Strong Communication is Vital for Company Survival

RCS Influencer Julissa Chavez says maintaining good internal and external communication is key to surviving material shortages. 

Communication and Relationships are key. Communication internally between our operations teams has grown exponentially. If one of our branches does not have the material to support an order we are working as a team to help one another make the material delivery possible. Communication with our external customers is imperative, the quicker we prepare our roofing contractors related to stock material shortages the better they can plan production disruptions such as availability on shingle colors since the pandemic began for example.  

SRS wants to be able to support our customers, look professional and not disappoint their customers when material is not available. Our contractors have also given us orders further in advance so that we can plan for those needed more materials well ahead of time as our lead time are extended especially on large roofing jobs.  

Relationships have been key to the survival for roofing distribution, vendors and contractors.  I entered the roofing industry in 2014 and I have always heard the roofing industry is all about relationships which I experienced and do not disagree. Since the Covid pandemic began relationships have been proven again and again.  

People are working together to help one another continue to be able to support the roofing industry. Contractors have their preferred roofing distributions and they have been loyal to those relationships, working with their territory managers to share production calendars and ordering ahead of time to ensure production continues. Distribution has been working daily with product vendors on what are substitute products available and how to obtain products in an efficient manner, which involves distribution using their delivery trucks to make material plant pick-ups often vs relying on a vendor or third-party transportation fleet.  

It has truly been a one family-one fight approach to working around material shortages for all in the roofing industry.  

Julissa Chavez is the program manager, Latin X Marketing and Sales at SRS Distribution. See her full bio here.