What customers want from their connectivity partner
Jonathan Love joined Bulgin in July 2024 as a business development manager, covering most of Europe. Jonathan’s broad background – with over 25 years’ experience in electronics, drones, aerospace and marine systems – gives him valuable insights into the industries Bulgin serves, and an understanding of the needs and challenges that our customers face. In this blog, Jonathan shares his take on how sustainability, smart infrastructure and supply chain resilience are shaping the future of connectivity, and how Bulgin is adapting to meet these changing demands.
Today’s customers expect more than just high performance components. They want to work with partners who understand the complexity of modern supply chains, can help to futureproof their technologies and share their values when it comes to sustainability. At the same time, ageing infrastructure – particularly in the UK – is driving demand for smarter, more connected systems that improve reliability and efficiency. Together, these pressures are reshaping the kinds of conversations we’re having; it's no longer just about price or performance; customers are looking for suppliers who bring long-term value, reliability and responsible sourcing to the table.
Sustainable supply chains
Supply chain disruptions over the last few years – resulting from the pandemic or geopolitical tensions – have prompted businesses to reconsider where they source their components. We’re seeing an increasing number of customers looking to more local or regional suppliers for greater control and continuity. With a large proportion of our products manufactured at our facility just outside of Europe in Tunisia, Bulgin is able to offer shorter lead times, better supply chain transparency and a lower carbon footprint compared to many competitors. Sustainability is also playing a role here, not just in environmental terms, but in the security and ethical integrity of the supply chain. We’re increasingly being asked about environmental and social considerations in early-stage discussions, with some large firms now requiring alignment on these values before a supplier is even considered.
Environmental responsibility is important for us, and Bulgin is developing a new range of connectors that incorporate biobased plastics. These materials are carefully selected to offer the same durability and performance as our existing portfolio, while reducing our environmental impact. Over time, we aim to expand this approach across our portfolio, working towards a more sustainable plastic supply chain.
Aligning engineering with procurement needs
These shifting priorities around supply chain reliability are also changing how engineers approach design. We now see much stronger alignment between engineering and procurement teams than 15-20 years ago, with greater awareness of cost implications and sourcing risks. Forward-thinking engineers are looking beyond pure performance, factoring in stock availability, lead times and the long-term viability of parts to avoid getting locked into hard-to-source components. With design-to-production cycles typically spanning anywhere from 9 to 18 months, the emphasis is now firmly on resilience, flexibility and trusted supplier partnerships.
Smarter systems and connected infrastructure
As infrastructure ages, particularly in the UK, there’s growing pressure to make existing systems smarter, and to minimise downtime and failures. Predictive maintenance is becoming a priority as, for example, water utilities are working to prevent overflow incidents, and energy companies are focused on avoiding costly substation failures. The emphasis is shifting toward modernising ageing infrastructure, turning traditional ‘dumb’ utilities and equipment into intelligent systems through retrofitted sensors, real-time monitoring and data-driven insights. For example, integrating sensors into pumps can provide early fault detection – such as overheating motors or excessive vibration – helping to avoid unexpected breakdowns and costly fines. This shift is driving demand for rugged components that can bring power and signal to smarter systems to support remote diagnostics and proactive repairs. Bulgin is playing a key role in this transformation, providing the robust, high performance connectivity needed to support innovation in even the harshest environments.
Staying connected
Across every conversation, one thing remains consistent – people buy from people. In an industry increasingly shaped by automation and AI, it is still trust, transparency and human relationships that make the difference. Understanding the real ‘why’ behind a customer’s needs lets us offer better solutions, and that’s how we build long-term partnerships, not just one-off transactions. At Bulgin, we’re proud to support customers across multiple sectors as they look to upgrade their infrastructure, meet sustainability targets and reduce their risk. Whether it’s providing smarter connectivity or developing greener alternatives, we’re focused on doing the right thing – for our customers and for the future of our planet.
