The holidays are stressful enough on the floor without tech misfires making things worse. Orders are piling up, half the team is juggling time off, and your vendors are trying to wrap year-end projects. One thing you don’t want? A preventable IT hiccup that costs a delivery, confuses a customer, or grinds your line to a halt.
Think of this as your Salt Lake City manufacturing shop's "Holiday Tech Etiquette Checklist"—because your CNCs might be humming, but if your phones, email, or website go dark without warning, it could throw a wrench in more than just the schedule.
Update Your Online Hours (So No One Shows Up to a Locked Gate)
Picture this: A material supplier drives across the valley because your Google listing says you're open, only to find a dark warehouse and a locked bay door. That mistake can damage relationships and delay delivery of parts your team desperately needs.
Where to update:
- Google Business Profile (this is non-negotiable)
- Company website banner or homepage
- Industry directories (ThomasNet, MFG.com)
- LinkedIn company page if clients check there
Example update:
"Holiday Notice: Our production floor and office will be closed December 24–26 and January 1. Normal operations resume December 27. For urgent matters, call 801-XXX-XXXX."
Set an Out-of-Office Reply That Sounds Like a Human (Not a Bot)
If key contacts in your operations or engineering teams are off the clock, make sure vendors, clients, or inspectors don’t get stuck in radio silence. A clear out-of-office reply helps keep things professional and responsive.
Suggested OOO message:
"Thanks for reaching out. Our Salt Lake City plant is closed for the holiday from Dec. 24 through Dec. 26. We'll be back at our desks (and the machines) on Dec. 27. For urgent issues, please contact support@yourcompany.com or call our 24/7 line."
Don’t Overshare Where Everyone's Gone (It’s a Security Risk)
You may be proud that the whole team is headed to Powder Mountain for a company ski day, but keep that off your automatic replies and phone greetings. Over-sharing is an open door for cybercriminals and social engineers.
Stick to the basics: dates, return times, alternate contacts. Save the family road trip details for the team Slack.
Call Your Own Phone System (Before Someone Else Does)
Manufacturing clients and vendors don’t have time to guess your holiday hours from a voicemail recorded in 2020. Check that your system:
- Has the correct greeting
- Lists accurate office and shop floor availability
- Routes emergency calls where they need to go
Sample voicemail:
"You've reached [Company Name]. We are closed for the holiday from December 24 to 26. Please leave a message or press 1 to reach our emergency support team."
Communicate Shipping and Receiving Cutoffs (Clearly and Early)
If your team handles shipping or product delivery, don’t leave customers in the dark about when orders will stop moving. Let them know:
- Final "ship by" dates for guaranteed delivery
- When you’ll stop receiving materials
- Any changes in dock hours
Better communication now means fewer angry phone calls later—especially when machine downtime is on the line.
The Bottom Line: IT Services for Salt Lake City Manufacturers Should Keep Things Running Smoothly
Managed IT services for manufacturers aren’t just about network security or server patching. It’s about making sure every tech touchpoint—from phones to email to shipping updates—reflects the same reliability you expect from your machines.
These small steps build trust, reduce confusion, and make sure your customers, partners, and team stay in sync during the most hectic time of year.
Because when things run right, you get to enjoy the season instead of putting out fires.
Click here to schedule your free network assessment with Qual IT
Because the best kind of IT support in Salt Lake City is the kind that helps you finish strong—and start the new year even stronger.
