APC 2009 Annual Report Download - page 23

2009 REGISTRATION DOCUMENT SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC 21
DESCRIPTION OFTHEGROUP, ITSMARKETS ANDITSBUSINESSES
1
A STRATEGIC FOCUS ON BALANCING THEENERGYEQUATION
Buildings: reducing investing and operating
costs while offering greater comfort and
safety
Over the past ten years, customers have become much more
demanding when it comes to comfort, security, communication
capabilities and energy savings. Building automation and centralised
building management have developed signifi cantly in response to
this global trend.
This market covers all types of service, commercial and industrial
buildings, including offi ces, hotels, hospitals, shopping centres ,
manufacturing facilities, schools, sports and cultural centres and
ships. Customers are looking for products and services that can
optimise maintenance and energy costs and consumption while
enabling simultaneous management of several sites via the Internet.
The line up for buildings covers integrated technical management,
transformation and electrical distribution, utility management, data
exchange, energy management and metering, critical power and
cooling services, surveillance and security. These solutions are
available everywhere and comply with local standards and practices.
They are devised using networkable products that are easy to install
and operate.
Data Centres and Networks: guaranteed
reliability, availability and efficiency
Metaphorically, data centres , which process and store millions on
millions of bytes of information, are the central nervous systems
of small businesses, multinational corporations and government
services. Physically, they are buildings fi lled with servers in secure,
air conditioned rooms.
Given the growing digitalization of social, professional and personal
activities, data centres represent a market destined for exponential
growth. By 2010, there should be some 45 million servers
worldwide—nine times more than in 1996. This will lead to a
substantial increase in electrical consumption for their operation and
cooling, to prevent overheating. The cost of cooling server rooms will
exceed that of the equipment itself.
With its APC by Schneider Electric solutions, the Group offers
a unique line up to meet the ethical and fi nancial imperatives of
energy effi ciency in data centres and networks. Schneider Electric
leverages its global leadership position, backed by unparalleled
advanced technological expertise, to guarantee a 30% reduction in
consumption. The energy savings result in a substantial reduction in
operating costs—up to several million euros per year—and several
thousand metric tons less of CO2 released into the atmosphere.
Residential: making technology available to all
and facilitating access to all communication
resources
The market for single-family homes and apartment buildings is
extremely diverse in terms of standards and local characteristics. It
offers signifi cant growth prospects that vary from region to region.
Demand for comfort, safety and energy savings dominate , which is
why renovation and home improvement represent around half of the
market . The emerging economies have huge needs.
Schneider Electric’s easy-to-operate, upgradeable and attractive
solutions for electrical distribution, electrical wiring, home automation,
Voice-Data-Image networks, critical power and cooling services,
surveillance and security make homes safe and comfortable while
facilitating communication.
Our customers are our partners
Backed by its unique business model, Schneider Electric reaches
its customers through diversified channels, unlike most of its
competitors. The Group makes a large portion of sales through
distributors, systems integrators, contractors and specifi ers. These
partners provide strategically related value and expertise that extend
and amplify the Group’s commercial and technical resources.
Quality relationships and customer
satisfaction: a strategic priority
Customer satisfaction is an integral part of Schneider Electric’s
growth strategy. Every contact with Schneider Electric should be
a perfect, positive experience that leaves all customers, no matter
who they are or where they are located, feeling acknowledged,
understood and satisfi ed. This commitment is a key differentiating
factor. Surveys are conducted regularly in all countries to measure
progress in customer satisfaction .
To enhance its team members’ competencies, the Group has set up
a sales and marketing institute within Schneider Electric University.
In 2007, a customer satisfaction training programme was rolled out
worldwide for the Group’s team members. This large-scale initiative
testifi es to the importance Schneider Electric places on customer
relations.
Customers also have access to online diagnostics and support
services, an e-catalog, downloadable software and online information
and training.
Distributors: a daily partnership
Electrical equipment distributors account for more than 50% of the
Group’s total sales and 75% of catalog product sales. They offer a
tight-knit network of 16,000 sales outlets worldwide.
Schneider Electric works with a wide range of distributors, including
local distributors, wholesalers, non-specialized professional
distributors and large international groups such as Rexel and
Sonepar in France and Graybar and Grainger in the United States
for electrical equipment, and US-based Tech Data and Igram for IT
equipment. In the residential renovation market, Schneider Electric
also sells products through large home improvement chains such
as Home Depot and Lowes in the US, Kingfi sher in the UK and
Saint Gobain Distribution in France. In addition, the Group uses
specialist distribution channels for highly technical products such
as automation solutions and industrial software, as well as for Pelco-
brand access control and security products.
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 new “eShop” that allows them to link
Schneider Electric’s product data base to their eCommerce sites so
that customers have 24/7 access to complete, updated and helpful
information. As part of a programme to develop energy effi ciency
solutions with distributors, the Group has published a catalog of
available solutions that suit the needs of different markets and
customer segments.
Schneider Electric nurtures close relationships with distributors to
provide end users with unparalleled local service, advice and product
availability in 190 countries.