As a reseller, you are more than likely looking for ways to improve efficiency, reduce costs and better serve your end-user customers. If youre working with a value-added distributor, you have already won half of the battle.
At ScanSource Europe, were continually looking for ways to help you become more efficient, often by creating programmes and processes that can ease your way of doing business. From stocking inventory to providing online ordering and opportunities for electronic data interchange, we strive to provide different ways to help you focus on your core business of sales and field service, with convenient tools and services at your fingertips to help you be as efficient as possible.
Excellent product availability through a central warehouse
Through a centralised warehouse serving all our European customers, we are able to offer more than 11,000 active references in stock. This means 142,000 different products are available for same day dispatch at any given time, says Xavier Cartiaux, managing director of ScanSource Europe. First and foremost, as the largest stocking distributor in Europe, we have product in stock and ready to ship overnight to you or directly to your customer on your behalf, enabling you to more quickly respond to your customers needs.
By working with a distributor who holds a large amount of inventory from multiple vendors, you reap several benefits: you dont have to stock the inventory, which frees up space and cash; you arent challenged with monitoring the products in stock to ensure you have just enough, but not too much; you dont have to worry about stock remaining in the warehouse should a products life cycle end. You can take that money saved by working with ScanSource Europe and invest it into other parts of your business, allowing you to grow in critical areas. Not only do you remain more efficient, you also become more competitive, meaning that you can meet your customers needs more swiftly.
Online tools helping resellers to be more efficient
ScanSource Europe also offers a fully browsable online catalogue, which allows you to conveniently view all of our available products, as well as place an order at any time, on any day. The online catalogue provides instant access to the entire stock 24/7. Inventory is updated every 15 minutes, ensuring you have a real view into what is available, right down to the number of pieces in stock for each item. You are able to research products, view datasheets and product images, confirm stock availability, and check shipment status. In the catalogue, you can search by product type, vendor, part number or even keyword. And most importantly, you can order online at any time with all the speed and convenience of the web.
More and more customers are recognising the value online ordering can bring to their businessesfrom viewing the breadth of products and solutions available to ordering at your own pace, in your own time.
Online ordering has really taken off in the US and Europe, where ScanSource, has seen a huge number of customers sign up for access to its online catalogue.
In the UK too, the trends are encouraging. Customers in the UK have been using ScanSource Europes online ordering system for 12 months and have found it to be hugely beneficial. The online catalogue allows to thoroughly research the products available and to select which best suit their customers needs. When they have identified the products required it is a great help to know the current stock level instantly and of course, to be able to place an order at any time.
In addition to online ordering, technology has also allowed for increased electronic data interchange (EDI) for invoicing, submitting purchase orders, and receiving electronic catalogues. Using EDI rids you of paper-based systems, eliminates manual intervention, human error and double data entry, and speeds up your overall processes, improving your efficiency.
Adding value by local presence: 15 people exclusively for UK and Ireland
Our centralized warehouse and functions are well balance off by strong local presence in the markets we operate in, says Cartiaux.
To provide the best service possible we have strong local teams to be close to our customers and the markets they sell into, adds Emma Hibbard, sales manager for the UK and Ireland (pictured above left).
We have twelve sales representatives in the UK based out of our Hull and Crawley offices, focused on selling wireless mobility, scanning, printing and PoS solutions to our customers in the UK and Ireland. They are supported by a team of three business development specialists committed to helping our partners develop their businesses and gain more penetration into key vertical markets.
This structure has allowed us to meet the day to day requirements of our customers while aiding with their aspirations for the future.
By working closely with ScanSource, you are always kept informed of the many cost-saving opportunities available to you, some of which you may never have thought existed. In addition to logistics, online ordering and EDI, ScanSource Europe offers flexible financing options, free technical support and a wide range of service and maintenance contracts. Furthermore, ScanSource Europes highly-trained, multilingual sales representatives are dedicated exclusively to Auto ID, EPoS and wireless technology, and are backed up by business development specialists in the field. If youre looking to add more value to your customersand lets face it, who isnt?you should look no further than your distributor. At ScanSource Europe, we are committed to making you more competitive, more efficient and more valuable to your end-user customersone order at a time.
Add a Comment
No messages on this article yet