Product Identification For A Global Distributor

Innovation is at the heart of Electrocomponents.

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Electrocomponents is currently looking for innovators/experts who can help them ensure they have the right product identifier to move an item through the entire transactional process.

Application Deadline
September 23rd, 2021
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Summary

Background

Electrocomponents plc is a global omni-channel provider of product and service solutions for designers, builders and maintainers of industrial equipment and operations. We stock more than 650,000 industrial and electronic products, sourced from over 2,500 leading suppliers, and provide a wide range of product and service solutions to over 1.2 million industrial customers. With operations in 32 countries, we trade through multiple channels and ship c. 60,000 parcels a day.

We support customers across the product life cycle, whether via innovation and technical support at the design phase, improving time to market and productivity at the build phase, or reducing purchasing costs and optimising inventory in the maintenance phase. We offer our customers tailored product and service propositions that are essential for the successful operation of their businesses and help them save time and money.

Electrocomponents plc is listed on the London Stock Exchange and in the year ended 31 March 2021 reported revenue of £2.0 billion. Electrocomponents plc has nine operating brands; RS Components, Allied Electronics & Automation, RS PRO, OKdo, DesignSpark, IESA, Synovos, Needlers and Liscombe.

This particular challenge is currently related to the following brands; RS Components, Allied Electronics & Automation, RS PRO, OKdo

As a distributor it is important that we have visibility of each and every product that we sell.

Today this takes the form of a strict label specification containing the RS stock number and other key pieces of information. Current standard label size is 45mm x 25mm.

These label restrictions cause our suppliers to have to create new processes and ways of working, as this is not their standard practice. This causes additional lead-time to product deliveries. Because of the bespoke packaging process, a unique Manufacturer’s Part Number is created for this bespoke packaged part, held in our system, which often then causes issues when we want to cross reference on behalf of a customer. Whilst many products come pre-packaged by our suppliers, we also have a vast number which are repackaged in-house, again this causes additional work and incurs additional costs which results in delays to product availability.

Challenge

Electrocomponents is currently looking for innovators/experts who can help them ensure they have the right product identifier to move an item through the entire transactional process.

The product identifier must be able to hold a wide range of information (for example stock number, country of origin, description, etc) and must be readable by customers (end users) and internal teams (e.g inbound delivery & picker). Using this information, customers should also be able to re-order the product, should they need to.

The solution must be cost effective to cover the wide range of SKUs we currently have today (over 650,000). Product identification could be provided directly by the supplier, or via our in-house repackaging teams, however would be based on individual technologies.

We currently use different WMS systems dependant on warehouse location and modernisation, with these WMS’ feeding in to the SAP ERP.

We are looking for a product identifier of the future, not something that will be outdated in a year or two.

What's in it for you?

A successful collaboration will generate business for suitable submissions.

If you have or are developing solutions, or if you have expertise in the above, please click "Apply" to submit your solution/expertise to the Network.