In last week’s blog, I talked about “selling what is on the truck.” I didn’t dig very deeply into the reason why: the chip shortage. Supply chain issues have added insult to injury as the world enters the third year of the pandemic. There are a mix of factors in play, so let’s explore them.

In early 2020, the world paused and held its collective breath. Commerce slowed. Mining, refining, and manufacturing all but halted. Citizens of nearly every country faced some form of lockdown, and the steady forward progress of society stopped for an unprecedented break. As production decreased, consumption increased. Shortages of consumables were the first indicator that we had a problem, followed by shortages of hard goods like appliances and electronics. Finally, major appliances and automotive shortages affected the market. 

While manufacturing is back to pre-pandemic rates, demand continues to outpace production. Transportation logistics present new challenges. These are solvable problems, and time is the biggest factor. Time to build more fabs. Time to make more equipment. Time to train new dock workers, forklift operators, and truckers. The end is in sight, but it’s a distant horizon.

The pandemic became real to many of us when NBA and NCAA basketball games were canceled. That was more than twenty-one months ago, so one should be forgiven for thinking it would be over by now. Most analysts agree that we have at least another year of the chip shortage, and WDL Systems is here to help.

WDL’s team of industrial computing experts work diligently to specify alternate solutions to meet your requirements. As always, we help to overcome logistics challenges by stocking products to meet your schedules. Our manufacturers continuously reevaluate and revise bills of materials to expedite product deliveries, and we are in constant communication with them to protect you and your ongoing business. The chip shortage is far from over, and WDL Systems is well positioned to help you thrive in this adverse environment.

This week’s featured products are more examples of “what is on the truck.” If you missed the social media posts or homepage  spotlights, here is a rundown. 

Turn any device into an IoT device! MultiTech System’s Dragonfly embedded LTE Cat M1 Modem w/ GNSS! MNO approved to put in your device & activate immediately ~ no approval process! Cat 1, Cat 4 versions and Developer Kit available. In stock.

There are many other products in our warehouse, and many more on our website. Our sales team is ready to help you find what you need! Call us at 800-548-2319 or email us at sales@wdlsystems.com. We will be back next week with more Products of the Day. Don’t forget you can check these out daily on our homepage or by following us on social media using the links below and to the right!