Procurement for the electrical, power cable and connectivity supply chain
The electrical and telecommunications supply chain runs on specialist products with long lead times, tight standards and volatile commodity prices. Cable, jointing accessories, switchgear, fibre and connectivity hardware are bought from a global supplier base that has to be qualified, audited and managed for continuity, not just price.
Pro Outsourcing has worked in this sector since the start. Founder Tom Evans was UK Procurement Manager at Prysmian Cables, one of the world's largest cable manufacturers, and has worked with Draka. The firm has since delivered procurement programmes for Jointing Technologies and Leader Optec, two UK specialists in power cable distribution and fibre connectivity.
Why electrical and telecoms procurement is hard
Electrical and telecommunications procurement is the sourcing and supplier management of cables, jointing and termination accessories, switchgear, fibre optic and connectivity products, and the components behind them, for distributors, manufacturers and network operators. It combines global sourcing with strict standards compliance and continuity of supply.
Standards are non-negotiable
Products must meet BS, IEC and network operator approvals. A cheaper supplier that cannot evidence certification is not a saving, it is a liability.
Commodity prices move daily
Copper, aluminium and polymer prices drive cable and accessory cost. Contract structures and sourcing timing matter as much as the negotiated margin.
Global supply, local service
Competitive product often comes from China, India and Eastern Europe, but customers expect next-day availability. Stock, logistics and courier arrangements have to be designed with the sourcing.
Visibility is usually missing
Purchasing teams in fast-growing distributors and manufacturers often run on instinct because the ERP reports do not exist. Supplier performance is felt, not measured.
Electrical and telecoms procurement support
Global sourcing and supplier qualification
Identifying, auditing and qualifying manufacturers in China, India and elsewhere against industry standards and certifications, then managing the RFQ and transition.
Supplier base consolidation
Auditing the existing supplier base, consolidating where it reduces cost and risk, and building the long-term supply agreements that stabilise pricing.
Range extension sourcing
Sourcing additional product lines to grow the range, with the qualification and stock planning to support them.
Procurement reporting and OTIF dashboards
Bespoke reports and dashboards from your ERP or SAGE data, so purchasing moves from reactive to insight-led.
Dual sourcing and resilience
Identifying single points of failure in the supply base and building qualified alternatives before they are needed.
Stock, logistics and working capital
Optimising stock levels, courier and logistics arrangements, and addressing slow-moving and obsolete inventory to release cash.
Electrical and telecoms businesses we have worked with
Jointing Technologies
Specialist power cable and accessories distributor, branches in Woking, Bristol and Hove, Midlands distribution centre
- Full audit of the supplier base leading to consolidation and new long-term agreements
- Additional product lines sourced; new manufacturers in China and India assessed and audited against industry standards
- 15 to 22% product cost reduction on key lines, plus optimised stock, logistics and courier arrangements
"Jointing Technologies have used the services of Pro Outsourcing over the past five years to source products on our behalf. They have consistently delivered significant cost reductions, meaning that we always stay ahead in a very fast moving and competitive environment."Adam Lloyd, Managing Director, Jointing TechnologiesRead the case study →
Leader Optec
UK manufacturer of fibre optic connectivity products, patch panels and cabinets
- Fully funded transformation work package secured through the European Regional Development Fund
- Bespoke procurement reports and OTIF dashboards built from the SAGE system, moving purchasing from reactive to insight-led
- Dual sourcing opportunities and slow-moving inventory actions identified to improve resilience and working capital
"Pro Outsourcing have provided Leader Optec with the tools to begin developing our purchasing strategy, and developed for us a robust set of processes and reports to allow us to interrogate our system data and be more proactive in the purchasing side of our business."Paul Desmond, Managing Director, Leader OptecRead the case study →
Why electrical and telecoms businesses choose Pro Outsourcing
Founder Tom Evans MCIPS was UK Procurement Manager at Prysmian Cables, running procurement for a UK cable manufacturing business inside one of the world's largest cable groups, and has also worked with Draka. That background means we know the product, the standards, the copper and polymer commodity drivers and the supplier landscape before the first meeting. We have then applied it for five years at Jointing Technologies and in a funded transformation at Leader Optec, delivering measured cost reduction rather than recommendations.
Book a Free Procurement ReviewServices that support this work
Strategic Sourcing
Category-led sourcing that reduces cost and strengthens the supplier base.
Supplier Due Diligence
Financial, quality, ethical and capability checks that protect you from supplier failure.
Procurement Outsourcing
A managed procurement function that runs sourcing, suppliers and purchasing for you.
Electrical and telecoms procurement: common questions
Can you source electrical products from overseas without compromising on standards?
What is your background in the cable industry?
We are a distributor, not a manufacturer. Is procurement consultancy relevant?
We use SAGE and have no procurement reporting. Can you fix that?
What is dual sourcing and do we need it?
Is funding available for this kind of work?
Procurement that keeps product on the shelf and margin in the business
Book a free 30-minute procurement review with Tom Evans MCIPS. We will look at your key product lines, your supplier base and your purchasing visibility, and tell you where the cost and risk are. No obligation, no jargon.
Book a Free Procurement Review