"I Placed the Food on The Gate, Ibu."

KOMPAS/PRIYOMBODO (PRI) 29-10-2019

Online motorcycle taxi drivers check customer food orders at Grab Kitchen Tendean, South Jakarta, Tuesday (29/10/2019).

The fact that the new coronavirus can linger on the surface of goods for hours or even days brings new challenges to the goods and food delivery service business. The business players and consumers have their own tricks to resolve such a problem.Edo, 28, jogged to avoid the intensifying rain in the Kemanggisan area, West Jakarta, on Thursday afternoon (3/19/2020). He carried a plastic bag containing a box of fried rice and a glass of tomato juice. A green mask such as those often used by medical personnel hanged around his neck.

"Do you want to receive it directly or should I put it somewhere, ibu?" he said.

That afternoon, amid the rain and the COVID-19 pandemic, Edo continued to carry out his activities as usual as an app-based motorcycle taxi driver. Later, he got busier because orders for food delivery services during peak hours increased sharply compared to the previous days.

The increasing number of people tested positive for COVID-19 lately has a major impact on community activities. Residents prefer to stay at home. Work, study and eating activities are carried out at home to reduce the risk of contracting the virus. For those who are reluctant to cook themselves, online food delivery services have become the main alternative.

The fact that the new type of the new coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), which causes COVID-19, can linger on the surface of goods for hours, even days, bringing new challenges to the goods and food delivery service business. Grab, where Edo works, has implemented new protocols, including contactless order booking facilities. Through this service, which has been in effect since Tuesday, customers can ask drivers to place orders in front of the door, such as on a fence or leave them at the receptionist.

KOMPAS/FAJAR RAMADHAN

Gojek\'s online motorcycle taxi driver partners use special delivery bags during the GoGreener introduction event in Jakarta on Thursday (8/8/2019).

According to Edo, quite a number of customers have used the feature in the last three days. The food boxes are placed on the door handle outside the living room.

"In the past, this was not allowed because the food could be taken by other people, but now it is better," he said.

Similar to Grab, Gojek also applies contactless deliveries for the Gofood service. Gojek also features a body temperature marker card. The card contains information related to the body\'s temperature of the parties involved in the process of ordering and delivering the food, from the store employees who cook and prepare the food to the driver who delivers it.

When the government urged residents to work and study at home to minimize the spread of COVID-19, online transactions surged. In addition to ready-to-eat food and beverages, purchases of fresh food, medicines and personal protective equipment through on several e-commerce platforms have also increased significantly.

According to the chairman of the Indonesian Logistics Association, Zaldy Ilham Masita, to ensure product safety, especially food ingredients, the packaging of goods should comprise two layers so as to avoid bacterial or viral contamination.

In addition, consumers are advised to avoid face-to-face contact with the courier.

"This can be done by, for example, the courier putting the item on the door of the house, then the buyer goes out to take the item. Thus, face-to-face can be avoided," he said.

On the other hand, freight forwarding companies need to start implementing a goods collecting system that can reduce the crowds of people at counters or shipping counters.

On the other hand, freight forwarding companies need to start implementing a goods collecting system that can reduce the crowds of people at counters or shipping counters.

Order drops

Since the call for social restrictions was issued, Slamet R, 38, an app-based motorcycle taxi driver who lives in Depok, West Java, said the number of passengers had dropped significantly. He usually gets 18-20 passengers a day, but now he has only between five and seven passengers.

The chairman of the federation of Indonesian app-based motorcycle taxi drivers Garda, Igun Wicaksono, hopes that the increase in orders for food deliveries can compensate for the reduction in the number of passengers.

After the government called on residents to work and study at home, orders for app-based motorcycle taxis have dropped by 50 percent.

After the government called on residents to work and study at home, orders for app-based motorcycle taxis have dropped by 50 percent. However, ordering food through the online motorcycle taxi services has increased by 20 percent.

To prevent COVID-19 transmissions, Igun has distributed 15-point protocols to online motorcycle taxi drivers. One of them is to use a face mask and gloves as well as washing hands with soap.

(BM LUKITA GRAHADYARINI)