image of a doctor holding a mask and a stethoscope necessary for stepping into hospitals
By Paul Shewry Automatic Doors • General Information • Maintenance • • 0 Comments

3 Reasons Why Automatic Doors are Vital in Hospitals

Over the past few months, our brave NHS  staff have been at the forefront of treating COVID-19 patients.

Fortunately, the number of cases has begun to decrease which has not only reduced pressure on hospital staff but also resulted in the lockdown being lifted gradually.

Nonetheless, it’s still important for the NHS to continue strict and extensive measures, especially when it comes to the health of the medical staff and recuperating patients.

Social distancing measures have helped significantly in controlling the spread of the virus, but the transmission that occurs from physical contact through surfaces like door handles needs to be taken into account. This is one of the reasons why automatic door services, like automatic sliding and swinging doors, play a key role in the infrastructure of medical centres.

In this article, we have compiled a list of top 3 reasons why hospitals need to install automatic doors if they haven’t already.

1. Keep Foot Traffic Under Control

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, hospitals have witnessed a massive surge in their daily foot traffic and that has only increased the possibilities of virus transmission through contaminated surfaces.

In order to reduce physical contact with such surfaces, thereby breaking the chain of transmission, it’s imperative to have a well-thought-out entry and exit solution in place.

Wherever possible, hospitals and doctors surgeries should consider installing automatic sliding doors throughout their premises. These doors will not only eliminate the need for using our hands to open it, but also help in reducing the chances of contracting the virus. Moreover, installing automatic doors completely eliminates the need to station additional staff at multiple points of entry and exit.

If you are looking for professional automatic door installation and maintenance services for your hospital, you can partner with commercial door suppliers at Doorway Services.

2. Easy to Clean and Maintain

When it comes to hospitals, keeping the entire premises clean has always been the top priority. However, given the present situation, it has become even more important to maintain the highest level of sanitation; and one of the best ways to do this is by installing automatic doors.

Since these doors are usually made of glass and aluminium, cleaning them becomes easier. This reason alone is enough to understand why automatic doors are the best option for hospitals.

What’s more, these doors can be easily paired with wave sensors or activators to take the “zero contact” approach up a notch.

This further helps you ensure that people no longer need to open doors manually as it curbs the spread of the virus through physical contact while improving the hospital’s level of hygiene.

For thorough and professional automatic door installation, you can get in touch with the expert door installers at Doorway Services.

3. Cost-Effective Solution

During this period, you would want to offer the best level of safety and care to all your patients but may have budget restrictions.

In this case, one of the best ways would be to install automatic doors at your hospital premises. This will ensure that you are not only saving thousands of pounds but also taking care of your patient’s health and safety.

Despite the initial installation costs, installing automatic doors can actually save public institutions money. Opening and closing only when needed help to save unnecessary heat loss. Put simply, it helps you cover the installation expenses by lowering your energy bills.

In addition, automatic doors are highly reliable, easy to maintain, long-lasting, and cost-effective. All these factors come together to make it a must-have in every hospital.

Get in Touch with Doorway Services for Automatic Door Installation and Repair Services

As the saying goes, “prevention is better than cure”, so ensure that you are preventing future health problems by re-evaluating all the entry and exit points in your hospital.

If you are looking to install automatic doors or want to repair the existing ones, partner with Doorway Services as we are the best automatic door repair company in Northamptonshire and surrounding areas.

You can also give us a call to find out more about our door installation and repair services.

image of a stethoscope representing social distancing measures to be followed in hospitals
By Paul Shewry Automatic Doors • General Information • Security • • 0 Comments

Social Distancing Tips to Follow In Your Hospital

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the world has come to realise the importance of social distancing measures and how to follow it diligently. Strict social distancing measures have resulted in fewer cases which have led to the lockdown being eased, although social distancing measures are still being followed vigilantly. 

These rules are even more important in a hospital for obvious reasons, as the safety of both the patients and the medical staff is as important as ever. As the hospital staff are at the forefront of treating COVID-19 patients, their health and safety along with that of the health of other patients is important. 

Social distancing is a critical tactic to help prevent the spread of the virus. In this piece, we discuss some protocols that need to be followed to keep medical personnel and patients of the hospital safe and sound. 

Install Foot Traffic Solutions to Monitor the Flow of People 

In order to promote social distancing, hospitals will benefit from installing automatic solutions that help monitor foot traffic at all times. In order to minimise physical contact with surfaces that could spread the virus, hospitals need to consider installing more automatic sliding doors, with an add-on system that helps manage the flow of traffic within the hospital. 

Green and red LEDs installed at the entrance will help hospital personnel control the number of entries that can be allowed at a time. This system can be employed across multiple points of entry and exit to promote social distancing. 

Ensure that proper upkeep and maintenance of your sliding door is conducted for optimum door performance. Click here to find out more about sliding door repair service. 

Screens and Masks

The daily screening process for patients, staff and visiting family members will reinforce the importance of social distancing. Having a universal masking policy throughout the hospital will further help safeguard occupants from contracting the virus. Create dedicated testing areas at the entrance and car parks for people showing coronavirus symptoms. Ensure that you use automatic doors to their full potential here to curb and contain the spread of the virus. 

Communicate Social Distancing Measures

Communicating important social distancing tips is essential, despite people knowing the dos and don’ts of being safe during the pandemic. It gives everyone the confidence and a sense of solidarity as doctors, nurses, clinicians and the healthcare team at large along with patients and families come together to do their best to stay safe. Posting signage across the hospital is recommended especially in the common areas so more people are aware of the role they play. 

Making regular announcements and providing house-wide updates and information regarding team protocols and needs, emergency measures and key social distancing reminders will go a long way in ensuring that everyone is up to date with the latest developments to keep the virus at bay.

Telemedicine

With the help of telemedicine and work from home options, hospitals can create more space in their offices and corridors. This means team members, patients and visitors continue keeping safe and protected, as the density is reduced in the hospital for medication and treatment other than coronavirus. It’s all about limiting the number of visitors and with telemedicine, reducing this number is possible. 

Foot Traffic Management

Since the outbreak of the coronavirus, hospitals and healthcare establishments all over the world have experienced a significant increase in the volume of patient care. Add to the mix patients who need treatment for other ailments and conditions, healthcare units have been operating at full capacity globally. Arrangements have to be made so that other patients can be given the necessary treatments for their conditions. 

This means you have to actively plan and maintain a safe environment in the clinics, hospital wards and perioperative areas. To make things more manageable, you can consider initiating a drive-through clinic for vaccination that will enable your team members to take vitals of patients and administer vaccines at curbside. 

Rearrange the seating in your waiting rooms to promote proper social distancing measures.

To Sum It Up

As healthcare providers, it is important to emphasise all communication that constantly reminds patients and staff that they must continue playing their part. This new environment of safety and care shows the bigger picture of a healthy future for patients, staff and families alike. 

As we all adapt and embrace the new normal, we can look forward to integrating the changes that we have learnt from the pandemic. 

The key is to ensure that your entrances and exits are well monitored so see to it that you partner with a sliding door repair company in Northamptonshire to guarantee optimum door performance!

Get in touch with Doorway Services for door repair and maintenance as you strengthen your social distancing measures.

Image of a man wearing a mask representing social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic
By Paul Shewry Automatic Doors • General Information • Management • Tips and Tricks • • 0 Comments

How Tech Can Help Social Distancing – Top 7 Tips Retail Stores Can Follow

Supermarkets are among the few places that have remained operative during the COVID-19 pandemic. In spite of that, the number of delivery slots has been kept to a bare minimum to help limit social contact. With retail stores set to open within the next week, the logistical challenge is only expected to grow.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has advised people to limit the time they spend outside their homes as a means to curb the spread of the virus.

However, people have to step out to purchase medicines and other essential products and as time moves on we will need to begin to return to a new normal. The need to leave your home becomes more frequent particularly for those taking care of an elderly person. 

This is why it is important for retailers to introduce strict social distancing norms such as avoiding physical contact and regular sanitisation of the store.

At Doorway Services, we have put together our top 7 norms every retailer can implement in their store.

Let’s take a look!

Install Customer Traffic Flow Solutions

In order to ease the flow of customers, so that social distancing advice can be followed, many supermarkets find themselves using several members of staff to control the flow of foot traffic. However, what if there was a system to track and monitor this automatically?

Up and coming technology will automatically track the number of customers and entering and leaving your store. Although built with stores in mind, the tech can be used in any building where social distancing needs to be followed. 

Working similarly to a traffic light, green and red LEDs control the flow of traffic into and out of the store, telling customers when they can enter. The system can even work across multiple entrances and exits to ensure accurate data.

Adding Distance Markers on The Floor

Along with limiting the entry of customers in your store, you can also place distance footmarks on the floor. This ensures that there is zero social contact between customers.

You can also implement a one-way system in each section of the store to avoid overcrowding of customers in one aisle.

Ask everyone to follow the distance markers and help them disinfect their baskets, trolleys, and hands before entering the store. For additional safety, install protective screens between customers and your staff.

Introducing a No-Touch Policy

Having a “no-touch” policy in place is more like asking customers to touch only those products that they want to purchase. You can add directional barriers and signs to help customers shop with ease while ensuring they maintain the said 6-feet distance.

Encourage your customers to choose a contactless payment option or pay using their cards, as this ensures there is no exchange of cash.

To make sure every customer follows the social distancing norms, allow just one trolley or basket per person. You could also consider enforcing that customers wear a mask in store, similar to the rules used in the US.

Placing Physical Barriers

You can place physical barriers to prevent queue jumpers or limit the number of people at a checkout point.

These barriers can also be placed at till points to ensure that there is enough distance between your staff and the customer. If your till points are close to each other, then consider closing most of them. Check if the same is required for self-scan tills.

Using Single-Entry and Exit Door

Have a dedicated entry and exit point in your store. To ensure customers are using the right entry point, ask your associates to give them proper directions or place signage near the entrance.

Similarly, after your customers check out, direct them to the respective exit point, as this will help reduce the instances of them walking past each other closely.

Installing Automatic Doors

Manual doors require customers to use their hands to open the doors. During this situation, it is crucial to avoid physical contact with surfaces that are likely to carry the virus.

Instead, why not install commercial automatic doors in your store to completely remove the concept of pushing the door open with your bare hands?

As an added precaution, you can pair these automatic doors with a counting system, similar to that seen in point 1, to maintain social distancing. This way, you can restrict the flow of customers and ensure the creation of a safe environment within your store.

If you want to find out more about our automatic door installation and repair services, click here!

Providing Your Staff with Protective Gears

The safety of your employees has to be your top priority when running a retail store in a pandemic.

It is important to provide them with the necessary protective gears such as masks, gloves, and safety visors. This will not only help limit their social contact but also ensure they are protected from the virus at all times.

Contact Doorway Services for Commercial Door Installation and Repair

If you own a retail business, it is important for you to have all the above-mentioned social distancing norms in place. Assess your entire store and see how you can deal with the effects of this pandemic whilst doing your bit to curb the spread of the virus.

Get in touch with us to know more about our services.

image of shipment containers representing supply chain of a business
By Paul Shewry Automatic Doors • General Information • Tips and Tricks • 0 Comments

Six Ways Businesses Can Take Care of Their Supply Chain During a Pandemic

When things work out as planned, it feels as if you are on the right track!

For example, customers walk into a store and immediately find what they were looking for or they place an order online and receive the delivery within a couple of days.

Customers have become used to this level of comfort offered by most businesses. However, when supply chains are disrupted due to local and global events like the COVID-19 pandemic, established processes can go right out the window.

Supply chain disruptions tend to be challenging for both businesses and customers. This makes it crucial to have a disaster recovery plan in place to ensure business continuity.

At Doorway Services we have put together a list of 5 ways you can address the supply chain issues during a pandemic.

Let’s take a look!

1. Be Transparent with Your Customers

At Doorway Services, we firmly believe that open communication with customers is key at a time when observing social distancing is crucial. 

You have to be transparent about the waiting period and the reasons for the delay. This will ensure that your customers are on the same page as you are. If you are running out of stock, have changed the delivery speed, or are reducing the number of purchases, share the details with your customers as soon as possible.

Your communication doesn’t have to be limited to just your customers. Make sure you are consistently in touch with your team and other distribution partners as well to ensure that the supply chain is as smooth as it can be. 

2. Analyse Every Critical Element of Your Supply Chain

Present supply chains have a ‘one-size-fits-all’ design, assuming that materials are available for production on a global scale. Though it has created an inexpensive ‘Cost to Serve’ model, the current pandemic has thrown a huge curveball on the logistics industry.

As a business, you need to figure out what’s necessary for workflow continuity along with the origin of supply. You also have to streamline the capacity of your supply chains with dynamic operational capability.

For instance, for an automatic door installation company such as ourselves, we’ve had to look at diversifying our product range to meet demand, whilst also ensuring we don’t compromise quality. 

When you stick to a single source to reduce your expenses, it affects your customers as they aren’t directly linked to the vendor; but you are. To avoid this, consider looking for suppliers situated at various locations to easily reroute your shipments.

3. Evaluate Stock Availability

It is important to have a complete list of your available stock at all times! Having a comprehensive understanding of your inventory is crucial especially when the supply chain has disruptions to deal with.

It will be a good idea to physically check the available stock and audit not just the number of completed products, but also the required spare parts and components to ensure your production is up and running!

4. Determine Logistical Flexibility

You have to be flexible now more than ever.

Determine the areas where it’s possible for you to hit the brakes and opt for an alternative delivery channel or slower delivery time.

This also takes you back to the significance of open communication. Ensure that you’re reinforcing the bond with your suppliers and appreciating the efforts they have been putting in to help you maintain business efficiency.

5. Adopt a People-First Approach

As a business owner, it is essential to have a people-first approach, especially during this period of uncertainty. As far as the supply chain is concerned, you need all hands on deck. Irrespective of whether you’re an automatic door supplier or essential service provider, the safety and health of your customers and employees has to be prioritised.

Allow your employees to work from home wherever possible and execute a proper communication plan within your company. This will ensure your staff is well-informed which means you can prevent major supply chain disruptions. Prepare your suppliers for the work procedures so they are ready to deal with the surge in demand that’s likely to happen once things go back to normal.

6. Plan Your Response Beforehand to Steer Through Disruptions

Local and global events as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic are unpredictable. It is therefore important to have a long term plan in place as it helps you cushion the impact of Coronavirus and other similar crisis.

As a business, you need to have a contingency plan in place as you carefully assess the potential risks at hand. This way, you will be more than prepared to stabilise business functions as you adjust to the new normal!

Similarly, once the pandemic is behind us,  we all will have to embrace innovative ways to ensure business continuity and the safety of your employees. You can get automatic sliding doors installed by professional door installers, as this will help curb the spread of COVID-19 and other diseases. 

Doorway Services for Commercial Door Installation

We are professional commercial door suppliers and installers offering bespoke services to businesses of all sizes.

Give us a call now, to know more about the door installation, servicing and repair services we offer!

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By Paul Shewry Automatic Doors • General Information • Management 0 Comments

How Businesses Can Deal With The Effects Of Covid-19

The outbreak of the coronavirus has taken the global economy by storm. Many businesses have found themselves in a period of volatility and uncertainty with long-term consequences that are hard to assess and evaluate. Whilst the government is doing everything they can to ease the uncertainty, a lack of concrete information has led many businesses to dial back for the time being.

Given how we have had time to come to terms with the ‘new normal’, there are ways for businesses to adapt and prepare themselves for new customer behaviour. 

Each industry and business niche has its own set of unique challenges which makes it impossible to apply a one-size-fits-all strategy to cope with the effects of COVID-19. However, there are some common measures that businesses from all sectors can take to develop a crisis response model that’s foolproof and reliable. 

Let’s take a closer look at these measures!

1. Build a Crisis Management Team

Create a team of key-decision makers that’s not just limited to the company’s leadership. Include members from employee representatives, HR, operations, corporate functions and communications. This should be a dedicated team that is empowered to make decisions and execute them quickly as per the changes in the market.

2. Employee Safety and Protection

Get on top of making arrangements for employee protection and safety by implementing strict measures for hygiene. This includes allowing work from home, remote working, travel freeze and other measures that promote social distancing. Your people are your most valuable asset, so ensure that you take the necessary steps to ensure their safety. 

3. Conduct Regular Reviews

Given how unpredictable the situation is, it is important to regularly review processes, as you amend and update contingency plans for your business. The circumstances are highly unprecedented and fluid so ideas that worked before may not be as effective in the current scenario. It is very likely that in the coming months, the situation will remain more or less the same. Being flexible with your business plans is your best bet.

4. Stay Updated

Set up an information mechanism that allows you to compile accurate information that’s up to date and gathered from trusted sources. Once you have the necessary information, ensure that you pass it on to the concerned business departments so that you can continue working with what you have. In addition, being updated will eliminate the risk of misinformation which can negatively impact your business decisions.

5. Response to Emergencies

Ensure that your business has the necessary means and capacity to address emergencies quickly. The response to such incidences should be structured and deliberate, free from any knee-jerk reactions. Considering that these situations will be urgent, the response shouldn’t be delayed and influenced by external factors. 

6. Evaluate the Risks at Hand

Take into account the immediate risks your business is exposed to especially with regards to third-parties like human resources, supply chain, business partners, and manufacturers. Assess where your business stands and look for alternate options.

7. Be Systematic and Positive

See that you maintain a rather open, clear and transparent line of business communication with your stakeholders, clients, employees and everyone that either directly or indirectly are associated or affected by your business. This is an important step to take as it will go a long way in building a high level of confidence and trust between your company and your partners.

8. Awareness at Every Level 

Ensure that your entire business both at a local and global level is aware of the development measures being taken to address and deal with a pandemic in the best possible manner. It is equally essential to readjust and review your business plans as you update your company’s strategy to deal with the crisis at hand.

To Wrap It Up

At such a time, it is important that panic, misinformation and hasty decisions must be avoided at all costs. In every period of adversity change in the market and the economy is inevitable. It brings with it a new set of risks and challenges which pave the way for new business opportunities and innovation. It also gives you the time to review your current situation and come up with remedial solutions. For instance, automatic door installation is necessary to promote personal hygiene and social distancing for businesses especially when normal work schedule resumes.

Similarly, focusing more on digitising your processes will benefit you long term. Simply put, as a company the sooner you single out the potential threats as a result of COVID-19 the better your chances of coping with it as you embrace and adopt new ways to conduct business. 

Doorway Services for Business Door Installation & Repair

Once things go back to normal, you will have to survey your business building and see how you can fortify it for the safety of your employees. With automatic doors, you can promote social distancing and avoid the spread of diseases.

Doorway Services are professional automatic door installers and suppliers who can cater to bespoke business needs. 

Get in touch with us today to know more!

image of a industrial building representing how you can streamline your manufacturing process
By Paul Shewry Automatic Doors • General Information • Tips and Tricks • • 0 Comments

6 Ways To Streamline Your Manufacturing Process

Manufacturing is perhaps one of the busiest industry verticals. However, for many small and medium-sized businesses, there’s still a huge amount of room for improvement. For best results, you need to streamline your manufacturing process to achieve peak efficiency. 

As you jump from one task to another, there are so many things to take care of – meetings, employees, customer demands, inventory issues and more. With so many aspects clamouring for your attention, you can definitely do with more organisation. 

So, we have a put together a list of 6 ways you can streamline your manufacturing process for better productivity. 

1. Streamline Your Shop Floor Communication

Quicker communication with the shop floor will help eliminate confusion while collecting accurate information both to and from the shop. What happens if door repair service is required or if a crucial system breaks down? Your employees don’t have to stop working as they go look for someone. Establish processes that allow your staff to enter maintenance requests easily from their workstation. 

Automate these processes because bulletin boards and handwritten notes are grossly outdated. Having live data on a screen is a surefire way to stay up to date with shop related information. Harness the power of automation and speed up floor communication.

2. Streamline Documentation and Material Handling

If you are struggling to track down paperwork or trace transactions back to their source then it is high time to implement a solution that eliminates this issue. It is important to keep track of shipments and deliveries along with the associated documentation to maintain clear records. The best thing to do is to automate material handling so that maintaining records becomes super easy. Additionally, you can optimise the efficiency of your facility’s sliding and automatic doors by installing control systems to better manage entries and exits. 

You can also change the mode of operation of these doors depending on the requirements you have. Introducing automation in various processes of your manufacturing unit will help you be more efficient in your tasks.

3. Streamline Business Management 

It is easy to get tangled with the small things as you look at them with a tunnel vision This doesn’t allow you to look at the bigger picture. If you want to assess and gauge how well your business is doing in actuality, you need to look at it from a bird’s eye view. Once you identify the problem areas, you can then zoom in and come up with ways to improve them. You can use tried and tested performance indicators from your system data to understand areas you excel in and the ones you can do with a bit of improvement. When you work on this, you can streamline your manufacturing process for better efficiency. 

4. Streamline Your Plans for Improvements

When was the last time you closely observed all your processes? Are you doing things the way you always have? Was there any change in the way you handle things in terms of technology? At times, you might get so occupied with taking care of your business that you forget to take a step back and observe how things are being done. With the passage of time and with new and improved technologies available, you can always enhance your manufacturing process by closely monitoring various business operations and processes.

5. Streamline Your Sales Process

It would be great if your clients could just found you and come to you directly. While this sounds great in theory, you have to work hard to establish your footing in the manufacturing industry. You have to take calculated steps to market yourself and land a deal to make a sale. The key lies in creating a robust plan for selling. You need to have as much data with you as possible in order to make focused decisions. Only then you will be able to ensure glowing results with absolute certainty. 

6. Streamline Employee Tracking

If you are struggling to keep track of your employees and the various tasks they are responsible for, it is time to look a how you can simplify this process. You could have a system where you automatically alert your employees at their workstation. Maybe you could install biometric systems to record clock-in and clock-out times. You could also maintain notes to keep a record good work performance which will help you at the time of review. Having a process in place where all employee information can be stored and accessed easily is crucial.

Automatic Doors for Better Manufacturing Automation

A lot of material handling is involved in manufacturing and since automating processes can streamline your business better, the same applies to your entrance and exits as well. Installation of automatic doors can help with a lot of processes mentioned above, especially with material and employee tracking. You can have biometric systems installed along with other door accessories to further streamline your manufacturing process. 

Give us a call if you are looking for business door repair, maintenance and installation!

image of a professional business person representing key business areas for investment
By Paul Shewry General Information • Maintenance • Management • Tips and Tricks • 0 Comments

3 Key Business Areas You Should Invest In

Although there are always exceptions, typically to make money you have to spend money first. It may be a common phrase, but it’s no less true when running your own business. However, spending money without a plan could lead to it being wasted, so identifying problem areas and targeting them is crucial. 

So how do you decide where you need to invest in your business and is it worth it? What contributions can you make as a business owner in order to see a good return on investment?

In this piece, we have compiled a list of some key business areas that can do with a bit of improvement. 

Let’s take a look!

1. The People in Your Company

This is perhaps the most important aspect on the list. Your employees and your staff are the backbone of your business. As your business expands, it’s important that your employees grow with you. Here, growth isn’t simply restricted to numbers but it also concerns their expertise and level of proficiency.

But, when it comes to employee development, many business owners fall short. A study conducted by Love Energy Savings showed that almost 50% of the 1,400 people surveyed believed their employer didn’t offer enough opportunities to help them develop their skills and advance their careers. 

There are so many advantages of investing in employee development. It helps:

  • Boost productivity
  • Invite more ideas into the business
  • Increases employee retention

When you encourage your employees to develop their knowledge and skills, you will not only incite employee loyalty but also nurture them to grow alongside your business. Moreover, you will be able to save money as you give employee engagement a boost and empower them for better efficiency.

The icing on the cake is that you are also likely to see an increase in output and sales which makes the people in your company one of the key business areas you must invest in.  

2. The Equipment in Your Company

We have heard the phrase time is money and in this aspect, it cannot be truer. When you waste time, you waste money. Despite the fact that it could be costing them thousands of working hours every year, it is shocking to see so many businesses settling for equipment that’s second-rate or sub-standard.

If any device or equipment is faulty and ceases to work properly, it is implied that it will affect productivity as well. When poor equipment gets stuck and stops working, in order to fix the problem, your employees are likely to stop working too.

You need to keep a close eye on equipment prone to breaking down. Ask your staff about defective equipment and problem areas that hinder their productivity. Once you have identified these inefficiencies, consider getting an upgrade to restore and boost productivity. 

For instance, what if your business door gets stuck or desktop systems start acting up? Take some time to identify your business needs and the extent of technology and repair required. 

Shop around a bit to get the best deals and refrain from purchasing second-hand equipment which is likely to cost more in the long run. Whether it is your equipment, business door or tech, ensure that you get resources that are bespoke to your business. 

You can find out more about door repair services right here!

3. The Office Space of Your Company

Imagine a space that you feel uncomfortable in. Now imagine spending more than 40 hours a week in such an environment. For all you know, you’ve just stepped into your staff’s shoes. 

Office spaces that are run down and congested can have a huge impact on the mental state of your employees. It can affect productivity and state of mind. To make your employees feel more positive and at ease five days a week, consider switching to a more comfortable workspace or upgrading your existing space. 

Add new furniture pieces, give the break room a facelift, throw in a bean bag for good measure. Raise employee morale by asking them to decorate their work desks. Encourage them to add personal effects that remind them of home and loved ones. 

Remember, happy employees are both productive and motivated. Consider it as an investment in the future of your business. Enable your employees to showcase their very best by investing in a functional office space which is one of the key business areas you need to invest in.

Door Repair Company in Northampton

High-performing business doors are crucial for your company. At Doorway Services, you can install automatic doors that are bespoke to your business requirements. If you are looking for a door repair company in Northamptonshire, give us a call!

image of a man wearing a mask as a result of COVID-19
By Paul Shewry Automatic Doors • General Information • Security • 0 Comments

How Automatic Doors Can Help Prevent The Spread Of COVID-19

In a matter of a few weeks, the Coronavirus or COVID-19 outbreak has become the number one talking point across the entire world as it has become an all-consuming global issue. More than 500,000 people have been affected globally which is why containing the virus is the need of the hour. 

The World Health Organization (WHO) has been advising all countries to implement measures aimed at slowing the spread of the virus. Since the best way around it is through strict containment, many countries have issued nationwide lockdowns and advised people to self-quarantine themselves until things get back to normal.

Basic Hygiene Guidelines and Symptoms to Watch Out For

The best way to prevent the spread of COVID-19 is to be hygienic as that is the best proponent to help contain its spread. Health authorities have issued prevention guidelines for everyone to follow. 

The basics are mentioned below: 

  • Frequent washing of hands with water and soap for at least 20 seconds.
  • Avoiding touching of the face – specifically the eyes, mouth and nose.
  • Limiting physical contact and avoid being in a crowd.
  • If you experience breathing difficulties and have a cough and fever, seek medical help.
  • When visiting areas with a lot of people around, embrace strict hygiene measures. 
  • Clean communal areas frequently and also areas that may pose a risk of infection.
  • Stay at home as much as possible to avoid being infected or passing on the infection in case you test positive.

Measures That Businesses Must Take To Prevent the Spread of the Pandemic

Most public places with the exception of hospitals are actively being avoided by people as a way to prevent the COVID-19 virus from spreading. Supermarkets have drastically reduced the number of visitors they receive whilst most shopping centres, offices and cafes have now closed. 

If you own any of the businesses mentioned above, you must be taking all the measures to do your bit to help limit social contact.

In spite of all these measures, people might not have a choice and have to ultimately step out of their homes to buy groceries, medicines and other essentials. This is why it’s a great relief that most establishments mentioned above usually have automatic doors installed which makes access not only easy but also helps limit the extent of touching involved in a communal area.

Automatic Doors To Help Prevent the Spread of COVID-19

If manual doors are installed in your facility, people generally use their hands to push the door open. The whole point is to avoid coming into contact with places and surfaces that can possibly pass on the virus. If you have automatic doors installed, several people touching the door handle won’t be a concern as there’s no chance of contagion by hands. 

At present, automatic doors have become crucial in health facilities and hospitals as they isolate a room completely. You can even get bespoke automatic doors installed to create quarantine-like conditions for added safety. As an increasing number of patients are experiencing the effects of COVID-19 in isolation, automatic doors have become integral for medical centres. 

Similarly, automated doors will be a great addition in warehouses as there’s extensive product handling involved with loading and unloading activities. Having easy accessibility thanks to automatic doors will offer flexibility, operability not to mention hygiene as well. At a time where we have to pay special attention with regard to maintaining distance while handling materials, automated entrances offer safety and peace of mind.

Does Your Commercial Building Need Automatic Door Installation? 

Once we have put the pandemic behind us, it would be a good idea to assess your commercial building and see where and how the installation of automatic doors will help. This is to ensure the overall safety of the society and its people. 

This is not restricted to just avoid a new epidemic but it will also help people coming in contact with common flu and cold.

Get in touch with automatic door installers at Doorway Services to know more!

image of office buildings representing how to maintain your commercial building
By Paul Shewry Automatic Doors • Do It Yourself • Fire Doors • General Information • Maintenance • Renovation • Security • • 0 Comments

6 Tips To Maintain Your Commercial Building Effectively

As a business owner, one of your top priorities is to effectively maintain your commercial building. It’s a job that all too often falls by the wayside, but it’s important for you to retain your property’s value.

As is the case with nearly every property, wear and tear of a commercial building is bound to happen over time. As a business, your workplace is where you make money so carrying out routine maintenance for its upkeep is essential. 

The repairs that crop up in a business building are very routine in nature. Proper maintenance is key to avoid expensive renovations in the future. 

Maintain Your Commercial Building

Here are 6 tips to ensure that you maintain your commercial building well without any compromises in its upkeep!

1. Upkeep of Fixtures and Fittings 

This might not seem important on the surface but it is one of those little things that matters a lot. If damaged and broken fittings and fixtures are ignored for a long time, they can harm your employees and cause further damage to your property. 

Broken lights, cracked windows, damaged doors and handles are a few examples of damaged fixtures that will make your commercial space look shabby. This is why being on top of getting broken things fixed is integral. These small issues should be taken care of as soon as they come to light. It will help improve overall productivity in your office. 

2. Install Fire Doors

Fire breakouts can happen any time given how unpredictable they are. So legally, every office building must have fire doors installed for maximum safety and security of its occupants. Additionally, ensure that you eliminate all the fire hazards across the property. Make it a point to diligently check all the smoke detectors installed at least once a month. You will need to replace its batteries every year as well to keep it running. 

Ensure that fire exit doors are fully functional and passageways are kept clear. Each floor of your business building must have fire extinguishers in case of an emergency.

3. Maintain and Repair Your Business Doors

The entrance of your business building must perform at peak efficiency at all times.  Your commercial doors are quite literally the starting point of your business. Moreover, you have to keep in mind that your clients and customers will frequent the premises. So it is essential to conduct routine maintenance checks and timely automatic door repairs. These robust doors will elevate the entire aesthetic of your commercial property not to mention they add to the overall security as well.

Another benefit is that automatic doors help you be more energy-efficient. 

4. Conduct a Safety Audit on a Monthly Basis

To effectively maintain your commercial building, the safety mechanisms and fixtures you’ve installed should top of your list of concerns. As far as the well-being of the building’s occupants is concerned, these safety fixtures must be in proper working condition to keep potential accidents and lawsuits at bay. Some safety fixtures that you should keep a constant eye on are:

You should conduct a monthly audit of these installations to ensure that they are working as they are supposed to.

5. Prioritise Renovation Projects

Renovating your commercial building will go a long way in maintaining it well. As a general rule of thumb, treat your business building like you would treat your home. If you notice that certain section needs a bit of work, get on top of it and get it fixed.

Paint your wall’s exterior once every year to get rid of peels on walls and ceilings. As far as maintaining your commercial building is concerned, this is the absolute basic that you can do, to keep it in good condition.

6. Maintenance of Utilities and Facilities

The facilities of your commercial building should be fully functional at all times so there’s little to no disruption. This means you need to ensure that the escalators, elevators, business doors and public bathrooms are well-maintained at all times. Additionally, if your HVAC units breakdown, get them fixed right away.

It’s important to inspect your commercial building once every month to make sure that everything is up and running. This will help you ensure that your business operates without any hitches while maintaining high work standards at all times. 

Commercial Door Repair

If you need business door servicing in Northamptonshire and the surrounding areas, give the professionals at Doorway Services a call. 

You can also install new doors that are bespoke to your business.

Image of people walking around shops representing how to manage heavy foot traffic in stores
By Paul Shewry Automatic Doors • General Information • Maintenance • Tips and Tricks • • 0 Comments

Here’s How To Manage Heavy Foot Traffic In Your Retail Store

If heavy customer flow tops your list of concerns, you need strategies that you can rely on to manage heavy foot traffic efficiently in your retail store. That way, it will be easier for you to manage and attend to customers in a more practical way. It all boils down to effective crowd control and in this piece, we will discuss how you can manage heavy foot traffic easily.

Let’s dive in!

Keep Exits and Entrances Clear

With clearly marked exits and entryways, smooth customer flow within the venue is guaranteed. This is applicable for the threshold entry of your store and for various other points of entry and exit. This includes the corridor of your store, the queue or the service area inside. Having easy accessibility in the store with a clear pathway that leads to the exit makes movability and the process of shopping more fun and less of a challenge. 

Also, ensure that the entrance is dressed up with your store’s goods for enhanced visual appeal. An attractive storefront can compel buyers to make a purchase when they weren’t even planning to do so in the first place. 

Installing Automatic Doors to Manage Heavy Foot Traffic

Installing automatic doors in your retail store will greatly help especially as it leans on the point mentioned above. With automatic glass stores installed, decorating your storefront is easier. They provide easy access to the store as they open up automatically when someone approaches. Installing automatic doors in a retail store makes more sense as shoppers with their hands full with bags can enter and exit the premises with zero effort. What’s more, automatic door maintenance is especially easy when you partner with the professionals at Doorway Services. 

Plan Pathways Conducive for Easy Customer Flow

Pathways that help disperse customers in the right direction will greatly help manage the influx of both people and sales. Clearly marked pathways for both entry and exit with wayfinding signage like stanchions and belts will be useful. You can create clear pathways using the merchandise in your store to keep shoppers focused and on the move.

Using signage in your retail outlet will help customers know the exact points they are supposed to be at every stage of their shopping experience. Using dedicated methods to mark pathways can help manage heavy foot traffic with more flexibility. You can also use signs to highlight areas with promotional merchandise while making check-ins and outs hassle-free.

Account for Wait Time

While waiting in long winding queues is exhausting for customers, acknowledging it might offer a bit of relief. You can install digital displays in your retail store or have your staff convey the expected wait time to shoppers directly. This way, they will know what to expect. While the lines are unavoidable, the wait time will seem more manageable and realistic making shoppers more willing to wait for their turn.

Predict and Act Fast

Store managers can use analytics in real-time to get a sense of the expected foot traffic with the help of queue management technology. When wait times extend beyond what’s reasonable, staff could be deployed immediately for crowd control. Having hands-on information will help managers adjust the waiting line set up to keep the crowd on a steady move and manage heavy foot traffic efficiently.

Entertain and Engage

When the wait times increase, it will help to have digital displays in your retail store to distract customers and engage them in something interesting. These entertaining distractions will assist in reducing the perceived wait time and increase your chances of generating more sales. Make the most of digital displays in prime waiting areas. 

Queuing Clarity

Letting your customers know when to move from one place to another will help customers stay calm and relaxed. They can even continue to shop if merchandise is placed along the pathway that leads to the check out counter. Additionally, you can consider having a virtual queue in your retail store. Or, you can have a call-forward queue option and ensure that your staff performance is at its peak while reducing the downtime. 

Prepare to Organise Overflow

In a retail setting, a sudden deluge of customers is bound to happen especially during peak times. When the sudden influx of customers leads to backing up of lines, the overcrowding can restrict access to other areas of the store. This might also lead to concerns regarding the safety of the store. This is why keeping the customer flow organised and in systematic lines will help you provide a better customer experience. 

Organising the foot traffic that your store receives keeps the crowd moving which makes the customer feel valued.

Final Thoughts

As a retail store owner, it is important to get on top of foot traffic management while accounting for inevitabilities. Maintain a checklist of all the essential things to keep your store up and running at all times.

For automatic door repairs and installation, get in touch with the team at Doorway Services.