Business View Oceania | Volume 3, Issue 11

27 28 BUSINESS VIEW OCEANIA VOLUME 3, ISSUE 11 BUSINESS VIEW OCEANIA VOLUME 3, ISSUE 11 important to us. We’ve got customers we are still in contact with for advisory purposes after seven years.” INTAKS takes a customer-first approach to its business, fostering collaboration with customers that is transparent, detail-oriented, and driven by solutions, Mr. Chapman says. “We communicate very closely and regularly with clients, particularly those who might need a little more support or advice, and those who are leasing equipment from us. As our business grows, we have more gear out there on the ground, so it’s important from a management point of view that we can support our customers where needed. We also get feedback from our customers that is invaluable. Trust and communication go both ways, so our relationships are very open and honest.” INTAKS holds heavy investment in training and support for its scaffolding company customers and their staff as a key area of focus. This focus allows business owners and managers to improve the efficiency of installers on site, which will ultimately improve the bottom line of the scaffolding company. Significant investments include the recruitment of an experienced Training and Support Manager, opening of a dedicated indoor training facility, and vital development of concise, user-friendly training manuals to complement existing detailed guidelines for use of the INTAKS system. The ongoing presence of the COVID-19 pandemic has presented some significant challenges to INTAKS staff in terms of material supply and manufacturing. Key suppliers and manufacturing partners are all New Zealand owned and operated. This makes close communication and collaboration easier, Mr. Warren says, but border restrictions have made it difficult for some suppliers to get materials into the country from overseas. “With everything that’s going on in the world, the entire industry has definitely been affected by delays in getting overseas supplies into New Zealand. As a result, there is a clear shortage of scaffold in the market at the moment. Pair that with the construction boom we are currently seeing, and you get a lot of strain on manufacturing companies.” As well as disruptions to import supply chains, INTAKS’ customers have had to contend with challenges surrounding site access due to government restrictions. Work on building sites ceased completely to comply with level four restrictions, but was able to recommence under level three lockdown regulations. INTAKS worked hard during this period to put in place processes to ensure ongoing supply to customers. Mr Warren continues, “We are also seeing projects run longer due to delays in building materials supply and distribution and site access constraints, so scaffolding requirements have been increasing across the country. We have had customers stay on a project for double INTAKS NEW ZEALAND L IMI TED