Brad Grohmann
Senior Buyer - Saint Louis Office
While I am hopeful that some of the stock availability issues with our main equipment manufacturers will begin to ease up during 2022, my fear is that they are so far behind fulfilling orders, that dealers like Datamax will not see a true “return to the norm” until 2023. Some orders being filled right now, were placed with the manufacturer 6-8 months ago. It’s going to take time for them to catch up.
The strategy from my position is to continue to provide the most accurate and honest information as possible to our Datamax sales teams and support them in any way I can to get the customer taken care of. We’ve really had to think outside the box and open as many doors as possible in searching for product. I’ve always taken seriously, the importance of establishing good relationships with our vendors. These relationships have proved to be essential in our effort to get orders filled and product to our warehouses under very difficult circumstances.
Tony Ashcraft
Logistics Manager - Little Rock Office
I think the last several months have opened the eyes of everybody at Datamax to what our shipping and supply chain really looks like.
“We've tried to optimize our internal operations. (One example): I try to keep the warehouse as clean and organized as possible. It can get really frustrating if you’re out there tripping over things, and the reality is, we’ve got to optimize the space we have available right now based on equipment we could have arrive any given day. We work better, morale is better when we optimize cleanliness and communication.”
Brad S. Russell
Technology Services Delivery Manager - Little Rock Office
We are experiencing longer delays in receiving parts and products from our strategic partners and vendors. We are also seeing some needed parts and products out of stock for longer than normal periods of time, where there was previously a stockpile available, or at the very least, alternative sources to draw from to meet our customer needs in a timely fashion.
We are constantly looking for additional suppliers and sources to draw from to meet our customer needs in a timely fashion. We are setting expectations with our clients for delays in receiving ordered parts or products, and are rotating in some spare or older equipment already on a client site.
Justin Harper
Service Manager - Tyler Office
I'm hearing that in our industry the supply chain is straightening out. and I guess my perception I would say it's getting better as we are finally seeing some machines arriving. When it comes to new machines customers are buying and delays on receiving parts and supplies our customers have seemed for the most part to be very understanding especially when we stay in communication with them.
I think our best strategy is we just have to be open and honest with our customers and jump through any and every hoop that we need to to get them what they want and need. But I think communication with the customer is the most valuable part of all this.
And I think we have to go over and beyond to get them whatever they need whether it’s a loaner or allowing them to come to use our machines; whatever we can do to show them that they are the priority to us.
Mark Mansell
Logistics Manager - Dallas/Fort Worth Office
"We have to consider this as our normal for several years to come. If it’s a shorter term than that, great, but we’ve got to adjust our policies and procedures where this is our everyday thing. The bottom line? We want to continue to have our customers as Raving Fans. To do that, we’ve got to make it happen.”
David Holzhauer
Vice President, Sales - Little Rock Office
"If it were my current customers, I’d know all of them by first name and when their lease is going to end. When it comes to equipment upgrades, we should know what they are going to do over the next 12 months, so we can go ahead and pre-order that equipment if necessary.”
Shawn Hay
Service Manager - Dallas/Fort Worth Office
The supply chain is affecting everything from the supplies themselves, the machines, and to accessories. All manufacturers are having issues in some fashion.
One thing we've started doing recently: For our supplies, when an order comes in, if it's not an emergency, just a backup order, we are having it drop-shipped from our vendor directly to the customer, instead of using our personal in house supply. That helps us reserve our in-house supply for emergency scenarios.
