Axis 'Sold Out' Faces Shortage Again

By John Honovich, Published Jul 31, 2018, 08:03am EDT (Info+)

For the second year in a row, Axis faces significant product shortages, many products sold out, and frustrated integrators.

In this note, we examine the problem, Axis' response, the upside of it and the competitive risks.

Integrator ********

**** *** **** *****, ******** *********** have ********** ***** **** ***** (********** **** **** *****...), *********:

* **** **** ** *** ***** on * ****** *** ******* **** of *** **** *******, ****** ****** from **** **** ** *** *****-**, P1448-LE, *****-***, *** *****-***. ****, *** getting **** ********* ** *** *** newer *****-*, *** *** *** *****-*. I ****** ****** *** ** *** models ********* ***** **** *** ***** American *********** ** ** ****** *****.

**** ****** *** **** ****** **** Axis *** **** ** *** ******, have ****-**'* ** ********* ***** *** beginning ** ***. **** *** **** exterior ******* *** ****** **** **** a ***** ***.

************* *** ***** *** ****** ******* are *** ***** *** ***** *** nowadays *** ******* **** ***** *** usually *-* *****.

* *** ******* ** *****-*** ******* early ********, *** ***** *** *** received *** **** **** ** *****. I ******* *** ** *** ******** sales *******. ** **** * ******* influx ** ****** *** ********* ********* caused *** **** **** ****.

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* *** ** ***** **** * photo ******** ******** ** *** *** equipment ** ** ****... * **** been **** ** **** ** ***** the ***** *-* ****** *** ** this **** ******.

Axis ********

**** ********* ** ****:

** ** ******* **** ** *** experiencing ****** **** ****** **** ***** (right *** * ** ** *****) on *** ******** ****** ** *** post. **** ** **** *** *** to **** ****** ****** **** ********, 2x ** ** ******** ** *** forecasts. ************, **** *** **** ******** than ******** ****** *** ****** ********* in **. **** *** ********* **** lead ***** ** *** ***** ****** for ********** ** ** * ********* to **** ** **** *** ****** demand, *** *** ********** ***** *** working **** ** ******** ************.

** ** ********* ** ******** **** Axis ***** ******** ******* ************, *** that ***** ** ***** ** **** of *** ******** ** *** *********** partners ** **. ********* **** **** a * ***** ****** ** *****. The **** **** ********* ******* ** the **** ** ***** **** ** replenish *** ***** ** *** ************, which ***** ****** **** ***** ***** of **** **** **** *** *** products. **, ** **** **** ******* need **** **** ** ******** ***** they ***** **** ********, ****** **** them *** ***.

2017 *******

** **** ***** **** **** **, it ** ******* *** **** ***** happened ** *** **** **** **** summer -**** ******* ******** ****. ** **** ****, **** ****:

**** *** ******* ****** ***** ****** the ***** **** ** ****, ******** than ** ******** ** *** ********* of *** ****. **** *** ******** in ********* **** ***** *** **** products. ** *** ******* ** ************* and ********* ** ***** ********, *** expect *** ******** ********* ** ********* during *** ****.

Good ******* *** *** ******

** **** ***, ** ** * good ******* *** **** ** ****. They *** *** ****** ** *** record ********* *********. ******* **** ********* *********** **** **** * ****** **% overall ** ** **** *** ** even ****** **% ** *** ********, beating *********'* ******. ****' ******* ************ and ******* ******* ******** **** ********************* ******* ************ ** ****** ** ******.

Still * *******

** *** *****, ** ** ***** clearly * *******. ***** ********* **** integrators ***** *** ******** ****** ** close ******** ***. ***** **** ***** easily *** **********'***** ******** ****** ***************** **** **** ********** ***** *** 2017 ********. ****** **** ***** ***** will ******** **********'* ******* *** **** cause **** ** **** ** **** rivals.

Comments (26)

Undisclosed Integrator #1

07/31/18 01:11pm

I've hit some of the worst Axis shortages in the past year, and to some extent this year, 3 months seems a bit of a stretch for me to buy.  When I hear about the product shortages, or longer lead times from one distributor, I usually just go to one of their larger distributors.  I've had multiple problems with Ingram Micro's lack of stock, and giving me 3-5 week lead times.  I'll call Anixter or ADI and have the product drop shipped the next day.  My advice would be to talk a different distributor if they're telling you 3 months.

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Undisclosed Integrator #2

In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #1 | 07/31/18 01:51pm

This is interesting.  We have actually not been affected at all until last week.  This could be in part to lower numbers of projects being completed, our propensity for ordering Q series, or because we tend to order a few months before the project kick off.  Either way it is definitely stepping up where we are being quoted below on some hardware ordered to replace hardware damaged in a storm.  

Quantity 3) Axis P3375-LVE (01063-001)            in stock

Quantity 1) Axis Q3515-LVE (01046-001)           in stock

Quantity 1) Axis Q1941-E (0786-001)                4-5 weeks

Quantity 1) Axis F1005-E (0676-001) Lens          in stock

Quantity 1) F44 (0936-001) Control Box             in stock

Quantity 1) Axis F8212 Mounting Hardware         in stock

Quantity 2) Axis P1448-LE (01055-001)              backordered until September

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Shannon Davis

IPVMU Certified | 07/31/18 02:13pm

We have been hit with the P1448-LE's on back order as well. Like anything this is a good problem, bad problem.

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Undisclosed Integrator #3

07/31/18 04:37pm

We have been hit PTZ's unable to get for months, 14xx series are hard to get and when we do install then they break down within a few weeks..

Had it with Axis TBH. 

 

I think everyone thinks this is good because they are selling a lot of kit.

I wonder if its actually they build to project. We had a whole discussion in the office around this and we are convinced if you want some of their products they make x for a project add some Y for the distribution channel and if you happen to order when Y has run out you are stuck.

I think they are more project led than we think.

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Undisclosed Integrator #4

07/31/18 05:20pm

Axis needs to stop acting like a boutique camera manufacturer and start behaving like the #1 camera manufacturer in the world. Do we have keep reminding them lots of people around the world want to use and buy your cameras because of your high quality & support?  How did they not anticipate a high demand on their new 4K dome camera? People generally like IR 4K cameras and it being from Axis prolly excited a lot of clients out there. How many old Axis cameras do you see on specs? If they over produce for a few years folks will still be purchasing these cameras for a long time so stop worrying about your inventory.  I understand quality control and getting the camera produced right the first time but come on. You guys are Axis not Sentry 360. 

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Jon Dillabaugh

Pro Focus LLC
In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #4 | 07/31/18 09:56pm

You want them to act like Hikvision?

;)

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Undisclosed Manufacturer #9

In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #4 | 08/03/18 05:18pm

When working with professional products that are sold through distribution, there is a supply chain and forecasting involved.  Shipping across the ocean also takes time.  Any company that has a large number of models has to allocate production time to different models.  If they shift production to a specific model, others may then become back ordered.

Distributors are supposed to stock a few months of supply of products.  Here we are shifting some of the blame to the manufacturer...

Also, specifically Axis, my guess is that they don't want too much inventory on hand, just in case they decide to replace their products with new H.265 models...  So far they just have 3 models I believe, but I would assume at some point their entire lineup gets revamped.  If they have to start production that is about the be EOL, they could be left with a lot of old stock that loses value.

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Corey Vavra

07/31/18 07:16pm

2x to 4x orders ahead of projections? Maybe the market and or government entities are reacting to Hikvision's increasingly negative view. 

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Undisclosed Integrator #5

In reply to Corey Vavra | 08/01/18 02:17am

Or their sales team / distribution are really awful with projections.

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Corey Vavra

In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #5 | 08/01/18 04:15pm

A dart board and Ouiji board may have been involved.

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Undisclosed #6

08/01/18 04:46am

The biggest issue with European manufacturers - they take off 30 days because they have to and give little to no consideration for everyone else in the WORLD that works their butts off continuing to sell THEIR products. THEN when the time comes to "catch" up after they've spent their inventories for the month they mandated everyone leave - all of those rested people have to come back and re-learn what they're doing again - leading to another 30 days of chaos. I was once told by an Italian business partner that he wishes they could take one or two weeks off at a time in lieu of the entire month of July (or August - can't really remember). He said that the biggest issue is when he comes back to work, he cannot remember what he left off doing and so has to get reoriented again - another 30 days shot.

 

Well - this is why the US has some of the highest productivity per hour performance - because we truly are workaholics. 

I actually wouldn't mind taking 30 days off and taking another 30 to remember what I was doing before I left. 

 

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Jon Dillabaugh

Pro Focus LLC
In reply to Undisclosed #6 | 08/01/18 10:33am

You might want to take a look at mortality rates and see why they take a month off. All work and no play makes Jack a CVD risk. 

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Undisclosed #6

In reply to Jon Dillabaugh | 08/03/18 10:22pm

Your comments are totally apropos - that said, we in the US / Canada are far more productive based upon the hours worked. We just can't make good video surveillance equipment so we have to buy from Europe - who (to my utmost frustration) take a month off in the middle of our busy season. Oh ... well I do agree that we in NA need to slow down and enjoy life just a wee bit more.

 

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Jon Dillabaugh

Pro Focus LLC
In reply to Undisclosed #6 | 08/03/18 10:26pm

I really think we COULD make quality security equipment here in NA. Avigilon has for years. Arecont came close ;)

The question is, how long would it take for a company, with the right motivation, to start producing products from square one? Two years at least? Sure hope someone read the tea leaves years ago and are close to market today. 

The real issue will be how long will that company be able to ward off a buyout to a foreign company? Would they even want to?

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Undisclosed Integrator #5

In reply to Undisclosed #6 | 08/01/18 08:15pm

You must be a wonderful boss.  I too am a workaholic.  However, I realize that is not a good thing as defined by the "aholic" part and do my best not to inflict my ethics on my subordinates.

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Undisclosed #8

IPVMU Certified | In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #5 | 08/03/18 07:30am

You must be a wonderful boss.

IMHO, that may be a recent development and I think it may be related to him going full Keto.

Such personality shifts have been reported for people in a state of ketosis.

All I know is one day he was basking in schadenfreude, the next he’s advocating free range cattle, digressing on carbon capture and cautioning on CVD ;)

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Jon Dillabaugh

Pro Focus LLC
In reply to Undisclosed #8 | 08/03/18 11:15am

I would go back and dissect your every post, if for two reasons:

1) You lack the {insert non-gender identifying body part} fortitude to post with your name

2) I am not your groupie 

Also, UI5 was replying to UD6, not me. Hard to keep track of all you UDs. 

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Undisclosed #8

IPVMU Certified | In reply to Jon Dillabaugh | 08/03/18 04:45pm

You lack the {insert non-gender identifying body part} to post with your name...

Eyeballs?

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Undisclosed Integrator #7

08/02/18 04:26pm

I'm done with waiting for Axis. If they're available I'll buy. But I'm going to start buying Bosch if it gets to silly lead times.

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Damith Jayasinghe

08/03/18 05:39am

there is a way around it use Avigilon they always have stock

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Undisclosed Integrator #5

In reply to Damith Jayasinghe | 08/03/18 03:19pm

I hate to sound like a shill but so far Avigilon is the only one of the manufacturers that has not shafted us with 3-4 month long backorders.  Panasonic, Ubiquiti, Axis, and Lenel have damaged us pretty badly this year.  I'm not sure what Avigilon is doing different but they alway seem to have stock even when I order hundreds of cameras.  The last time I saw a back order from them was 2 years ago on newly released cameras and the backorder was a whole 2 weeks.

Axis and Panasonic need to follow whatever model Avigilon is using that is different.  Maybe distribution is the root cause?

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Michael Miller

In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #5 | 08/03/18 05:12pm

Been ordering Avigilon for ~8 years and I would say the same thing.  Maybe once or twice we have had to wait a week or 2 for the product.  They really set the bar high for other manufacturers. 

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John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #5 | 08/03/18 10:38pm

Avigilon has a structural advantage. They own and run their own factories and they are here in North America.

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Steven Puente

08/06/18 01:56pm

any suggestions of other cameras that are comparable to the ones Axis is out of stock on?

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Undisclosed Integrator #7

In reply to Steven Puente | 09/23/18 07:50am

Hanwha Techwin.

The 6080 and 8080 are a good alternate to p322 range.

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Undisclosed Manufacturer #10

02/01/19 10:08pm

And still getting back orders for product from distributors. This is getting ridiculous!

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