Can providers of electrical supplies offer more than just the product?

Outlets providing electrical supplies exist for one essential task – supplying the product.

However, there are extra measures that local brands can take to give the customer more value for their investment.

Here we will discuss what those measures can look like.

Multiple delivery options

From home delivery to an in-store pickup or sent to a partnered distribution outlet, there are various ways for a provider of electrical supplies to send the product to the customer. The best case scenario will see the stock acquired in-store but some items have to be shipped in from various locations. To avoid any hassles or frustrations over the logistics it is important that there are alternatives for residential and commercial clients, ensuring they are not boxed into one single option.

Product tracking program

In 2019 it is relatively commonplace for an outlet dealing with electrical supplies to offer a product tracking program. It can take days or weeks for an item to be shipped from interstate or overseas and given the time pressures involved with some acquisitions, it is important that the customer can identify where their investment is at any given time. These shoppers can have a unique ID code accompanied with a username and password through a webpage or app to see expected delivery time and which location it is based.

Online and offline customer service

Certain constituents won’t have the time in the schedule to see a specialist of electrical supplies in-store. Whilst many customers love the personal touch to engage with representatives in real time, others find it a struggle to find that work-life balance. If that is the case then it will be convenient to have an online customer service option. Pop-up chats, 24/7 phone lines and email addresses are all suitable methods for consumers to have their inquiries answered and responded to in good time.

Warranty and repair protections

Mistakes can happen – either from the perspective of the provider or the customer. Should something go array during the shipping of electrical supplies, the installation, if items are lost or damaged or if there has been a fault during the development, then a warranty should be issued ahead of the transaction. It will be dependent on the brand itself and their policy as well as the size of the investment, seeing products offer a minimum 6 or 12-month period all the way up to a period of 10 or 20 years to give maximum coverage. Within that agreement there can be in-store repairs if the outlet has an understanding with the manufacturer, cutting out the middleman when a fix is necessitated.

Advice for DIY users

A number of customers who visit a store for electrical supplies will be trained and certified professionals. These operators will be contracted and need to either upgrade their stocks or simply want to access a higher grade of equipment when they are at a work site. Yet there will be a large contingent of individuals who are DIY enthusiasts, wanting to strengthen a cable or utilise a better conduit for their household. In this setting it is worthwhile having experienced staff on hand who can cater specifically to the DIY market, avoiding any of the industry jargon that can be associated with electrical equipment and explain the pro’s and con’s of various brands according to their needs.

Summary

Some local outlets providing electrical supplies simply won’t have the resources to extend these particular courtesies. That will be acceptable for certain operators who have a relationship with the enterprise, but in a global marketplace where competition is high, the need to offer more value for money is hard to ignore for these brands. Should a local enterprise tick these boxes then they will be in the upper echelon of businesses within the industry.

Mike Smith
Mike Smith
Executive Editor at Best in Australia. Mike has spent over a decade covering news related to business leaders and entrepreneurs around Australia and across the world. You can contact Mike here.
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