Facilities service provider ARA Property Services has responded to the global COVID-19 pandemic this year by quickly shifting to evolve operations, creating nearly 275 jobs across Australia and expanding its market offering to cater to client demand.
In addition to its extensive cleaning, maintenance and rapid response services, the organisation pivoted during the early stages of the pandemic to source and supply sought-after consumables including hand sanitiser, masks and hospital-grade cleaning products to clients across a range of industries.
This shift in business operations saw staff shift their focus to cater to market demand and ensure organisations across Australia could continue to adhere to strict cleaning and sanitisation protocols enforced by government by providing the required products and PPE equipment.
ARA Group founder and managing director, Edward Federman, said the company was not only able to survive, but thrive and grow in 2020.
“ARA Group has seen a total cleaning turnover of $91 million in 2020, which is an 18 per cent increase on last year’s figures. This revenue increase was driven solely through organic growth, thanks to the strategic decisions and agility of our management team,” he said.
“ARA Property Services’ consumables market increased due to a shift in demand during the pandemic, and we were able to put on extra staff to handle new warehousing and procurement operations to ensure we could sustainably secure and supply sought-after products for businesses across Australia.”
ARA Property Services CEO Paul McCann said the company’s ability to make nimble decisions to benefit its customers was vital to ARA’s success.
“For the first two months of the pandemic, we had to think on our toes and undertake a massive new logistical operation to ensure our clients had access to the vital cleaning products and PPE they needed to continue operations,” he said.
“For the first time in our history of operating, we had members of our finance and accounting teams undertaking sales responsibilities and packing boxes in warehouse spaces. It was truly a testament to the versatility of skills among our people, and dedication to meeting the changing needs of our clients,” McCann said.
During the pandemic, ARA Property Services reacted quickly to provide emergency decontamination for clients across the country.
“Following the confirmation of a COVID-19 case at the site of a leading Australian courier service, we were able to deploy a specialist team to the contaminated space within 45 minutes and disinfect the facility so the site could re-open the same day,” McCann said.
“With so much confusion in the market around new protocols and continually evolving government requirements, we could also take on a new role of educator to our clients, which is something never before seen in the facility services and cleaning industry.”
ARA Property Services is an arm of wholly Australian-owned buildings and facilities services company ARA Group, and offers a comprehensive range of cleaning, maintenance and rapid response services for commercial, industrial, healthcare, education, government and food manufacturing facilities across Australia.
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