news and events / A Year End Message from our Country Managing Director

 
"Here we are, approaching the end of 2021, I would describe it as a year of mixed feelings. We started the year with a minor lockdown and post integration challenges, and we were also blessed with good momentum of recovery. As we gained confidence with strong sales in the beginning of Q2, we were struck with a cyber-attack and labor crisis, which seriously affected our supplies and service level. When we thought the worst is over, then came another major lockdown at the end of Q2. We did not give up and continued to overcome the series of misfortunes. While most worked from home during the lockdown period as per SOP, some of our associates must work from office and on the road, rain, or shine. Nevertheless, we continued to work hard to minimize these impacts with our hybrid work model, multiple shifts, pivot in portfolios, strict SOPs and enhanced cybersecurity
 
Our hard work paid off; our businesses have been steadily recovering since the gradual opening in Q3. With the support from our customers and partners, we continue to operate at close to full capacity.  We enhanced our portfolio with Xtructured Solutions (XDs) launched in this year to further support our customers in building, operating, optimizing and enhancing their assets and supply chain. We achieved a breakthrough in eBusiness after many years of hard work and investment. Furthermore, we had our very first Punchout Catalogue for improved productivity with the supply chain of customer.
 
More highlights for 2021, we had our very first ISO certificate, a great milestone and better confidence to our customers and to be an even better customer centric organization, we have launched a NPS program to make sure we continue to be your preferred suppliers and partners. On the People’s organization section, we were awarded 2 HR Awards this year. We won HR Asia Best Companies to Work for In Asia (Malaysia) and a Silver Award for the Employer of Choice Award by MIHRM. We aim to achieve the Gold award in 2022. On the other hand, we had a few associates who were admitted to the hospital due to the virus disease and had recovered out of the life-threatening condition. God bless!
 
This year, particularly since Q4, we started to invest again riding on steady recovery. We carried on with CRM pilot phase 2 with more users to improve customer experience, we invested in Robotic Process Automation and Warehouse Automation with software robots and vertical lift to improve productivity and service level, we increased manpower to serve our customers better. We signed up our first PPA (Power Purchase Agreement) in our transition to greener energy while saving some. We were invited by UOB alongside with a few other MNCs and renowned green energy companies to the bank’s U-Energy Program that offer one stop solutions for all renewable energy undertakings, covering LSS, industrial, commercial, and residential project supplies. We had hundreds of our customers and associates trained in energy transition. Now, I am confident that we are set to serve our customers better in years to come, not only in Performance, but People and Planet. 
 
In this wonderful Season’s Greetings, and on behalf of the management of KVC and Sonepar. I would like to sincerely thank our customers and partners for making it a good year and together set ourselves ready for many great years ahead. I wish everyone happy holidays, peace of mind, stay healthy and safe.
 
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!"

by Eddie Wong, Country Managing Director Malaysia, Sonepar.