Delivering Security Excellence to Wherever it is Needed

Security is something that everyone needs, so for a manufacturer like TDSi exporting our access control and security systems is a no-brainer. However, in the wake of the global pandemic and shifting political and trade regulations (such as those associated with Brexit), exports is a crucial area of our business that needs constant attention to ensure we deliver the products and service our customers and partners deserve.

I am proud to say that exporting is something which TDSi is very adept at doing and makes up a considerable part of our overall business operations. Despite us living in somewhat unsettled times, we continue to offer the same excellent levels of service and support that we have always done.

Regulation changes

The beginning of 2022 saw the full changes of the UK leaving the EU and the Single Market take effect. We now treat exports to our EU markets in just the same way as any other overseas territories. Naturally this has brought some further paperwork for us to complete on each applicable order, which certainly adds additional challenges for our logistics team. We are fastidious in our planning and preparation though, a level of foresight which has made this transition much less arduous for us as a business, and there should be no noticeable differences for anyone who buys or sells TDSi systems.

Exporting to Europe is a vital growth area for TDSi and we are very well placed to back this up. Along with our dedicated facility near Paris, we are also a proud member of the VITAPROTECH Group, a French-based group of expert security provider companies with a considerable reach throughout the EU. Along with our own superb UK logistics team in Poole, Dorset, TDSi is an expert in delivering our fully integrated but flexible access control solutions wherever they are required.

A heritage of global exports

Despite the additional challenges of trading with the EU, TDSi’s overall exports pipeline is just as robust as ever. We have been exporting our British-made products since 1984, which has seen regulations in various countries and territories evolve and change significantly in those 38 years. We have never been afraid to seek local expert advice and help whenever required, and this network of global partnerships is an important ingredient in our long-term export success.

A great example of TDSi’s recent export success, through our international expert partnerships, is a project with our distribution partner ASVS in Morocco. Based in Casablanca, ASVS has been employing its considerable expertise to assist customers since 2011 and is a key partner for TDSi in the region. We have been working together on the M Avenue premier shopping mall project in Marrakech, Morocco. ASVS has expertly integrated TDSi’s access control solutions with fire detection from Honeywell and video surveillance from Uniview, to ensure full safety and security for people and property at this exciting new project.

Global restrictions

Naturally we have tackled numerous new and sometimes unexpected export challenges as they have appeared. The shadow of COVID continues to have an influence over all aspects of our lives, and the global shipping and freight sector is no exception. For example, China is a big and important export market for TDSi products but has a zero-COVID policy in place which means many cities are still under lockdown restrictions. As you can imagine this has a profound effect on how quickly we can supply our customers in some areas.

Wider logistics issues are also a factor for TDSi just as much as any other supplier. The international logistics chain is still coping with the historical and ongoing effects of COVID restrictions and additional regulations, which can result in slower movement of goods.

We have however put plans in place to mitigate these issues as much as possible, such as increasing our own stock of any items which aren’t made in the UK (which is only around 5% for TDSi). This includes components such as microchips which have been affected by worldwide shortages already. We also ensure our shipments are always made in good time to reduce any potential delays for our installation partners and customers.

A global hub

Despite the challenges (both short-term and long-term) TDSi is well placed to export our market-leading products to anywhere worldwide. The UK has excellent import and export links, along with the local technical expertise to ensure we continue to produce and sell the right security solutions for all markets.

Exporting is in TDSi’s DNA, and we are proud to be supporting our partners and customers worldwide. We are excited to be embracing the considerable opportunities to deliver security and peace of mind, as the world economy looks to rebuild and to move on from the setbacks of the last few years.