The IC distribution industry is a highly competitive market where speed is paramount, constituting an indispensable part of any discussion about restructuring electronic supply chains or building resilient supply chains. Sourceability is a U.S.-based IC distribution company founded in 2015 with revenue for this year estimated at US$1.2 billion. Sourceability operates Sourcengine, an e-commerce marketplace for electronic components, that utilizes a cloud-based digital platform to service its customers.
Jens Gamperl, founder and CEO of Sourceability, said in an interview that the global supply chain has been impacted and disrupted after two years of economic turmoil and a spate of black swan events, affecting different industries to varying degrees. His solution to the uncertainty of market supply and demand changes is to develop an electronic supply chain platform, initiate digital transformation, and keep a finger on the pulse of the rapidly changing market. Sourceability offers stability to companies whether facing product shortages or surpluses on the supply side or fluctuating end-user demand.
A native of Germany, Jens first entered the industry in 1983 with rich experience in the dynamics of the ICT distribution market. He has witnessed the diversity of the European market and has been able to deal with the day-to-day market changes thanks to his experience with different cultural, linguistic, and industry specifics. Jens had great expectations of the Internet and cloud-based technologies as the core of problem solving. This mentality led to the establishment of Sourceability, and this was also where his unique digital transformation began.
The early days of the IC distribution businesses were all about integrating sales and distribution management and finances. Oftentimes, a single problem in one of the links in the distribution chain, from the top end to the production end, would have a serious impact on the entire IC distribution business. Therefore, when Jens returned to the market in 2015, rather than deal with endless escapades and crises, he wanted to adopt an open marketplace business model. Sourceability utilizes a transparent information sharing approach to integrate semiconductor chip inventory, technical specifications, delivery times, and other data. In this way, all parties involved in a transaction can use the digital platform to see the current situation clearly, directly, and quickly. In addition, chip users can trade directly in an open marketplace, allowing potential risks to be mitigated by the speed of operations.
Sourceability Values Digital Customer Experience: Get All Things Done on One Platform Only
Sourcengine's business model adopts a cloud-based digital platform and digital tools to serve its customers. In addition, Sourcengine provides an API for large electronics manufacturing service providers to easily integrate with individual customers' ERP systems. The most tangible benefits of this integration include transparent and foolproof status of parts in real time, as well as direct answers to all potential questions. For example, in the midst of the 2018 global MLCC shortage, Sourceability was able to quickly solve customers' most pressing limitation periods via digital tools. This modus operandi is unprecedented among traditional IC distributors. From processing large order volumes to inventory control and reporting, Sourcengine solves problems big and small.
Sourceability has also showcased its Quotengine tool. Once a user sets up an account and uploads their BOM, Quotengine immediately compares the original part numbers, quantities, requirements, and other information to its database. Next, Quotengine provides the prices, quantities, and delivery times of each of Sourcengine's more than 3,500 chip suppliers. Within minutes, it displays the status of parts and provides a report sheet with the above data. Quotengine also facilitates exchanges and decision-making among colleagues in purchasing departments. In the past, successfully managing a single purchase often meant spending a lot of time solving problems such as finding a supplier, managing delivery times, and setting prices. With Quotengine, market research, pricing, and delivery time information can now be integrated within minutes, saving a great deal of time. This is the marketplace business model Jens has been calling for.
Sourceability has various branches in Asia and three shipping warehouses in Hong Kong, Singapore, and Miami, as well as offices and branches in various cities and regions on both sides of the Taiwan Strait. The company aims to continue expanding its business in Asia. Sourceability is also gradually broadening the promotion of its digital customer tools. To learn more about the services offered by Sourceability, kindly visit the official website: www.sourceability.com
Jens Gamperl, Founder and CEO of Sourceability
Sourceability drives digital supply chain transformation, shaping new development for IC distributors
