Barcode scanners, printers, ribbons and labels are scarce and prices have risen.
The situation has been likened to the shortage of computer chips that has forced temporary layoffs at auto assembly plants.
One wholesaler, Dynamic Systems Inc., is advising clients to stock enough inventory to bridge temporary lack of supplies.
David Peddemors, vice-president for sales and marketing for decisionpoint systems inc., has written to his clients to say “we have all heard about the chip shortages, but there is also a shortage of other components such as the resin used to build enclosures and cases for printers, scanners, and mobile computers.
“Those issues combined with the supply chain problems in China and the United States are making a bad situation worse. Spikes in coronavirus outbreaks are hindering operations for some original equipment manufacturer (OEM) plants in China and contributing to the slowdowns in the Chinese and US ports.
“We strongly recommend that your IT and operations team evaluate any needs through the end of the year and the first half of 2022 for Zebra, Honeywell, Datalogic, Motorola, or any other technologies that run your warehouses, field operations, hospitals, or retail operations.”
