Business NotesIssue 52, 2024Notebook Issue

AutomationDirect Customers Appreciate Variety and Value

Ordering and receiving components for an industrial automation application can prove challenging at times. Many suppliers complicate the process by hiding list prices or determining what your “special” price should be, and simply getting a quote can take hours or days. Parts may be out of stock or saddled with extraordinary lead times.

AutomationDirect offers a much different experience to simplify the entire process and make your life a lot easier.

As a premiere distributor of products for machine and process applications, we work with world-wide suppliers to bring our customers an exceptionally wide variety of high-quality products, including programmable logic controllers (PLCs), human-machine interfaces (HMIs), marquee displays, AC/DC drives and motors, motion control systems, and much more.

This expansive inventory, combined with a smart pricing strategy and emphasis on efficiency, sets AutomationDirect apart from other suppliers. Our products are in stock and ready for immediate dispatch, with free 2-day delivery for orders over $49. A 45-day money-back guarantee on most products gives buyers additional flexibility to make last-minute changes, without penalty.

Consider the words of a user who initially approached AutomationDirect with some skepticism and ended up as a loyal customer.

“Today, even thinking of ordering from somewhere else gives me a headache. With AutomationDirect, it’s such smooth sailing every time, I find myself wishing they sold everything because it would make my life so much easier.”

Similar sentiments echoed by numerous customers validate AutomationDirect’s exceptional level of service within the automation industry.

The AutomationDirect operating philosophy is about more than just offering low prices on products, and instead encompasses the total value proposition. Top-notch services and industry-leading customer support go a long way toward proving the full value of choosing AutomationDirect.

*Low prices + Lowest cost of ownership = #1 value in automation

By offering a B2B shopping and support experience that matches the convenience and ease typically found in B2C transactions, the company is setting a new benchmark for customer satisfaction and engagement in the industrial automation sector.

One pervasive pain point experienced by many industry users relates to the costs associated with software licenses, service contracts, and hidden fees. These expenses can even exceed the initial hardware investment, posing a formidable barrier, particularly for new operations or entities with limited budgets.

AutomationDirect solves these problems by offering PLC and HMI programming software free of charge. This is a stark contrast from many competitors, who often impose charges ranging from $1,000 to $10,000 for the necessary software subscriptions and programming suites to operate PLCs. Eliminating this cost barrier has made these products more accessible to customers and made AutomationDirect a budget-friendly company.

Optimizing the Purchasing Experience

Although AutomationDirect first made its mark offering PLCs—the brains of any industrial automation control system—it quickly expanded the product range to include sensors, power products, communication hardware, pneumatics, hydraulics, mechanical components cut-to-length wire & cable, tools, and test equipment. Today, the website features some 40,000 part numbers, with new products introduced weekly.

A streamlined purchasing experience is guaranteed through a user-friendly web site and a customer service team that is readily available to assist with orders via multiple channels, including phone, email, and fax.

After the sale, a team of documentation experts and marketing professionals continues to enhance customer knowledge through extensive training materials and videos available on the website and YouTube. Should the need arise, AutomationDirect also has an award-winning technical support staff waiting for your call—no service agreements required.

Pushing the Boundaries of Success

AutomationDirect has been conducting and growing the business with consistent intensity and a focus on customers since the first day. At the heart of such an illustrious growth journey is the visionary leadership of founder Tim Hohmann, who has always championed teamwork and a culture of servant leadership. At AutomationDirect, supporting customers through both prosperous times and challenging economies is a foundational principle.