Interactive Digital Systems, Inc.

Supply Chain Solutions Provider for Wireless, Communications, and Related Industries

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WHAT WE DO

 

Realizing the importance of our customers’ investment of huge amounts of capital and maintenance into existing wireless networks, coupled with impending economic conditions, Interactive Digital Systems understands the concept of maximizing utility with existing and older technology. 

 

THEREFORE:

 

At Interactive Digital Systems we are PROBLEM SOLVERS.  Our tenure in this business has allowed us to be able to develop a scope of problem solving solutions based on our experience in the supply chain resources arena.

 

HOW?

 

1) By researching equipment history, checking where the equipment is “used on” and being able to work downward from larger assemblies and examining the different applications or hardware platforms that may apply, i.e. the hardware may be used in different equipment types

 

2) By ‘backsourcing’ a part number to determine if it is used on a higher assembly or if it can be part of a kit assembly.  We determine the correct part number, assembly number, comcode, CLEI, and or version of the item and work with the customer and engineering resources.  It is not uncommon to ask the customer to find a description and or picture of the equipment to determine the manufacturer, manufacturers part number or vendor number of the item being researched. 

 

       We offer our customers “solutions of last resort” when: The manufacturer or supplier changes the equipment technology for any reason.  When equipment needed requires a minimum orderable quantity causing the manufacturer to have to “ramp-up” production of needed equipment , or, re-engage the production of needed equipment.  Most of the time our customers needs are below minimum orderable quantities. When the equipment becomes “end of lifed” and is no longer available and discontinued. 

 

              Example #1, A large broadband company we work with uses a “uplink” control solution for their customers (Discovery, ESPN, CNN, SHOWTIME, etc).  This solution is based on a specified hardware platform manufactured by H/P and Sun.  After a large capital investment by this broadband company in software imaging for these platforms both H/P and Sun “end of lifed” this hardware without notice.  Our customer was left with a heavy capital investment in their software image with no hardware solution to implement it on.  Interactive Digital was (and still is) able to procure and distribute this hardware to our customer with minimum delay and at considerable cost savings.

 

              Example #2,  A major maintenance-support company we work closely with had a situation where their      customers battery cabinet cooling fans were unobtainable, that is, the manufacturer of these fans had gone out of business.  There was  no resource to supply these fans.  What this meant was that potentially the batteries in the cabinets were in danger of malfunction from overheating and causing a site failure.  Interactive Digital was able to secure sample fans from these cabinets, work with a alternative manufacturer to build to the  same specifications in form and in function and has shipped several hundred for deployment – without failure-SOLVING PROBLEMS!!

 

 

WHAT MAKES US DIFFERENT

 

At IDS, our focus is on our customers’ uniqueness in their market.  When a customer has a different function in their market, then they have different needs.  Realizing that, it is what makes Interactive Digital “customer centric” – to be able to work wthin each customer’s purpose or function.  Here are some examples of how our customers, different functions in their markets determine how Interactive Digital works with them.

 

 Our customers in a support or maintenance role:

One of our support customers needed a shipment of DC power supplies for field immediate field deployment.  Delivery options from the manufacturer were a 6 week delay.  IDS was able to procure overstock from another company the necessary units and deliver them to their respective field locations within a 2 week period.

 

Our customers as service providers:

One of our customers who is a service provider in the communications industry was in a dire situation – their up-link end user needed a replacement KVM subsystem overnight.  Not only did the OEM and the OEM distributor not have availability, the KVM was out of production and there were no substitutes.  Interactive Digital was able to contact another end user who had a similar application and had spares, had it dropped shipped overnight and by the next morning, the up-link was on the air.

 

Our customers as carriers:

One of our carrier customers needed to complete a carrier sectorazation upgrade.  The dilemma was that they did not have access to the equipment needed to complete the upgrade.  This upgrade was already 3 weeks overdue and the manufacturer had an 8 week lead time for the equipment needed.  When checking the comcodes, clei, and “where used”, IDS was able to the determine correct version of the equipment, where the equipment would be located, and was able to de-install it from a spare BTS and ship it to our carrier customer. Although our spare BTS was rendered unusable, there was now a source for parts for other needs readily available. 

 

Our construction customers who build out cell sites:

        One of our construction customers needed breakers switches for a on site project that needed a rapid completion.  Small as it may be, to IDS, we realized that there was construction crews on site waiting for this equipment – that was unavailable.  Looking to different users for this product, we asked on OEM if they could suggest a user who had a large history of volume purchases.  Sure enough, IDS contacted this user who had significant overstock, was able to liquidate it and direct ship it to the location where the construction crews could complete their project.

 

        Our customer as the OEM:

        IDS can be a ‘go-to’ resource when OEM’s and manufacturers have a glitch in their supply chains. IN many instances OEM’s have contacted us because their incoming supply for distribution had been delayed or was en route from an over seas resource.  Although our customers may have contractual obligations with these OEM’s it is not unusual for both the customer and the OEM to make exceptions with IDS to supply necessary equipment and satisfy customer need. 

 

 

HOW WE CAN HELP YOU

 

Being a small business concern allows us to be agile and adaptable – there are no stringent guidelines of working with companies, - IDS is not a “one size fits all” type of company. 

 

WE communicate directly and all lines of communications are always open and there and no channels-always direct. ACCESSABILITY

 

Our price points are not directly fixed or set and because we are a small company, and our overhead is small, we can “stop on a dime” and if a price can be adjusted to fit a budget – it will.  There is no need for an approval process or for communication with channels. RESPONSIVENESS

 

Shipping information is available prior to shipment of a product.  This allows our customer to make modification or if time is an issue then a drop ship is always a option. FLEXABILITY

 

At Interactive Digital, we realize that with all of our customers - equipment delivery is paramount and Interactive Digital strives to meet and exceed supply chain fulfillment every day.  Realizing the individuality of our customer needs, Interactive Digital has the ability to create a “seed stock” for each customer when they utilize equipment on a consistent basis.  If a customers needs focus on a certain piece of equipment that they use over a period of time, at no obligation to the customer, Interactive Digital will stock that equipment so that delivery times for the equipment will be minimal.  This is great tool that Interactive Digital offers to its customers because “seed stocking” also insures that the product will be available should normal resources dry up.