2021 Wrap Up!
A message from Bruce & Kathy Hegan, owners and Managing Directors
Bruce and Kathy Hegan
As 2021 comes to a close it is time to reflect on the accomplishments of the year.
The year commenced with our relocation from Warnervale to our own factory at Wyong. From there we have experienced many changes and events ranging from:
new equipment
total factory fit-out
new employees including a new GM
new exciting projects that differ from the products 4id is known for
Despite all of the above, 2021 has been a success in many ways, most notably due to the wonderful cooperation and support from both our staff and suppliers. This support has been instrumental in 4id Solutions surpassing our budgetary and production targets despite having to navigate COVID 19 and supply chain issues that both escalated throughout the year.
We feel fortunate to have many clients, suppliers and business partners with whom we truly enjoy working and with whom we have formed great relationships over the years.
Our heartfelt thanks and sincere appreciation must go to our wonderful team who continue to show incredible knowledge, skill, patience and resilience. We are grateful for the passion and commitment each of you bring to your role.
Bruce & Kathy
Year in Review
What a year 2021 has been!
We hit the ground running in January at our new facility with great enthusiasm. A key highlight in the first quarter of the year was that we doubled our outbound sea freight from 2.5 million RFID tags to 5 million RFID tags a month. To balance this increase we commenced inbound direct sourcing of inlays via air and sea freight.
As a result of considerable growth and the addition of manufacturing equipment, our production and administration team grew from 8 to 22 employees. The extra resources allowed our operations to transition into running dual shifts to support customer demand. New processing equipment was installed in April and June to support production capabilities.
We were delighted to see the wristband market kick off again in the USA in July as the tourism, leisure and entertainment industries opened with vigour.
In August we were thrilled to be one of six businesses invited to present our competencies at the SICK Sensor Intelligence ‘Boost your RFID Knowledge Masterclass’. A case study was also submitted to the Business Entrepreneurs Programme that highlighted the effectiveness and success of being involved in the Australian Federal Government Programme.
This was a precarious year for many businesses who faced global challenges and disruptions. We hope these businesses have been able to manage their way through these unprecedented times and there is light at the end of the tunnel.
Three long term staff members were recognised in October for their continued service & contribution to 4id Solutions. For well over 10 years each, Rodney Joughin, Aaron McKeown and Belinda Wardle have been instrumental in the ongoing development, growth and success of our business. It is the culture and work ethic within our team that has helped shape the pathway to achieving our goals.
We felt a renewed positivity in New South Wales when restrictions were lifted and some normalities returned to assist our operations, and of course, our daily lives. We are so thankful to all of our customers, especially through some of the toughest months.
In November we welcomed representatives from Investment NSW and the Department of Regional NSW to tour our facility, discuss our production capabilities, future projects and export opportunities. NBN News were on site to interview and film the event.
Partnerships
Team work, relationships and partnerships have allowed us to navigate our way through significant challenges this year, such as freight. Our proactive approach provided some wonderful opportunities to supply our products and services to local, interstate and international businesses.
Product Development
Innovation and technology applications have been at the forefront of our manufacturing processes to refine our production capabilities and capacity. The installation of new equipment and software systems have been fundamental to ensure our production efficiency and accuracy, thus providing a high-class, quality and 100% valid product. Through these advanced applications, we continue to transform into a highly sophisticated, functional and proactive manufacturing team.
Marketing Initiatives
4id Solutions really made the most of 2021 to position ourselves as leaders and innovators in our highly competitive market. A long term marketing strategy was implemented where we integrated strong brand awareness messaging and marketing initiatives to keep us ahead of a constantly evolving and challenging industry.
We were delighted to launch the new 4id Solutions website in October, showcasing our wide range of asset tracking and tagging technology solutions and how they can be applied to many industries. Our team and support partners worked hard to develop a site that truly represents what we can do for our valued customers.
To support our website we also launched the beautifully animated 4id Solutions story in November. This was an outstanding piece of creativity that enabled us to graphically explain what we do through a fun and engaging medium. It has allowed us to present our offering to government industry advisors, new customers and partners. These two initiatives have really elevated our brand awareness and engagement.
One Year On
Twelve months have passed since we relocated to our much larger facility in Wyong and we are thrilled to celebrate this milestone. This has given us greater opportunities to increase our productivity and customer base. Our 4id hub has also taken on its own personality through a modern approach to our purpose built work zones.
We are grateful for your ongoing support this year and look forward to working with you on new projects in 2022. Wishing you and your families a wonderful Holiday Season and a very Happy New Year.
The 4id Solutions Team
