Swagelok Company and its global network of over 200 independent sales and service centres have been recognised with an “eVolution in Manufacturing” Award for their success in building a globally available products eStore offered through hundreds of local “storefronts” world-wide. The awards were presented on 7 March in downtown Cleveland.
The key to Swagelok’s winning entry was the company’s willingness to go “against the grain,” explained Tom Gubanc, Swagelok’s director of e-commerce. Unlike many trendy e-commerce sites that sought to “go direct” to the customer, Tom said the company “decided to stick to our business model and strengthen it through technology.” The ultimate design enabled each independent Swagelok sales and service centre to offer its own eStore and receive, fulfil, and bill its own e-commerce orders. Though this structure required extensive integration, it preserved the quality of the sales and service relationships that independent Swagelok representatives are known for throughout industry.
