Business View Caribbean | Volume 8, Issue 10

29 BUSINESS VIEW CARIBBEAN VOLUME 8, ISSUE 10 ALTURA CAR I BBEAN L IMI TED science involved to orchestrate that. Next, you want to get your personnel trained in using the equipment. We do the full package – from concept to walking in the door and operating the equipment.” With respect to face-to-face meetings, COVID has necessitated a virtual format in many cases. At ALTURA, training is still required to be done onsite. However, general progress meetings, depending on the client’s preference, are done virtually. Whoever is working on the site may do a small video, or arrange a video call with others so they can see what is happening. “We have always been about technology,” says Cudjoe-Jacob. “We don’t all sit down in a big office, we try to station our staff onsite. We already enjoyed a strong virtual connection within our team pre-pandemic. It’s just been ramped up during COVID, and I think we will maintain that. Of course, if the client wants to have regular face-to-face site visits or meetings, that’s no problem. But for us, we think virtual is the way to go, as much as possible. It serves us well because it means that more things can be accomplished in a day. An additional perk is that it allows the company to access a lot of foreign clients. For instance, the company has been able to embark on projects in Barbados and Guyana.” During the pandemic, there definitely was an increase in the price of materials such as reinforcing steel bars and concrete blocks. Currently, most contracts allow for a change in the tender cost based on price fluctuations, and that has come into play now. It’s made a huge difference, because many of ALTURA’s structures are built of reinforced concrete – one of the main materials that really escalated in price. “Everyone was kind, and the contractors tried to cooperate,” says Cudjoe-Jacob. “They didn’t overcharge; while Clients at least tried to accommodate and recognize that when