Article contributed by Mike Berman, COO, Day & Nite/All Service
For rather obvious reasons, the impact of import tariffs faded from the headlines at least 10 months ago, but that hardly means increased costs of doing business due to tariffs have gone away. In fact, import tariff waivers initially granted across several categories expired at the exact same time we ushered in the new year.
Although there is good reason to be optimistic about 2021, at best immediate prospects are uncertain — many would argue the foodservice industry will be under even more extreme economic pressure during 2021’s early winter months. President-elect Biden nominating Katherine Tai to serve as the incoming administration’s trade representative suggests there won’t be any relaxation of the 7.5% to 25% tariffs presently imposed on vital components, parts and manufactured goods hospitality relies on.
Foodservice leaders at all levels have more than enough on their managerial plates to begin with, but anything less than supply chain intimacy will pose even greater risks than those already in evidence. Not only must manufacturers and distributors carefully plan inventories around uncertain early 2021 demand and increased carrying costs, but continued US Postal Service problems are putting greater stress on the entire transportation grid. In combination, there’s great and potentially growing likelihood the part you may need to repair an essential piece of equipment is out of stock, or even if that critical part is available it will be subject to lengthy delivery delays. Considering the literally thousands of make, model and serial numbers for manufactured equipment hospitality depends on, and the many more thousands of parts keeping up with it all is a massive undertaking, not something an already stretched foodservice professional has the time or tools to keep up with.
The Day & Nite family of companies unrivaled investment in sophisticated technology is designed and intended to provide the hospitality industry crucial predictable execution with real time supply chain management capabilities. Systems integrated with leading manufacturers and distributors assure procurement accuracy through inventory integrity supported by information updates every step of the order-to-installation process. The Company’s extensive database and deep relationships with suppliers allows for rapid response and corrective measures in the event of any fulfillment disruptions.
From both informational and operational perspectives, Day & Nite’s efficient use of technology removes layers of uncertainty from hospitality’s already fragile ecosystem. Significantly, customer applications allow Day & Nite’s clients to access critical information to better plan and control all aspects of a complex business.
High-impact technology is but one of several ways foodservice professionals can gain more control over an already and always delicate operating environment. Relying solely on break-fix for equipment uptime further invites unnecessary hazards. It’s well known critical equipment can be as temperamental as a bratty child, going out of its way to break down at the worst possible moment. Preventative maintenance is the proven best method for taming otherwise volatile equipment, the smartest investment in uptime, peace of mind and control any operator can ever make. To learn more about cost-effectively gaining full control over your supply chains through technology and equipment through customized preventative maintenance programs email jbf@wearetheone.com