Anixter is a leading global distributor of network, security systems, cabling and infrastructure solutions. In Latin America it is definitely one of the companies with the greatest recognition, presence and projection.
By Santiago Jaramillo Hincapié
Anixter works with integrators, end users and contractors to enable an interconnected world that can handle the data demands of the future and secure businesses, industries and communities. By investing in technical experts, global distribution networks and supply chain management to respond quickly to customer demands, Anixter helps address industry challenges and maximize the performance and value of your assets throughout the project lifecycle.
This company is a global supplier of security and communication products; communication, control and industrial energy products; automation products; electronic and electrical cables and wires.
Importantly, it helps its customers specify solutions and make informed purchases regarding appropriate technologies, applications, and standards. With an innovative supply chain of solutions and presence in more than 50 countries and 300 cities, Anixter is positioned in a way that facilitates projects in their local environments, and with it, helps reduce risks and costs.
Anixter is committed to providing the highest quality standards through partnerships with manufacturers in all the solutions it offers to its customers. These alliances have led Anixter to be recognized at the regional level.
Anixter has served the Caribbean and Latin American market for more than 25 years, with an important presence thanks to its sales force, services and an optimal channel distribution network throughout the region. As a company, Anixter has more than 50 years of experience, 8,200 employees worldwide and a global inventory of US$1.1 billion available to its customers.
Pilar Gómez, Vice President of Security Solutions for Latin America at Anixter, received us at her Miami office with the aim of giving us details of the company's current situation and future plans.
Specifically, he told us about the latest and most representative projects in Electronic Security in which the company's products have participated.
"We have been mainly in the part of citizen surveillance. In countries like Argentina this vertical has been very strong. In Chile we have worked on projects in the area of Health, in Mexico the retail part and the financial vertical have had great strength, and Colombia, for its part, is a little more oriented to the private sector, "says Pilar Gómez.
Regarding technological trends, the Vice President of Security Solutions for Latin America of Anixter commented that "what we are seeing most is that technology moves towards the integration area, but now it is more oriented to all the data is more focused on business intelligence. This is more marked in the area of video, which is why analytics is no longer only used as a security function, but has evolved and is now a tool for the marketing, operations and strategy departments of companies, "highlights our guest.
In addition, Gómez adds that "in this way you can have a return on investment in your projects, because in addition to the already traditional protection of your facilities, customers can use this information to optimize different processes such as production, retail or others according to the vertical to which the solution is taken".
Pilar Gómez also points out that "the camera is an element that provides us with information that can be used for many objectives, now as all the equipment is interconnected you can have a little more intelligence and you can deliver with it an added value to the processes. To help customers use technology for broader and beneficial purposes in the operation of business."
Regional market
The representative of Anixter emphasizes that when you review the market what you see is that Latin America usually reacts a little later to the trends that exist in other parts of the world. "If we focus on the video surveillance part we find that the migration that in other parts was given in a more agile way to the IP world, here (Latin America) definitely took longer. At present we are on a fairly advanced path, but there is still a lot of analog and high definition to replace or migrate."
In summary, Pilar points out, "we see trends that are more developed in other regions and that are not yet coming to our market, but it will still take a little time for them to become more widespread. Additionally what is happening in video is that the camera is increasingly becoming a commodity, because the camera is no longer the essence of the investment value but there are increasingly lower price equipment, that is why the market is tending now more than ever to lend special to the software, to analytics and business intelligence through data."
As for the most representative countries for Anixter, Pilar Gómez ponders that "the main market for us is Mexico, due to its importance and size this trend will continue for 2018. As far as Brazil, another traditionally important country, is concerned, we hope that it will begin to recover, because we continue to believe and have an important presence in it. Another country that has been having great results for us is Argentina and now with all the political and economic changes that are coming for it we project that it will have an important growth in the coming years. On the other hand, three countries that have been having similar behavior are Colombia, Peru and Chile, without leaving aside Central America and the Caribbean that together become a very important region for our business, "he highlights.
Finally, Gómez highlights that "a great differentiator we have in Anixter is to be a strategic partner for our customers, offering them tailor-made solutions that allow them to simplify problems, minimize times and increase profitability, integrating all our operational, logistical and financial capabilities. Our goal is that for each project of our clients we manage to save them time, reduce costs, improve efficiency and mitigate risks, "he concludes.
