With easy access to skilled talent pool and raw materials, India has strongly emerged as a global manufacturing sectors hub and is witnessing a myriad of industrial activities in recent times. While government initiatives such as Make in India and PLI have been the primary factors driving this phenomenon, the emergence of Industry 4.0 technologies such as AI/ ML, IoT, big data, and AR/VR has disrupted the industrial and manufacturing sectors in unprecedented ways. However, all these technologies need process control automation and sensing technologies at the shopfloor level to be effective. Thus, process automation has emerged as a hot favorite for businesses due to its ability to cut-down production costs by reducing manual intervention and process timelines. Mordor Intelligence’s recent report pegs the Indian industrial automation market size to be worth $17.28 billion in 2025 and further amount to $33.64 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 14.26 percent during the forecast period.
Given such encouraging factors, the demand for automation products & components has been at an all time high lately. However, one conglomerate that has created a niche for itself in this dynamic industry through its profound subject matter expertise and a clear understanding of various intricacies involved in the automation process is Sonepar India. Sonepar India started in India in 2009 and is part of the global conglomerate Sonepar Group which boasts of a global footprint spanning 40 countries. Today, Sonepar India has evolved into a ₹1000+ crore business and comprises of three major verticals, namely Telecom, Automation and Integrated Supply.
Full Scale Automation Solutions Partner
As a leading distributor of cutting-edge electrical products and solutions, Sonepar’s automation division specializes mainly in the areas of Smart Connected Assets, Smart Factory Operations, Smart Maintenance Applications, Utilities, AR and other services such as IT-OT Network Implementation & Integration, Data Concentration, Analytics & Dashboarding. Some of the major automation products categories across which it offers distribution services for include Human Machine Interface, Process Automation Control, Sensors, Variable Frequency & Soft Starters, Signaling Units and Motion & Machine Solutions. Furthermore, the company also boasts of an in-house design, engineering & digital transfor-mation team that is continuously engaged in deploying new technologies while simultaneously facilitating customization of solutions as per clients’ specific requirements.
Going a step further, Sonepar India not only ensures easy availability of MRO spare parts for its clients, but also provides them expert troubleshooting & technical support so that there’s zero to nil downtime in any industrial setup. Additionally, the company also facilitates repair and upgrade services to its clients, ensuring their systems remain up to date and function optimally. Some of the prominent manufacturers with which it has maintained strategic partnerships for distribution of their products include Rockwell Automation, Schneider Electric, Belden, Baker Hughes, Cisco, ABB, Siemens, and Hitachi, to name a few.
“By providing turnkey automation and instrumentation projects along with digital transformation solutions, we act as a one-stop solution provider and single point of contact for full scale implementation. Additionally, we closely collaborate with our clients, offer them product training, and support them in technology adoption via our customer success team so that they’re able to properly use our products and become well-versed with their operation & maintenance as well. Further, we also assist them with the commissioning of new systems & technologies to ensure smooth and efficient integration into their existing operations”, says Amit Dembi, Business Head (Automation), Sonepar India.
Prioritizing Customer Satisfaction
Sonepar India leaves no stone unturned to ensure that its clients get nothing short of the ‘best’ in terms of service quality. In light of this, it follows a consultative sales approach where its team of 50+ expert solution consultants have a discussion with the client, understand their requirement, advise on which solution suits them best, and assists them in configuring & implementing it into their existing systems.
Further, the company’s team of technical experts not only undergo rigorous training from its technology partners, but are also sent to multiple countries to get themselves certified prior to handling critical problems at clients’ sites. Most importantly, this esteemed conglomerate utilizes NPS services to collect customers’ feedback and drive continuous improvement and enhance its operational efficiencies.
Explaining further, Raja Sivaji Ghosh, Country Managing Director, Sonepar India says, “As a technology-first company, our solutions are also integrated with advanced analytics and AI-driven insights, enabling customers to predict failures, operational losses, and take necessary steps to reduce wastage. Additionally, we also offer asset performance management and remote assistance for a lot of applications through our digital solutions. Most importantly, we also help customers transform into digital operations and optimize workflows, which helps them to decrease costs and derive maximum productivity”.
Ensuring Timely Delivery across All Geographies
Despite having a vast geographical presence across 21 states & territories, Sonepar India has a well-planned and dynamic approach to its distribution process through decentralized operations and central oversight. While operating from regions hubs & branches facilitates quick decision making and being responsive at local levels, the central oversight ensures that every process across all geographies remain aligned with the overall organizational objectives. Additionally, the company also has maintained strategic partnerships with manufacturers and suppliers across diverse geographies, ensuring easy product availability and competitive pricing regardless of the location.
“Having local people employed at all our locations across India enables us to have a better understanding of regional markets and provide custom solutions relevant to respective regions and industries. For us, technology plays a crucial role by enabling data analytics for demand forecasting, automating warehouse operations for faster processing, maintaining adequate inventory levels, optimizing supply chain routes, employing transportation management systems and utilizing real-time tracking systems to streamline delivery schedules. This holistic approach allows us to effectively meet clients’ needs and ensure that they have a very smooth operation across all regions”, adds Bharat Bhushan Nagpal, Executive Director (Finance & Controls), Sonepar India.
Having local people employed at all our locations enables us to have a better understanding of regional markets and provide custom solutions relevant to respective regions and industries
Telecom Solutions Driving the Frontiers of Digitization
On the other hand, Sonepar India’s telecom division is engaged in providing state-of-the-art solutions designed to meet today’s rapidly evolving digital ecosystem. Its primary portfolio of products encompasses telecom cables, LAN Cables (RJ45 to RJ45), Alarm Cables, CPRD Cables, and Optical Fiber Patch Chords of different lengths to the telecom industry. Additionally, the company is also a major supplier of AJBs, MJBs, DCDBs, ACDBs, MC3 & MC4 Compatible Connectors, Wall Mounts Brackets, Pole Mount Brackets, Solar Applications, Cabinets, Racks, Enclosures (O/D & I/D) and Special Cables for a large variety of telecom applications. Some of the major customer segments that the firm caters to include telecom operators, OEMs, tower companies, installers, solar & renewable energy companies, LED lighting manufacturers, lighting OEMs and many more.
“By supporting the development of high-speed broadband networks, 5G rollouts, and IoT-driven technologies, we help telecoms, OEMs, operators and enterprises achieve greater efficiency and scalability. As we continue to grow, our focus remains on empowering our customers, enhancing connectivity, and supporting India’s vision of becoming a digitally empowered society by facilitating reliability, sustainability, and future-ready telecom infrastructure”, elucidates Jagadish Easwar, Executive Director (Telecom & Integrated Supplies), Sonepar India.
Employee-friendly Work Culture
Yet another striking feature of Sonepar India is its specialist HR Team which clearly understands the competition in the market and accordingly crafts highly efficient hiring and retention strategies. The company not only provides many flexi benefits to its employees, but also invests a lot on training programs and grooming its engineers who comprise 85 percent of Sonepar India’s workforce. As a result, its engineers are able to have a clear understanding of clients’ requirements and accordingly tailor-make the solutions.
“Despite constant talent poaching by competitors from other industries, the brand name Sonepar as a €34 billion conglomerate in itself plays a pivotal role in attracting and retaining skilled talent. By focusing on employee engagement, mentorship, clear career progression, and fostering a positive work culture to reduce turnover and maintain long-term commitment, we ensure a skilled & motivated workforce, driving continued operational excellence and customer satisfaction”, speaks Seema Ahluwalia, Executive Director (HR, Admin & IT), Sonepar India.
Exploring Beyond Horizons
Till date, Sonepar India has established a network of over 450+ associates and even has six distribution centers across the country. Sonepar India started its Automation Business in 2015 & has now achieved ₹650 crore in order booking, with its clientele comprising of biggest industrial organizations in the country. Further, the firm not only boasts of deploying Signaling & Telecom solutions in majority of metro trains in India, but is also certified as ‘Great Place To Work’ for five consecutive years.
“Always committed to providing cutting-edge industrial solutions, we at Sonepar India are very excited about AI & advanced data analytics technologies and their abilities to enhance overall process efficiencies. To bring these technologies into the Indian market, we already have partnered with world leaders such as Rockwell and Schneider. Standing true to Sonepar Group’s purpose statement ‘Powering Progress for Future Generations’, we’ll also be focusing on promoting green technologies by providing our clients with sustainable solutions that not only reduce their carbon footprint, but also products which would be easily repaired or recycled, ensuring product circularity as well”, concludes Raja.
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