Turning challenges into opportunities

By Ben Brocklesby, director at Origin

The fenestration industry has faced its fair share of challenges over the last year. From material shortages and supply chain issues to the introduction of more stringent building regulations, we have all had to adapt quickly to meet new demands and overcome issues.

In this volatile political and economic climate, there is no doubt that 2023 will bring its own set of hurdles. By predicting these ahead of time and identifying industry trends, we can prepare for the future and offer the highest level of support to our partners.

Trends for the year ahead

As the UK battles through a cost-of-living crisis, the energy efficiency of homes will remain a priority for homeowners, developers, and architects. The thermal performance of doors and windows will be a vital consideration for those who want to protect themselves against rising energy bills.

At a time when consumers can buy almost anything online at the touch of a button, there is a growing expectation that all industries should offer this level of efficiency. Our revolutionary ordering and quoting system, Origin Sale Safe (OSS), allows our partners to quote for a project in minutes. Adjustments can be made quickly and easily, with a revised quote immediately available to share with the customer.

In 2023, partners will be able to automatically add their margins onto the cost of a project, saving valuable time. With new functionality, they can also quote for even the most intricate projects quickly and easily online. It’s this level of accuracy and efficiency that gives our partners the edge over the competition.

The biggest challenges of 2023

To quote Henry Ford: ‘Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goal’. At Origin, we embrace this ethos and constantly strive to achieve our goals, despite external challenges.

Even through a global pandemic and UK recession, we have remained committed to service and operational excellence, and growth. Origin has made a significant investment in product development and our internal processes to achieve this.
As material shortages and supply chain issues present a serious threat to project deadlines, Origin can offer a zero-lead-time service on its most popular systems. Our partners will never miss an install day, thanks to our promise to deliver whenever they specify they need the products.

This ‘On Time, In Full’ delivery promise is possible due to our robust supply chain. Origin’s 55,000ft2 warehouse facility, known as ‘The Ark’, has increased storage capacity by 82%. By stockpiling aluminium profile, we can ensure material shortages never disrupt our manufacturing operations.

A full, automated in-house ordering system ensures stock is always available. When an order is placed, aluminum profile is automatically deducted from stock and reordered. In just one click, Origin’s internal system will generate the work order, supply the line, and notify the delivery team. This slick system ensures there is no room for human error and stock is always available for projects.

This year, one of the biggest challenges for the fenestration industry has been the introduction of the Future Homes Standard. Manufacturers have updated systems to meet the new, stricter performance regulations. Some have opted to install triple glazing as standard to achieve these updated U-Value thresholds and they may struggle to meet the further regulations due to be introduced in 2025.

At Origin, our in-house R&D team is continuously working to update the Origin Home Range with clever design features for the highest level of thermal performance. This ensures our systems can meet and exceed building regulations, now and in the future, without hindering functionality and style.

There is no doubt that 2022 has been a tough year for the industry, but we are optimistic that the year ahead – and the challenges it brings – will present big opportunities for those who are willing to adapt and invest in innovation.