Customer Programs > Strategic Alliances

Through WESCO's strategic alliance program, more and more companies are achieving productivity and profitability gains critical to sustaining a competitive marketplace position. The program, which fosters the growth of relationships built on trust and communication, provides a proven vehicle for developing and implementing cost effective systems and efficient operational solutions to business challenges.

The heart of WESCO's strategic alliance program is the relationships we establish. WESCO tailors its offering to meet the specific needs of the individual customer in addition to providing our partners with standard tools like training, technical support, innovative business systems, and efficient operational methods to facilitate cost savings and productivity.

WESCO has developed a strategic process to address all facets of procurement costs - not just product pricing - and has made an investment in and commitment to designing a method that will continuously add value by meeting our customers' specific needs.

Implementation
Implementing alliance programs can be challenging, specifically with large, multi-location customers. WESCO has developed a concept that includes two teams with separate, but integrated roles in the program implementation process. The Alliance Improvement Team (AIT) is responsible for the on-going alliance relationship and sharing best practices, solutions to common issues, and all relevant information related to the alliance partner's performance. It is charged with ensuring that the programs reach all locations and addressing concerns and problems that affect the alliance as a whole. The Local Alliance Improvement Team (LAIT), which is at the branch and mine site level, is the critical element in the day-to-day implementation of alliance programs and provide ongoing feedback to the AIT.

This structure has proven effective for addressing situations before they become problems and serving as a forum for making improvements, finding new solutions and uncovering savings opportunities. Our multi-location customers have found this approach to be an invaluable asset for ensuring top down and bottom up communication, which is critical to the success of the alliance. The AIT/LAIT structure is specifically designed to involve people at all levels of the both the customer's and WESCO's organizations.