OVERVIEW	9 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2021
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
OVERVIEW	NOTE 1 OVERVIEW Business Forward Industries, Inc. (“Forward”, “we” or the “Company”) is a fully integrated design, development and manufacturing solution provider for top tier medical and technology customers worldwide. As a result of the continued expansion of our design and development capabilities through our wholly-owned subsidiaries, we are now able to introduce proprietary products to the market from concepts brought to us from a number of different sources, both inside and outside the Company. Impact of COVID-19 The outbreak of the COVID-19 virus continues to impact our results of operations. While the most significant impact was realized in Fiscal 2020, the virus continued to impact our results of operations in Fiscal 2021. The business shutdowns resulting from the pandemic disrupted our supply chain and the manufacture or shipment of our products and delayed the rollout of our retail products. Additionally, demand for our design and development services was reduced or delayed as a result of the pandemic as certain customers reduced discretionary spending. While revenues for the three and nine months ended June 30, 2021 increased as compared to the three and nine months ended June 30, 2020, they were lower than anticipated due in part to the impact of COVID-19 and the resulting economic conditions. The impact of lower than anticipated revenue was further complicated by a significant increase in freight costs due to the global shipping container shortage caused in part by the pandemic. These challenges were partially offset by a reduction in certain selling and travel related expenses. Many government restrictions have been relaxed and the economy has continued to open in more jurisdictions. However, the emergence of new and transmittable variants of COVID-19 could lead to a possible resurgence of the virus, particularly in populations with low vaccination rates and has resulted in new restrictions in certain geographies and among certain businesses. The long-term financial impact on our business cannot be reasonably estimated at this time. As a result, the effects of COVID-19 may not be fully reflected in our financial results until future periods. Refer to “Part II, Item 1A — Risk Factors” for a description of the material risks that the Company currently faces in connection with COVID-19. Until the pandemic is fully controlled, we expect business conditions to remain challenging. In response to these challenges, we will continue to focus on those factors that we can control: closely managing and controlling our expenses; aligning our design and development schedules with demand in a proactive manner as there are changes in market conditions to minimize our cash operating costs; pursuing further improvements in the productivity and effectiveness of our development, selling and administrative activities and, where appropriate, taking advantage of opportunities to enhance our business growth and strategy. To help mitigate the impact of these challenging business conditions, we implemented cost-cutting initiatives and reduced executive pay and Board of Directors compensation for the three months ended June 30, 2021. See “Liquidity and Capital Resources” section of Item 2. “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” for further description of these cost-cutting measures.

OVERVIEW

9 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2021

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]

NOTE 1 OVERVIEW

Business

Forward Industries, Inc. (“Forward”, “we” or the “Company”) is a fully integrated design, development and manufacturing solution provider for top tier medical and technology customers worldwide. As a result of the continued expansion of our design and development capabilities through our wholly-owned subsidiaries, we are now able to introduce proprietary products to the market from concepts brought to us from a number of different sources, both inside and outside the Company.

Impact of COVID-19

The outbreak of the COVID-19 virus continues to impact our results of operations. While the most significant impact was realized in Fiscal 2020, the virus continued to impact our results of operations in Fiscal 2021. The business shutdowns resulting from the pandemic disrupted our supply chain and the manufacture or shipment of our products and delayed the rollout of our retail products. Additionally, demand for our design and development services was reduced or delayed as a result of the pandemic as certain customers reduced discretionary spending. While revenues for the three and nine months ended June 30, 2021 increased as compared to the three and nine months ended June 30, 2020, they were lower than anticipated due in part to the impact of COVID-19 and the resulting economic conditions. The impact of lower than anticipated revenue was further complicated by a significant increase in freight costs due to the global shipping container shortage caused in part by the pandemic. These challenges were partially offset by a reduction in certain selling and travel related expenses.

Many government restrictions have been relaxed and the economy has continued to open in more jurisdictions. However, the emergence of new and transmittable variants of COVID-19 could lead to a possible resurgence of the virus, particularly in populations with low vaccination rates and has resulted in new restrictions in certain geographies and among certain businesses. The long-term financial impact on our business cannot be reasonably estimated at this time. As a result, the effects of COVID-19 may not be fully reflected in our financial results until future periods. Refer to “Part II, Item 1A — Risk Factors” for a description of the material risks that the Company currently faces in connection with COVID-19.

Until the pandemic is fully controlled, we expect business conditions to remain challenging. In response to these challenges, we will continue to focus on those factors that we can control: closely managing and controlling our expenses; aligning our design and development schedules with demand in a proactive manner as there are changes in market conditions to minimize our cash operating costs; pursuing further improvements in the productivity and effectiveness of our development, selling and administrative activities and, where appropriate, taking advantage of opportunities to enhance our business growth and strategy. To help mitigate the impact of these challenging business conditions, we implemented cost-cutting initiatives and reduced executive pay and Board of Directors compensation for the three months ended June 30, 2021. See “Liquidity and Capital Resources” section of Item 2. “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” for further description of these cost-cutting measures.