What significance does automation technology have for DigiKey?

Eric Wendt, Director Industrial Automation at DigiKey

© DigiKey

Eric Wendt: It is the fastest growing part of our business. As more companies enter the automation space, we provide a great channel for their product launches.

In November, DigiKey took part in the SPS trade fair in Nuremberg for the first time. What was the response from visitors to your product and service range?

It was better than our best expectations. We had great traffic and excellent feedback from some basic questions. Most knew who we were, but many had no knowledge of our automation division.

Many people know DigiKey primarily as an electronics distributor. What know-how do you offer in the field of automation technology?

We still have the same philosophy that we've had for 50 years - to get products into the hands of customers. We're using all the lessons we've learned over the years in the electronic components space and applying best practices to the automation industry. All the same skills that helped us become the largest e-commerce electronic components distributor are being applied to automation products. DigiKey can get automation products into the hands of customers in as little as 72 hours - anywhere in the world.

DigiKey has 400 automation and control suppliers, including Marketplace suppliers, on its line card and offers more than one million automation parts globally.

So from single components to systems, you can get everything from DigiKey?

Right now, we're focused on providing customers top-tier supplier components such as PLCs and HMIs. We aren't focused on turn-key solutions such as SCADA systems or other complex systems at this time. That's an area where machine builders and systems integrators excel. We work closely with these types of customers in the industry by enabling them to leverage our inventory and breadth of product to support their builds. DigiKey is always expanding its offerings and adding new components to anticipate customer needs as the industry is rapidly evolving.

DigiKey offers a network of system integrators. Why should a user use your platform to get in touch with a system integrator instead of approaching the system integrator directly? What is DigiKey's role in arranging these services?

We offer those connections as a courtesy. It can help a customer find someone in their location or who is an expert in their industry.

DigiKey's systems integrator program offers multiple advantages to systems integrators and their customers through a vast range of products, fast shipping and highly competitive pricing.

By joining DigiKey's systems integrator network, partners are included in a directory that customers can search for a systems integrator by industry, location and manufacturing partners. Participants in the program control the content and can contribute to online blog posts and technical discussions. There's no cost for partners, the only agreement is a simple non-disclosure and indemnity release.

Registered integrators also have access to competitive pricing, a self-serve portal where you can place orders, shipping and stocking options. and other specialty tools.

DigiKey, announced that direct shipments from European suppliers to European customers are now available through DigiKey's Marketplace program. What are the benefits?

The benefit for our European customers is that we can bring on more suppliers within Europe, shipping direct to customers in Europe. We now can purchase products that we couldn't always ship from North America like heavy products, automation equipment, lithium batteries, chemicals, adhesives, and other items that are challenging with regulations to ship from North America.

Another benefit for the customer is it's all done through the one DigiKey singular shopping experience. So, on our website they have access to all the products across our different categories and sales channels. And order could potentially come from five different suppliers within Europe, but it's all in one DigiKey experience. Customers can check out with one cart, and DigiKey handles the payment transaction.

The other customer advantages when we think about Europe is quicker time and transit. If you have a supplier in Germany shipping to a customer in Germany, it can get there faster than coming from North America and reduce shipping costs. There's also the reduction in carbon footprint from not having a product come to North America and then go back to Europe.

Can only products and solutions be offered through the DigiKey Marketplace or can development services also be provided?

We have a network of design and integration service firms offering fee-based design, development, prototyping, manufacturing, automation control and systems integration services that are all available to any visitor to our website. We also offer a variety of free design and development online tools on our website. The DigiKey Marketplace is one service among many that we offer to our customers.

DigiKey is strongly committed to the field of automation technology. What growth potential do you see in this industry, and how do you intend to tap into it?

Adoption of automation will continue to increase, especially as things get simpler. In addition to our product offering, we are working with many suppliers to create more pre-packaged sets of products that can solve a specific problem or need.

What's on DigiKey's roadmap for this year?

We will continue to expand our tools and solution offerings while expanding the breadth of our portfolio.