FROM TH E E D I TO R Ever-increasing quality I n an increasingly competitive moving market, every business needs to differentiate itself on one of two things: price or quality. If its the former, management may think about saving costs: cheaper materials, lower-spec vehicles, smaller offices, lower-paid and less-qualified staff, fewer customer service resources, and so on anything to help it attract customers who want to pay as little as possible. The trouble with this approach is that it has huge drawbacks for company and client. Cutting costs is often a false economy, generating new, hidden costs to the business, including increased maintenance, or forced upgrade fees, and undermining financial stability. Cutting spend on staff salaries and benefits can lead to dissatisfaction and high employee churn, creating further costs to rectify poor service delivery and added recruitment. And cutting advertising and marketing reduces a businesss visibility. In the long term, savings of this kind are rarely saving much at all, generating a gradually decreasing spiral of decline. Here, lack of investment impacts good service and, in turn, negatively affects reputation and repeat business. On the other hand, a steadfast focus on quality turns the dial the other way. Investing in certification, professional development and innovation are among the ways in which a quality mover increases their standing in the industry. They boost their reputation with excellent service delivery and, by staying abreast of the latest trends and technologies, can provide what the market knows it deserves. This approach also means firms can invest in areas such as sustainability and cybersecurity, which thanks to legislation, customer demand and business imperative are becoming essential. Demand for quality service providers is growing and interest in approval schemes, certifications and accreditations is growing, too. It can be a complex area, so this edition of FIDI Focus is dedicated to explaining the benefits and differences of the varied quality marks available, including the FAIM standard. We also look at some of FIDIs latest work, including its new DSP certification and a tailored carbon calculator for moving, as well as an update on the pressing issue of container cleanliness. These are the kinds of improvements to expect from an association with principles of quality at its heart. DOMINIC WEAVER 9 FF312 Dec_Feb 23 pp08-09 Editor s Column.indd 9 05/12/2023 08:57