APC 2006 Annual Report Download - page 25

in Denmark, CED-Edmundson in the United Kingdom,
and Graybar and Grainger in the United States.
In the residential renovation market, Schneider Electric
also sells products through large home improvement
chains such as Home Depot and Lowes in the US,
Kingfisher in the UK and Saint Gobain Distribution in
France.
Lastly, the Group uses specialist distribution channels
for highly technical products such as human machine
interface and VDI transmission equipment, PLCs and
industrial software.
Schneider Electric nurtures close relationships with
distributors to provide end users with unparalleled
local service, advice and product availability in 190
countries.
To maintain a high performance network, the Group
works hand in hand with distributors on supply chain
issues, technical training and marketing. Distributors
have numerous resources at their fingertips, including
the dedicated "My Schneider Electric" portal, through
which they can access prices and technical informa-
tion, place orders and download installation manuals
around the clock.
Panelbuilders:
ease of use and services
Panelbuilders make and sell electrical distribution or
control/monitoring switchboards, primarily for the
Buildings, Energy and Infrastructure markets. Their
main customers are contractors. Panelbuilders mostly
buy low and medium voltage devices, such as circuit
breakers and contactors, and increasingly, prefabricat-
ed systems.
There are more than 20,000 panelbuilders around the
world with very diverse expertise and areas of special-
ization. Schneider Electric serves each group with a
tailored set of products and services that can help
enhance their end product. Selected panelbuilders,
chosen for their professionalism and ability to promote
Schneider Electric's quality and safety values, receive
advanced technical and marketing support.
Contractors:
active cooperation
To devise customized solutions to end-users’ specific
needs, Schneider Electric works closely with contrac-
tors–a broad category that ranges from large compa-
nies specialized in implementing equipment and sys-
tems to small, specialized or general electricians, and
from systems integrators to OEMs.
These partners add unique value by turning cus-
tomers’ ideas into working, purpose-designed sys-
tems. In addition, they often advise customers about
the different possible solutions before a project begins.
Schneider Electric works actively with contractors by
offering technical training and advice to help them
devise the best response for a given project, from sim-
ple to complex applications.
Systems integrators:
a dedicated alliance
Systems integrators, the Group’s historical customers,
install automation devices for end users.
The Group has developed the "Schneider Electric
Alliance" with them to provide users with effective
turnkey solutions and proactive local support. Thanks
to this alliance of carefully selected partners, cus-
tomers with automation projects can easily find quali-
fied professionals located near their installations. The
Schneider Electric Alliance has more than 700 mem-
bers in some 30 countries.
Along with technical support, Schneider Electric pro-
vides these partners with advanced engineering
resources so they can develop their business and
become more competitive.
OEMs: partners in performance
Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) continu-
ously seek to improve machine performance and
maintenance to meet their customers’ needs in areas
ranging from packaging to textiles, elevators to convey-
ing, and materials handling and hoisting to HVAC. As a
result, they are increasingly demanding when it
comes to high-performance solutions, competencies,
reliability, quality, cost, innovation and time to market.
Schneider Electric works with nearly 30,000 OEMs
through its global operations, bringing all its strengths
to their special partnership. These include:
Extensive knowledge of their applications.
Dedicated centers of excellence that offer the most
competitive solutions for new machines.
International customer support to deliver high-per-
formance after-sales service worldwide.
A dedicated program for multi-site and global OEMs
that enhances their ability to offer superior solutions on
an international level.
Energy suppliers:
local expectations
There are some 11,000 electric companies around the
world. They use Schneider Electric products and serv-
ices in power generation (electricity for power plant
equipment, automation and control), distribution
(medium and low voltage networks) and marketing
(pre-payment meters, related services).
The Group responds effectively to their expectations
for local service with applications support and innova-
tive products that help them meet important chal-
lenges like market deregulation and the development
of renewable energies.
Global Strategic Accounts:
a dedicated organization
Schneider Electric has a dedicated organization for
global enterprises interested in developing special
relationships with their key suppliers. The Group’s pre-
ferred supplier contracts ensure high-level contacts for
these global strategic accounts.
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