Training channel partners to give after sales services

- Advertisement -

Most believe that a deal is through once the payment has been made but this is not the case in today’s competitive business scenario. Nowadays, a deal is not considered as such until the customer comes back for another sale and players have realised the importance of after sales services in making this happen. Earlier, it was only the manufacturers who were offering after sales services to customers but now, channel part­ners, too, have started providing the same. The latter have qualified, well trained staff, with the required skillset to cater to the problems of customers. Chetan Ajmera, CEO of Componix says, “Our representa­tives can address the industry for all their technical queries and help in better placement of our products because of the proper training given to them.” Realising the importance of after sales services given by the channel partners, manufacturers have started emphasising on train­ing their channel partners. Gayatri Industries, a manufacturer of volt­age stabilisers, provides training to its channel partners (in India and overseas) so that they can com­petently take care of customers’ problems.

By Saurabh Sharma

Saturday, September 19, 2009: Manufacturers tend to select channel partners who have the capabilities to cater to all the needs of customers. “We always choose a channel partner who has an elec­tronics background or has some experience of the electronics market due to the technical nature of the products. These qualities help him to connect better with the market,” says Arun N Avhad, proprietor of Jyoti Telecom. Manufacturers can opt to distribute their products themselves and can also provide after sales services directly but if they choose the distributor network for the dissemination of their goods, then it becomes a must for them to impart proper training to the part­ners in order to enable them to help customers.

- Advertisement -

Service through channel

After sales services have many ad­vantages but sometimes they raise the cost bar of principals as they ei­ther have to establish an entire unit to provide these services or have to start a training centre, where they can train their channel partners. But training channel partners have given them an edge as now they can handle the customer queries on their own.

On the other hand, after sales services can rake in additional business opportunities for the en­terprise as customers always tend to get their products rectified by the manufacturer and this gives the company the option of charging an­nual maintenance charges (AMCs) once the warranty period is over. For Indian manufacturers, it is easy to send out engineers for servicing but for the international manufacturers, it is not possible to set up an after sales unit in every country, so they have to train their channel partners in order to sell their products ef­ficiently. Advance Tec Services Pvt Ltd sells many products of foreign companies but it has trained en­gineers, who are fully capable of handling all customer queries. This has given the company an edge over other importers because they can solve customer problem in the minimum possible time and does not have to send the product outside India for repair.

Training course for partners

Recently, ABB Electronics launched a web-based training programme for its channel partners and custom­ers to educate them on low voltage motors. After attending the course, its channel partners and customers are now able to work as efficient members of ABB’s low voltage mo­tors’ sales channel. The duration of this course, although scheduled to last five weeks, was variable and dependent on the participants’ discretion. It was equivalent to two days of classroom training and com­prised six units, one exam unit and an evaluation. Topics taught in the course included knowledge of the product range, technical data, sales tools and after sales services. “Such courses are extremely essential as they equip customers and channel partners with vital knowledge about the product. They are turning out to be a successful initiative as channel partners and customers are registering online and taking the required training,” says Deepak Sood, head corporate communica­tions, ABB India. A trained channel partner is necessary for the better growth of the company as custom­er’s tend to have more confidence on the product because they do not have to go to the company for its maintenance.

Benefits of services

After sales services hold many long-term benefits for companies. They not only provide monetary gains to the enterprise but also help it to build a brand name in the market. “A customer who comes to us with a complaint is an opportunity in disguise. If we successfully solve his problem and he is satisfied with our services, he will come back again and next time, perhaps with another customer,” says Avhad. Backing up one’s products with the assurance of after sales services gives customers the confidence to buy them and as they are content in the knowledge that they will be attended to if something goes wrong. If a product comes with a slightly more expensive price tag than other products but also comes with assured after sales services, then customers tend to overlook the price tag.

Along with training channel part­ners some companies are providing basic training to their customer’s as well so that they can handle some problems directly. Lattice Semicon­ductor recently launched an online tutorial videos in an endeavour to provide online after sales support to its customers. These videos provide customers with thorough knowl­edge about the company’s products while they sit in the comfort of their homes.

Return on investment

After sale services are considered a long-term investment, as they don’t render immediate returns. They yield fruit much later, through constant efforts on the part of the company to forge lasting relationships with customers. They also require initial investments for setting up training sites and professional training of employees and channel partners. “To retain existing customers and attract new customers is the policy of our company,” states Ajmera.

Electronics Bazaar, South Asia’s No.1 Electronics B2B magazine

- Advertisement -

Most Popular Articles

Greaves Cotton Targets ₹15,000 Crore Revenue By 2030

0
Chairman Karan Thapar emphasised Greaves' evolution into a complete mobility solutions provider featuring a strong, varied growth model. Greaves Cotton Ltd. (GCL) has evolved from...

TSMC Grows EUV Share To 56%, Outpaces Rivals

0
Powering ahead, TSMC is dominating EUV market with 56% share reportedly. While it solidifies its lead in semiconductor technology, Samsung Foundry looks to compete...

Bangladesh Unlocking Its $1B Semiconductor Export Potential?

0
Speaking on workforce development, policy support, and global partnerships at a US meeting, the Bangladesh Semiconductor Industry Association has ambitious goals. The Bangladesh Semiconductor...

Vajram Electric Aims To Expand Manufacturing And Global Presence

0
Vajram Electric Ltd is securing financing to enhance its manufacturing plant, increase production, and establish itself as a major supplier of international electric vehicle...

India, Kazakhstan Forge Stronger Ties In Electronics

0
Eyeing tech partnerships and new opportunities, India-Kazakhstan business ties soar at the AIFC conference. Can this be a gateway for Indian electronics firms into...
John W. Mitchell, President and CEO, IPC

“India’s Core Focus On 5G, IoT, AI Fosters Need For Advanced Electronics,Components, And Semiconductors”...

0
Will Industry 4.0 supercharge India’s progress in semiconductor and electronics manufacturing? IPC President and CEO John W. Mitchell shared more strategies on the country’s...
Raman M., Co-Founder and CEO, chargeMOD

“Our Goal Is To Achieve Complete Sustainability By 2025-2026” – Raman M. Of chargeMOD

0
In a conversation with Nitisha Dubey from EFY, Raman M. of chargeMOD, elaborated his goal of developing virtual power plants by decentralising power production. Q....

“Adoption Of IoT-Enabled SMT Machines Is Still In Early Phases” – Pradeep Tandon, Director...

0
While electronics are becoming smarter through the Internet of Things, is electronics manufacturing following suit? Pradeep Tandon, Director for India, Middle East, and SAARC...
Dr Yashodhan P. Gokhale, Vice President for Battery Technology, JSW Energy

Charge Forward: High-Voltage Batteries And MSMEs Can Fuel India’s EV Revolution

0
A nuanced explanation of low- and high-voltage EV batteries by Dr Gokhale, Vice President for Battery Technology at JSW Energy, illuminates their advancements and...
Sanjay Gupta, CDO & Global Head of Engineering, L&T Semiconductor Technologies

Can MSMEs Contribute And Profit From The Semicon Boom?

0
Semiconductor manufacturing often requires significant investment, typically feasible only for governments or large corporations. But are there opportunities for MSMEs as well? We spoke...

Wireless Light-Based Communication With Velmenni’s Technology

0
Velmenni is at the forefront of wireless communication innovation with its pioneering light-based technologies, Li-Fi and LC Link. Founded by Deepak Solanki in October 2014...

Harnessing AI Technology For Efficient Pest Management

0
AI-Genix, an agri-tech startup, is transforming pest management for farmers through advanced AI-enabled systems that precisely target harmful pests. In an industry where pesticides and...

One Charger To Charge All Your Devices

0
Now, there is no need to carry different chargers for different products. This Bhubaneswar startup has launched a universal 65W charger using GaN technology...

Karnataka Government Initiative Promises ₹5M To Tech Startups

0
Boosting innovation and entrepreneurship across the state’s vibrant ecosystem, Karnataka launched Elevate 2024 and KAN, offering grants up to ₹5 million for startups. On Tuesday,...

CastNX Tech Startup Secures ₹232M For Power Electronics Growth

0
Eyeing to boost R&D and produce 100,000 variable frequency drives by 2026, Indian power electronics startup CastNX has secured ₹232.2 million from Plutus Investments. CastNX...

Industry's Buzz

Learn From Leaders

Startups