One step ahead of the supply chain crisis
Therefore companies must become adaptable to other options and show foresight in order to achieve effective implementation.
What are semiconductors?
Semiconductors, otherwise known as integrated circuits (IC) or microchips are vital discrete components for the manufacturing and operation of electrical devices. They are an element in serving communications, signal processing, computing and control applications.
Reasons for the shortage
The shortage came primarily down to the pandemic. The digitization boost from lockdown and remote working caused a rise in demand for consumer electronics and led to increased sales for electronic companies. The benefits reaped by the industry came at a cost to the supply of semiconductors. The demand for gaming consoles, IT equipment, and 5G smartphones had risen exponentially and suppliers of microchips were struggling to match the demand. With the priority of chip production being in consumer electronics, other industries like the automotive industry struggled. Health restrictions closing factories or being forced to run at half capacity coupled with US trade restrictions to chip production companies such as SMIC didn’t help with the cause, cutting supply lines to global distributors.
Examples of how industries have been affected
The automotive industry was one of the first to be impacted, delays in the manufacturing of electronic car parts, such as lights and seat controls requiring microchips led to a backlog in whole production lines. Some companies were even forced to halt production altogether. Mercedes and Volkswagen are two large brand examples that were forced to close factories or stop production lines from the supply crisis.
Other industries affected included the energy sector, more specifically renewable energy sources like wind turbines and solar panels that require semiconductors and sensors to produce electricity. So not only is the chip shortage affecting production lines, it is slowing progress to meet energy goals.
The security and access control industry
Along with other sectors, Security and Access Control have also been hit, an industry that heavily relies on electronics for detection, identification and verification. The supply and demand problems and resulting price spikes in smart cards and electronic security devices have been felt across the industry.
Payment cards and identification documentation such as passports or national ID cards that contain security chips have seen delays in supply. The same goes for physical access credentials, institutions that are required to issue large numbers of cards might have to forward think or adapt their approach for identification and access control of their users, Universities issuing student IDs for example.
Access control companies are also seeing the impact on hardware supplies and the pressure to meet consumer demands. A shortage of semiconductors has led to issues with
the supply of readers and controllers for even the largest global access control brands.
Unlock your access control supply chain issues
The knock-on effect of this shortage means a number of projects have been put “on hold”. Doordeck helps you to be able to implement those jobs currently in limbo.
- Doordeck works with existing access control infrastructure, therefore there is no need for new readers needing to be installed. Our software sits on top of your existing access control hardware to provide mobile access without the need for those hard-to-get readers, keycards or fobs.
- One platform that works seamlessly for mobile access across one or multiple buildings where many different access control brands might have been installed.
- Smart building access management enhanced by the highest levels of encryption and security. Benefit from secure app-controlled 24/7 audit logged employee and visitor management, as well as NFC smartphone unlocking for the fastest, most reliable and secure unlocking experience.
- Adopt a mobile-first access control approach: save time, money and do your bit for the environment by saving unnecessary keycard and fob production.
Contact us today to learn more and help fast track door installation with Doordeck mobile access.
