Better Decision-Making Through Breakthrough Intelligence: Electronica 2022 in Review 

The global electronics and semiconductor industry is still searching for a return to normal after several years that have been anything but business as usual. But as time ticks forward, it’s becoming increasingly clear that the world is fundamentally different than it was before the pandemic and now companies are being pushed to adapt faster and manage costs more effectively than ever before. 

Nowhere has this been more apparent than at Electronica 2022 in Munich, when the industry got together for the first time in four years for one of the world’s most anticipated industry trade shows. Although the glitz and glamor was in many ways back, much of the conversation with attendees and exhibitors was around making the most of every dollar spent, accelerating negotiation and decision cycles, and improving resilience from the point of design all the way through to the supply chain.

So what are electronics manufacturers and distributors talking about as they prepare for 2023 amid economic headwinds and ongoing challenges in the supply chain? Here’s a look into some of the top topics of Electronica 2022. 

3 Topics That Defined Conversations at Electronica 2022 

The Supplyframe booth at Electronica 2022 hosted numerous conversations, podcast recordings, and live demos of our solutions. Over the course of the trade show, from November 15th to the 18th, three major topics emerged as the driving force for the conversations our team had on the show floor: 

#1 – How Can Organizations Get Their Message Out into The Digital World? 

The shift towards virtual events and engagement has been nothing short of profound in recent years. Component manufacturers, suppliers, and distributors have been forced to accelerate their digital efforts and meet customers online more than ever before. 

Electronica 2022 was a welcome opportunity to reconnect and showcase new solutions in person, but it doesn’t change the ongoing industry shift. One major concern that came up in conversation was how organizations can expand their reach into the digital space. 

The most immediate and effective way to do this involves targeted advertising and placement on the web properties where engineers, designers, and other industry professionals spend their time. 

It is during these conversations that we had an opportunity to introduce our media and ecommerce solutions, which allow organizations to effectively tap into our network of over 10 million sourcing and engineering professionals through a suite of advertising and marketing solutions. 

#2 – Why is Intelligence so Important For Critical Sourcing Decisions? 

Another primary topic of discussion during Electronica 2022 was the need for intelligence that can benefit and inform sourcing decisions. Amidst ongoing component shortages, geopolitical conflict, climate change, and other factors, organizations have quickly begun to realize the vulnerabilities in their current supply chain visibility. 

Specifically, external intelligence has become a focus. Teams need a real-time view of the market, including insights into lead times, pricing, and other factors across key commodity groups. 

A snapshot of the present isn’t enough, however. Commodity managers need insights into the future, with reliable forecasts that inform a long-term sourcing strategy. The global electronics industry has fallen into the habit of fighting fires in recent years, as opposed to focusing on what’s next. 

When this question came up during conversations at our booth, we took the opportunity to showcase our market intelligence solution, Commodity IQ, which provides quarter-on-quarter rolling forecasts into pricing, lead times, and other factors across all major electronics commodity groups. 

#3 – What Can Organizations Do to Mitigate Supply Chain and Financial Risk?

Our last topic of discussion is something that has become a major focus in 2022, and will continue into 2023. A run of quick decisions made in the interest of surviving shortages has led to nothing short of a financial reckoning in today’s organizations. 

Risk is no longer just about inventory or lead times. It now encompasses cost, and a focus on proactive approaches that identify problems before they become a larger issue. Much of these opportunities exist during new product introductions (NPI), but they also extend into the product lifecycle. 

As organizations grow to understand where risk exists, the focus is zooming outward from engineering, and into the business itself. A variety of developments are happening in this regard. From collapsing silos and embracing collaboration, to leveraging a “living BOM” that accurately reflects potential issues during the design phase. 

All of these capabilities, and more, exist within our Supplyframe NPI and DirectSource solutions, which became a primary focus during conversations around this topic at Electronica 2022. 

Are You Prepared For Electronics Uncertainty Ahead?

Given the chance, every company in the electronics industry would like to see into the future and gain insight into the best course of action for an uncertain road ahead. And while no one has a crystal ball, data and analysis remain one of the best ways to gain new business insights and make intelligent decisions about design, sourcing and selling in a never-normal world. 

Electronica 2022 showed that whether companies are looking to accelerate design processes, improve sourcing and negotiation processes, or successfully introduce new products to electronics professionals, success often depends on the ability to build strong partnerships, leverage the power of information, and take advantage of the network effect.  

Contact us today to find out more how Supplyframe can help.