How Security Industry Supply Chain Delays Could Impact Your Project

The entire security industry is currently experiencing supply chain delays due to COVID-19.

At ACT, we’re working hard to plan ahead and keep delivering great service to our clients in as timely a fashion as possible. However, this may require some extra planning and flexibility from our customers, since the delays are impacting all of our service lines and products.

If you’re currently in the middle of a project or are starting to plan something for later in 2021, here’s what you need to know about the industry-wide delays and product shortages.

What Is Causing the Security Supply Chain Delays? 

Since COVID-19 disrupted almost every industry and global economy, we’re currently experiencing shortages of metal and semiconductor chips. As a result, product manufacturers are backed up and can’t create enough of the parts to meet the demands of the security industry.

Parts and products that we would normally receive in just a couple of days are now taking weeks to arrive, and others are either on backorder for 6-9 weeks or are out of stock indefinitely. Orders for these parts are being filled on a first come, first serve basis.

These shortages only recently started to affect our industry, but it’s likely that we will continue to experience delays until at least the fall.

Our Strategy in the Midst of Security Product Supply Chain Delays

In order to keep serving our clients during this period of delay, we’re doing our best to stock more of our most commonly used parts. But since some of them are taking weeks to arrive, even this is largely out of our control.

We are actively communicating with all of our clients to let them know that future projects may be delayed, and we’re committed to staying transparent with all of our prospective clients when we receive invitations for new proposals.

The Importance of Getting Projects Scheduled As Early As Possible

If you have an upcoming security project––whether it includes access control, security cameras or fire and life safety systems––it’s important to get it on the books with us right away. The sooner we can get the contracts in place, the sooner we can place an order for the specific equipment you’ll need.

Even if you’re in the early stages of planning your project and aren’t sure about the details of your specific technology needs, it’s not too early to bring us in! Our team of security design experts can work with you to create a plan and start ordering everything you need in hopes of avoiding a future delay if timelines are critical.

Please keep in mind that because of the parts shortage and supply chain issues, many products have increased in price on average by 2-4 percent, and in some scenarios as much as 10 percent.

Unfortunately, this is out of our control. But we want to make you aware that some products will be slightly more expensive than they were previously. And, in our experience, you can expect that these increased prices will likely be here to stay.

Our Commitment to Our Clients

At ACT, we’re dedicated to making our clients’ lives easier with superior work and great customer service, and that commitment will not change even in the midst of these delays.

If you’re looking to get started on a new design or installation project in the next year, contact us today to learn more!