Linking Northern Businesses to Major Projects
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Prince George, B.C. – It’s called the “Supply Chain Connector” but what is it?
Simply put, it’s a database designed to be a one stop shopping spot for the companies involved in the major industrial projects throughout Northern B.C.
Developed by the Northern Development Initiative Trust (NDIT), the “Supply Chain Connector” is meant to be the “go to” information centre for companies looking to find any manner of industrial supply chain support services that will be needed to complete the $140 billion dollars worth of projects proposed for Northern B.C.
Another bonus? It’s absolutely free for companies to register, plus it offers an opportunity for companies throughout the NDIT region, to share some information about themselves through a company profile.
“A lot of companies in our region don’t have a website,” says Joel McKay, Director, Communications for NDIT. “They’ve been around for many years, they’re really good at what they do, they’re industrial contractors and suppliers, but they don’t have a website, so it makes it difficult for a major company like a Shell, or TransCanada or Spectra or a New Gold to find them”. The Supply Chain Connector allows a company to share not only contact information, but also certifications, company background, number of employees and areas of expertise. Once a company has registered, any procurement manager with any one of the project proponents can search for the type of supplier they need in any particular region of the NDIT service area, and learn a little about that supplier. “This is a channel that can help get those companies directly in front of the eyes of the procurement managers who may not be as familiar with our region,” says McKay.
McKay says the major companies behind the big projects are being pressed to ‘buy in B.C.’ “The communities want to see their local businesses getting benefit from this (resource development) because it helps the businesses grow, they get a better reputation, they can hire more people, that’s more job creation in the region.”
What is key to this data base, is that each and every company that registers, must be located within the Northern Development Trust service area that stretches from Lytton to the Yukon border and Pouce Coupe to Haida Gwaii. Businesses that register with the Supply Chain Connector have to have a physical place of business within that service area, and actual employees at that location.
More than 1800 businesses have already taken advantage of the opportunity to register with the Supply Chain Connector. Those who have registered with the Supply Chain Connector can update their company profile at any time.
For more information on the Supply Chain Connector, you can access the website here.
Comments
“A lot of companies in our region donât have a website” .. no kidding. For a town the size of PG it is frustrating to go to most local websites to get information. Most of them are basically a one page splash that simply has contact info and where they are located. The same information you can get from the yellow pages. They seem to go out of their way NOT to include products or pricing and want to force you to go to the store to find out that information. That tactic alone discourages me from wanting to shop there. I am not talking about small mom and pop stores that can’t afford a database system and someone to maintain it, but rather some of the bigger local stores that have been here for years. I am sure they can afford a little upgrading of their web presence. As far as the story goes I believe Canpages has a very similar service, but as is probably the case with Supply Chain Connector, the businesses need to add relevant information and maintain and update the information. The problem with a free service like this is it is rarely maintained and you find there is lots of missing or incorrect information on that particular company.
Well put, huh. I wonder if a lot of these businesses realize they are hurting themselves by having a poor web presence.
Speaking of web presence for example, Home Depot.ca and Home Depot.com have a wide range of price differences. I sure hope anyone in small business who creates a website (with price list) should earnestly check out their competitors price list Your prices being higher can be dismissed by a buyer with just a click of his mouse, should raise awareness. Count the visitors to your site, check your bottom line in sales and then look into adjusting yer prices accordingly.
Perhaps getting local businesses online with up-to-date web presence would be a better use of time and money for IPIG than flying to Ireland trying to recruit trades people
Lots of our tax payer money being spent by that organization with no “measurable” results!?
IPG sure has a swell website. Instant virtual rose coloured glasses before your very eyes wile reading it. Maybe IPG’s web designers could set up shop here in PG.
The fact that you guys are bitching about this proves you aren’t qualified to drive a sharp stick into a warm pile of shit..
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