cold beverages, and snacks, via its drinks dispensers and coffee machines. The company has been hit hard by the coronavirus outbreak, so it is now focusing even more intently on ensuring that its remaining deliveries are handled to complete perfection. \u201cUnfortunately, drinking coffee doesn\u2019t protect you from the coronavirus, but nobody deserves it as much as the people in companies and institutions which we are currently supplying,\u201d explains Managing Director of caf\u00e9+co Fritz Kaltenegger. \u201cWe are currently focusing more heavily on customers such as hospitals, public authorities, government departments, food retailers and various infrastructure facilities. We want to be there for the people who work in these types of organisations. Our routine hygiene measures have always been of a consistently high standard, but we have optimised them even further in light of the pandemic. Wearing gloves is always a given, but now our staff are also wearing face masks and all equipment is disinfected on the outside each time it is refilled.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nThe range of standard services provided by the facility services sector has declined due to the crisis \u2013 businesses, hotels and offices, which are now closed, are now only being cleaned intermittently or not at all. \u201cWe are trying to compensate for at least a part of this shortfall by carrying out special types of cleaning. This doesn\u2019t just provide a ray of hope for the future of our business, it means more importantly that we are playing a key role in ensuring hygiene standards are flawless in order to help stem the coronavirus pandemic,\u201d explains Andreas Ubl, Managing Partner of the facilities management company ifms Service. New types of highly effective disinfection processes are used to clean interior spaces of all types and sizes as well as cars and buses. Mobile generators are used to generate compressed air for a special cold nebulisation process, which is used to disinfect the air and surfaces in rooms over a wide area. The fine aerosol reaches and disinfects the smallest nooks and crannies to ensure the space is as clean and safe as possible.<\/p>\n
\nOne of the things Austria\u2019s leading companies have been forced to learn very quickly is that a customer-focused approach can and must happen even if you cannot be in close proximity to your customers. Austria\u2019s leading property service provider EHL Immobilien is one of the many companies that adapted quickly to this new situation. \u201cThe current situation has naturally had a huge impact on our activities. However, we are primarily using digital technology to ensure that we can continue to maintain our usual high levels of service,\u201d explains Managing Director Michael Ehlmaier. \u201cInstead of carrying out our usual viewings, we now offer an online version using 3D technology. And even during these challenging times, we can process financial transactions in the two-digit million range \u2013 last week alone we handled the sale of an office building and a large residential development project to two prestigious international investors.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nLeading Austrian manufacturer of designer light fittings Molto Luce is one of the many companies which combine production, distribution and wholesale services, and which are facing a particularly challenging time. \u201cOur sales force is currently unable to make any appointments, however, production is still remaining at full capacity for the time being,\u201d explains Managing Director Friedrich Eiber. \u201cThis is mainly possible because under normal circumstances we usually maintain a very healthy order backlog. If the restrictions don\u2019t last for an excessively long time, we can complete these orders and won’t need to scale back our production.\u201d Friedrich Eiber is also confident that it will not all end in disaster and that the orders which didn\u2019t materialise in March, April and even in May will just come in later than originally expected. \u201cAll sectors will start to invest again, including in modern, high-quality lighting systems.\u201d The focus will therefore be on growth and not stagnation once the coronavirus crisis is over.<\/p>\n
\nSome sectors have not been as severely affected by the crisis and new opportunities are even being opened up at least in some sub-sectors. This has certainly been the experience of Markus Tadler, Marketing Director of Schmid Schrauben, a family firm with a 175-year-old history. \u201cIt has not been as bad as we had feared so far. Some export markets, such as Scandinavia, are performing especially well because we are receiving orders from customers who would normally buy from suppliers in Asia, which are not supplying at the moment.\u201d According to Markus Tadler, domestic demand from DIY stores has surprisingly not been disrupted as much as expected because sales volumes have remained at a certain level due to delivery and contactless collection services and the fact that people now have more time for DIY projects. \u201cSales are obviously down across the manufacturing and construction sectors, but even though we wouldn\u2019t say that the situation is particularly good on the whole, it\u2019s not a complete disaster either.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nNew situations require companies to think differently and to explore new avenues. Swimming pool manufacturer Wallner Kunststoffverarbeitung is a perfect example of a company that has demonstrated this kind of creative thinking. In response to the pandemic, the company quickly switched its production lines from manufacturing polyester pools to protective equipment. This leading Austrian company now manufactures plexiglass cough and sneeze panels as well as face shields, which can be retrofitted to standard construction safety helmets. \u201cWhen you\u2019re in a supermarket, bank or chemists, there is a good chance that we have produced the plastic protective screens that you will see there,\u201d explains the company\u2019s owner Andreas Wallner. \u201cThese products aren\u2019t particularly important from a financial perspective, but we are proud that even as a manufacturer of swimming pools we can make a meaningful contribution to the fight against COVID-19. Our core business is currently suffering because even though there are lots of construction projects in the pipeline, many construction companies are unable to work at full capacity.\u201d Andreas Wallner is still anticipating a positive outcome in the medium and long term because he believes many homeowners will be investing in their properties when the crisis is over. In addition, the fact that many public swimming pools could remain closed over the summer, might perhaps induce some people to think about having their own pool.<\/p>\n