Understanding Our Electronic Components Search Engine Vetting Process

When making the decision to become an uploader on the world’s largest free electronic component search engine, the first question many suppliers have about our platform is in regards to our vetting process. How do we verify the authenticity of our uploaders? Are there any minimum standards an uploader must fulfill before a final decision is made? Are there any restrictions involving specific criteria?

All of these concerns are valid, and we vet to ensure that the inventory of our uploaders is listed alongside reputable sources that reflect only the best our industry has to offer.

First, one has to understand that, as a free electronic component search engine that operates as an open platform, we do not set any minimums in regards to inventory quantities, company size, or component type. We don’t believe suppliers need to conform to any set qualifications regarding how their company is structured. They understand the services they provide and the customer base they must adhere to, and we strive to honor that.

What we do ask, however, is that what our uploaders provide reflects a firm commitment to transparency and integrity. Over time, we have determined that a good reflection of these values is in the details they provide us regarding inventory quantities and line items. When we receive a request from a supplier to be included on Partstat, our experienced team spot-checks their inventory against what our Big Data tells about the market. If a small, non-authorized uploader claims to have inventory stock on a part that is far greater than what our authorized distributors are listing, then that is a flag that needs further investigation. Our data informs us what a reasonable level of inventory is proportional to the size of the company, and we have learned to recognize when a quantity reported to us doesn’t quite add up. There are times where potential uploaders will report to us that they do not have inventory in stock but can get it if an order is made.

This is especially common from companies who identify as brokers, and while this in itself is not necessarily a final determinant, we do prefer uploaders who have inventory on-hand ready to ship. For authorized distributors who do not have currently have a component in stock, we grant more leeway due to their established partnerships with component manufacturers, but these are handled on an individual basis.

This case-by-case mentality stretches to all levels of our vetting process, and no two uploaders on our search engine for electronic components go through the exact same investigation. Our process is flexible and based on the accumulation of many different findings. Does the company list their inventory on their own site? Do they have a website? If not, then why not? Do they promptly respond to our questions, and do their responses seem to comply with what their data is telling us? Do they have a listed company address, and does this location seem suitable to house electronic inventory based on what we can view via Google Earth?

There are also a variety of certifications and company features that can be useful in significantly strengthening a potential uploader’s case. If the company possesses an ISO certfication, is a member of GIDEP or the ERAI, or possesses any kind of warranty or product liability insurance, we will certainly take those into consideration. None of these factors will be solely responsible for determining whether we approve an uploader or not, but collectively they all play an equally important role in helping us make a decision. And in the event the uploader is approved, we will add this information to their Partstat supplier profile for all potential buyers to view.

Due to both the mass quantity of requests received and the thorough nature of our approvals process, we do not adhere to a strict timetable, ensuring that each case is given the attention it deserves. We can say, however, that for the majority of requests, our team can make a determination in a few business days. If more information is required, our team will reach out to you to discuss the issue in more detail.

Partstat prides itself in standing behind each and every one of our growing community of uploaders, which as of today has grown to nearly 5,000. For both us and our users, the final approval to become a valued uploader has come to symbolize our commitment to providing the best possible, risk-free buyer experience. That’s not something to be taken lightly, or for granted.

To become a Parstat Uploader today, click here.