The global component shortage and its effects on fleets

What caused the global component shortage?

The advent of the Covid-19 pandemic initially prompted the global chip shortage. It was then further compounded by a surge in demand for electronics as businesses and consumers’ need for laptops and servers, substantially rose to cater to remote working and home-schooling mandates.

According to the Semiconductor Industry Association, sales of chips (also known as semiconductors) were 26% higher in May 2021 than during the same period in 2020. The industry shipped more units during May 2021 than during any previous month in the market’s history, showing just how rapidly production has had to ramp up to meet the rising demand.

The Covid-19 pandemic also exposed a weak link in the global supply chain. Only Taiwan’s TSMC and South Korea’s Samsung, are responsible for most global chip manufacturing. TSMC and Samsung are dominant players in producing leading-edge chips used in mobile devices or for military applications.

Another factor contributing to the global component shortage is Taiwan suffering the worst drought the country has seen in 50 years. It has left TSMC and other manufacturers struggling to attain adequate quantities of water, a crucial element in chip manufacturing.

Events such as factory fires, power outages, and the now-infamous 2021 Suez Canal blockade have also contributed to the global chip crunch. The blockade at the world’s busiest and crucial shipping waterway occurred when a container ship got wedged sideways in the canal.

The automotive industry is a large consumer of semiconductors, but its consumption is a tiny drop in the ocean compared to the consumer electronics industry. For example, approximately 100 million vehicles are manufactured each year, while one billion smartphones are produced annually. However, smartphones are just a tiny segment of the much larger consumer electronics industry.

Stiff competition to acquire limited electronics and chips is likely to continue until production has increased to match the demand.

What is being done to combat the component shortage?

As more industries undergo digital transformation, the high demand for semiconductors will surely continue to grow. As a result, manufacturers and governments are working on building more capacity within supply chains.

TSMC, over the next three years, will invest an estimated US $100 million towards attaining additional capacity. In comparison, Samsung, SK Hynix and the South Korean government, have pledged a massive US $451 billion investment to help with an increase in capacity and to provide incentives for chip manufacturers.

However, despite these massive investments, there has been a recognition for the need to diversify the component supply chain to circumvent the reliance on Taiwan and South Korea.

As part of his “Build Back Better” plan, US President Joe Biden has pledged support for the American semiconductor sector. This support included a massive bipartisan tech funding bill introduced in June and saw US $52 billion earmarked for American chip production.

Intel plans to extend its capacity and will spend US $20 billion on two new factories in Arizona.

The European Union (EU) also plans to step up its efforts to grow its component building capacity across the bloc. However, the United Kingdom government has yet to announce its plans to assist its semiconductor sector.

How is the global component shortage affecting the telematics industry?

The component shortage affecting the automotive sector has also halted the development of telematics technologies. It has made it increasingly challenging for fleet customers using telematics solutions to acquire telematics hardware, tablets, new vehicles, and more.

Data from some of the world’s largest component makers, according to Bloomberg, indicate an increase in lead times from 10 weeks to 17 weeks.

Despite these crippling shortages, the good news is new connected vehicle technologies and platforms are rapidly becoming available. That is, fleets have various options to access and manage fleet data in light of the current short supply of aftermarket telematics devices.

Thus, it is important to leverage your current onboard computers to minimise any disruptions to your fleet. Changing your approach to managing fleet data and using what you already have will assist you in surviving the component shortage.

Below are five reasons why it's time to change your approach to managing your fleet data:

1. Use a single, simple source for all data

When connected vehicles roll off the assembly line, they can be turned on instantly, meaning you have immediate visibility without the need for installation downtime.

New connected vehicle platforms can collate data across Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) and telematics devices in vehicles that are not enabled for connection, offering a unified view. Therefore, when exploring connected vehicle platforms, it is important to ensure they have simple-to-use features such as:

• A map and list view of all vehicles registered on the system.
• Trip history reports with customisable date ranges for each - or, all - vehicles.
• Comprehensive information on the health of individual vehicles.
• Standard reports including driver behaviour, distance, workday reports, and open health event reports.
• Data visualisation on drivers’ behaviour and vehicle utilisation.

 2. Make informed vehicle and route decisions

Connected technology, such as telematics, makes it simple to track and show the locations of connected vehicles. In addition, it provides deeper, real-time insights into fleet-related data offered, making it simple to track driver location, trip history, vehicle status and movements.

When looking for a connected vehicle platform, ensure that it offers a map-based interface that displays a vehicle’s current status. That is, which vehicles in your fleet are on the road and which ones are parked.

3. Protect your fleet against risky behaviour that causes accidents or excessive vehicle wear and tear

A top concern for any business managing a fleet of vehicles is that of safety. And a critical aspect in keeping drivers and assets safe is visibility into the behaviours of drivers.

Reports and dashboard visualisations on driver safety scores, speeding incidents, and harsh braking and acceleration, are often pre-configured on connected vehicle platforms. It offers you a clearer picture of your drivers’ behaviour on the road so you can provide relevant training to drivers who need it and, in doing so, decrease fleet safety risk.

Additionally, connected vehicle technology can also distinguish between different speed zones, distinguishing the severity of speeding incidents better.

4. Be assured your vehicles remain within their service area

A powerful tool that provides you with more visibility into your fleet’s movements is geofencing.

When implementing geofencing, you can define a specific vehicle’s zone, and then receive alerts when that vehicle exits the predefined zone. This feature allows you to see where your assets are at all times and prevent drivers from using vehicles for personal errands. This saves you from spending money on fuel that’s not for work purposes and minimises asset abuse.

What does the global component shortage mean for fleet managers?

The outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic and the subsequent global chip shortage has negatively impacted the fleet sector’s operations. So, what does this chip crunch mean for fleet managers?

• Increased costs

One of the effects of the component shortage for fleet managers is the increase in vehicle costs. As a result, fleet managers will have to pay approximately 18% to 20% more than they are accustomed to.

• Low, or no, inventory

Fleet managers ought to expect dealerships not to have excess inventory, as it is anticipated they will run out of merchandise towards the end of the year.

• Changes to incentives and product availability

When manufacturers sell all the merchandise they have produced, they will probably not offer fleet incentives. Additionally, there could be significant adjustments to both rebate programmes and fleet availability in 2022.

• More expensive

The effects of the global supply chain crisis stretches far beyond the shortage of chips. There is a high demand for upfitting materials such as steel and plywood, which are in short supply, thus pushing prices up.

• An increased need for vehicle maintenance

It is vital for fleet managers to stay up-to-date on preventative maintenance and repairs as they must keep their fleet operating for longer periods.