Blending Product & Service: Why Engineering Partnerships Matter in Distribution
In an ideal world, design engineers would have a single trusted supplier of quality components and complete solutions that come with cost-effective support and a rapid time-to-market.
You might ask how that is possible … surely, product-led distributors offer the most competitive pricing, while service-led distributors provide the best support, but at a premium. The good news is that it is possible to have the best of both.
Quality products from leading manufacturers
Firstly, consider the distributor’s product portfolio – do they have a range of franchised agreements with major global manufacturers? The likelihood is that a trusted design-led distributor such as Inelco Hunter will have long-term partnerships, ensuring a broad portfolio of high-quality products and access to the latest technologies.
Volume pricing and long-term supply chain solutions
Close distributor relationships with global manufacturers will most often be a sign of volume sales with that manufacturer. The result will give the same cost-effective, competitive pricing as that from product-led distributors, plus reliable, long-term supply chain solutions (essential for production continuity).
Service-led distribution
Service-led distribution means that a distribution partner goes beyond simply supplying components; they become an integral part of the design and development process. This model is at the heart of Inelco Hunter’s approach, ensuring that customers receive more than just products – they gain a technical partner capable of providing engineering expertise, from the initial design right through to production.
A collaborative, pragmatic and open-minded approach to solving design challenges is essential. With a team of experienced in-house engineers, Inelco Hunter can provide valuable insights into optimising designs for efficiency, cost, and performance.
Conclusion
David Bushnell explains, “Inelco Hunter’s focus has always been to provide high-quality products and superior support. By being deeply involved in the customer’s engineering processes through each design decision, we help them avoid potential pitfalls, reduce time-to-market, and ultimately create more robust and competitive products.”