APC 1998 Annual Report Download - page 29

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> Schneider Electric is involved in two core businesses
to serve four main markets: construction, industrial
production, electric power (transmission and distribution),
and infrastructure. Schneider Electric also means a major
distributor network that offers our products around the world
to customers, systems integrators, and product users.
> Schneider Electric has a tightly woven network of
distributors with 7,400 outlets worldwide. More than 70%
of our standard-price catalog products are sold through
professional distributors. At Schneider, a close relationship
with the customer is a key part of our marketing strategy.
For this reason, we always take the marketing aspect into
account when we develop new products. By integrating
more and more related services, we are strengthening our
close relationship with distributors so that we can serve
their customers better.
To address each market’s specific features and meet
contractor and end-user expectations, a distributor needs
to be extremely professional and have the necessary skills
to understand the catalog’s technical content. We select
our distributors on these criteria. In many countries where
distribution is in the development stage, Schneider is deeply
involved in helping its distributors obtain the skills they
need. We have devoted considerable energy to training in
this area. In addition, we share information (increasingly by
Did you know that Schneider Electric is involved in so many areas of your daily life ?
e-mail) to keep distributors continuously informed about
product availability and technical data.
Everywhere we operate, we have set up solid partnerships
to provide customers with the service they expect.
Together, Schneider Electric and its distributors offer the
entire Schneider Electric catalog along with the correspon-
ding technical support, and provide the most appropriate
solutions at the best cost.
> Systems integrators--who include panelbuilders,
contractors, OEMs, and others--play a key role
in Schneider Electric’s business strategy. These partners
are valued for their expertise in implementing products
and related services, and in providing end-users with
the solutions that best meet their needs. When customers
evaluate the quality of a machine or system, they make
a close connection between Schneider’s products
and the systems integrator’s performance.
> We pay special attention to our major international
customers. The Schneider Global Business Development
network addresses their needs, providing the skills to
manage megaprojects on a global scale. SGBD’s teams
assess the customer’s specific requirements and tap our
Company wide resources to offer prompt, consistently
effective solutions.