When was the last time you were looking for something and finally gave up the search after visiting too many stores or Websites?
For me, it was earlier this summer. I was searching for a leather repair kit that was advertised on TV (you know the type -- it's only $19.99 and if you order now, they double your order). I did an online search first, and a number of stores claimed they carried this kit. Five stores -- retail, hardware, auto repair, overstock, furniture -- and 30 miles later, I gave up and decided to live with a crack in my leather furniture.
Had I found this kit, it would have resulted in a sale and possibly my undying loyalty for life. (I finally did find a kit in an obscure store that carries last year's everything.) Multiply this experience by however many line items you have in your bill of material, and there's a lot of potential for lost sales.
Design engineers bump up against the same problem all the time, according to research conducted by Technology Forecasters Inc. for element14. The most difficult data to find, engineers say, is detailed and highly specialized information, including reference designs; applications notes and technical papers; simulation models; and component pricing and availability. Additionally, says the report:
Engineers also cited performance failure rates and component lifecycle data as particularly difficult to ascertain from any source. Compounding this difficulty is the lack of consolidated online tools and databases that enable engineers to quickly locate and compare more specialized technical information, as well as a lack of standards across component manufacturers in how technical data is recorded and presented to the engineering community.
There are plenty of online tools to help engineers sift through data. But even those have shortcomings, according to the report. The top three:
The inability to easily compare component and design options
The difficulty of staying on top of quickly changing regulatory laws by country
Limited access to all available data sources, such as those that require a fee.
Theoretically, my online search for leather kits should have saved me time. Instead, I went to a bunch of stores that advertised they carried the kits, but actually didn't. I also spent hours in my car.
I'm not sure there is any site or organization that would have simplified my search for a highly specialized repair product. Within the electronics supply chain, though, distributors are trying to assist designers in culling reams of data. Distributors have been working with suppliers for decades to get the most up to date components information available, including pricing, availability, and end-of-life roadmaps. The channel, in turn, is trying to provide that information to customers in a meaningful way.
Next Friday, EBN will be taking a look at how distributors are doing this in a Webinar. Our panel includes a distributor, a supplier, and an embedded software company. Please join us -- it's only an hour, and it may help save you time in the future.
Will it be resource intensive to support via chat? I guess an online forum is better because the content is archived and can be searched back by others.
"I went to a bunch of stores that advertised they carried the kits, but actually didn't"
I wouldn't deem this to be a technology issue on the part of websites. I think it's the flaw in the business processes to not update the website based on current inventory holdings. Most websites today are dynamic and they just need to be linked to the inventory systems to correctly reflect product information on the website. It has to be failing on the business side to not take advantage of this.
I'd be interested to see how industry groups can improve on available search technology, allowing on-line customers to bring up reliable results. For a lot of topics, one size definitely doesn't fit all when it comes to search engines.
The online chat concept is definitely worth looking into, and it could become the differentiating point between one resource and his closest competitor. The trick is, if you do set this up and promote it, be certain you have the line worked out so it's real.
I can see your frustration and agree completely. It seems like the more complex the search engines get; the tougher it is to find the not so common item. Search engines are designed to give you vast amounts of information quickly and sort them by relevance. It appears like there are countless numbers of sales lost due to improper information, and many hours wasted in research trying to find something that is not so common.
Barbara, in component or store website they may provide some of the details of items, but it may not be descriptive. Normally they may not provide any comparison chart or pint point details. Such details may include only with the packing content. In most of the cases schematic diagram also missing from website.
I agree with your article. I see some companies placing a lot more emphasis on helping their potential customers sift throught the mounds of info available on their websites to quickly choose and use the correct part. Spending dollars on this backend activity is sometimes seen as more valuable that upfront dollars on designing new products. For some companies this is indeed true.
Theoretically, my online search for leather kits should have saved me time. Instead, I went to a bunch of stores that advertised they carried the kits, but actually didn't.
I think search engines should also be improved so that it throws up the right results all the time. If a vendor is posting false information search engines should be programmed to penalise that company by pushing it down in the search results.
As you mentioned the stores that claim online that they had the kits did not had them.
Our information gathering systems are only as good as the information entered. Most reputable distributors/suppliers show their on-hand stock which is updated the second some makes a purchases.
EBN Dialogue enables and encourages you to participate in live chats with notable leaders and luminaries. Not only editors and journalists, but the entire EBN community is able to comment and ask questions. Listed below are upcoming and archived chats.
Archived Dialogues
Thailand Stages a Comeback Join EBN contributor Jennifer Baljko on Thursday August 23, 2012, at 11:00 a.m. EST for a live chat on how electronic manufacturers in Thailand have shored up their supply chain to reduce the impact of future natural disasters.
Euro-Crisis: What It Means for High-Tech Firms Join EBN Editor in Chief Bolaji Ojo and Contributing Editor Jennifer Baljko on Thursday, July 12, at 10:00 a.m. EDT for a Live Chat on high-tech and Europe's economic difficulties.
Microsoft Surface: Potential Winners & Losers What are the implications for the electronics industry supply chain of Microsoft Corp.'s decision to launch its own tablet PC? Join industry veteran and EE Times' systems and OEM expert Rick Merritt on Tuesday, July 3, at 12:00 pm EDT for a Live Chat on this subject.
Join EBN contributor Jennifer Baljko on Thursday August 23, 2012, at 11:00 a.m. EST for a live chat on how electronic manufacturers in Thailand have shored up their supply chain to reduce the impact of future natural disasters.
Peter Drucker famously said "Trying to predict the future is like trying to drive down a country road at night with no lights while looking out the back window." Yet in the razor's-edge world of electronics—with a lean supply chain and just-in-time demands—the need to know the future is vital.
You've heard the saying "the No. 1 supply chain risk is your people." That hasn't always been the case. But today's complex global supply chain requires a new type of multitalented employee. It's one who understands, finance, marketing, economics, is savvy with technology, graceful with relationships and can think analytically.
Where are these people? Are universities properly preparing the next generation supply chain professionals? How do train your existing workforce for these new, demanding positions?
Brian Fuller, editor-in-chief of EBN, will lead a 60-minute Avnet Velocity panel discussion that will ask and answer these and other questions swirling around today's supply-chain talent challenges.
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