LETTERS: Businesses operating under the new normal have to contend with new challenges since early last year when the pandemic started to hit globally.
Protecting lives and livelihoods has become the mantra for everybody, especially for businesses that have to anticipate problems on a daily basis and plan for future obstacles too.
Lockdowns and standard operating procedures are now the main challenge. As economies the world over have found it tough to sustain themselves amid dwindling profits and soaring unemployment, the gig sector has beenthe main beneficiary, especially food delivery.
Every time I go out from my apartment, I see food delivery riders coming in to send food to residents, an invaluable service during lockdowns these days.
However, one big grouse has come into the picture recently. Delivery platforms have taken a bigger cut or commission for their service, thus reducing the profit margin for food outlets or restaurants.
A report mentioned commission rates as high as 35 per cent.
In recent days, we have heard of restaurateurs urging customers to contact them direct to enable them to arrange a third party to deliver the food at a lesser charge, something that helps as business also drops during the new normal conditions.
A report quoted a business owner suggesting for the government to step in and introduce a ceiling rate on the fees imposed by food delivery platforms, which will reduce the burden on restaurant owners and benefit customers.
While a ceiling rate is not a bad idea, perhaps the business sector, especially food outlets, can come up with a proposal as to how to fix delivery charges, which the authorities can look into.
Since the food outlets have complained, it is common sense for food delivery platforms to reassess their cut or commission towards business operators too, meaning they can also make a proposal for the government to study and allow for the balancing of interests between the two groups, which could lead to a suitable solution.
One should remember that that food delivery is also a business providing essential services to the public. Their services help merchants to expand their reach. Otherwise these merchants would have no revenue.
An alternative is for both business operators and food delivery platforms to think of what value added services they can offer to each other and customers, and whether prices can be changed to suit the situation.
One light at the end of the tunnel would be that ultimately, business will be back to normal in the future when the public can dine in once again with lockdown measures lessened or withdrawn.
Given the government's plan to have us achieve herd immunity from the pandemic by the end of the year, business operators should be more optimistic in the short and medium term that things will get better.
Nur Aisyah Abu Bakar
Cheras, Selangor
The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of the New Straits Times