Buy Components at the Right Price, at the Right Time

A Different Approach

TechInsights' Component Price Landscape (CPL) provides procurement teams with what they've been missing: a clear view of where component markets are headed. CPL tracks pricing and lead times across more than 700 suppliers, revealing market trends before they impact your operations.

Instead of guessing whether a quote is competitive, you see how it compares to the category index. Instead of discovering lead-time problems when you place an order, you track trends that show supply tightening weeks in advance. Instead of making purchasing decisions in isolation, you understand the market context.

The Impact

Know When to Buy: A procurement manager reviews CPL and sees that DRAM prices have declined for three consecutive quarters. Instead of buying now, they delay the purchase by six weeks and secure a 12% lower price. Another procurement team notices capacitor prices trending upward and accelerates purchases before the next price increase takes effect. These aren't lucky guesses—they're data-driven decisions based on market direction.

Catch Supply Problems Early: CPL flags that lead times for power management ICs are extending across multiple distributors. A supply chain manager investigates and discovers early signs of allocation. They secure inventory and identify backup sources before shortages become critical. Production continues uninterrupted while competitors scramble. The key isn't just seeing current lead times—it's tracking the trend before it becomes a crisis.

Focus on What Matters: CPL's category dashboards show which component families are experiencing the most volatility. Instead of monitoring everything equally, supply chain teams focus on the areas with the highest risk or opportunity. Analog components show stable pricing and lead times? Monitor quarterly. Memory prices showing significant movement? Review and adjust strategy accordingly.

Plan Production Around Reality: When CPL indicates that a component category is entering a tight supply cycle, operations can adjust accordingly. Product development teams consider alternative components for new designs. Supply chain managers adjust production schedules to prioritize builds that use readily available parts. Strategy teams adjust working capital forecasts. Everyone operates with the same market view, rather than being blindsided by shortages.

The Bigger Picture

The real value isn't any single decision—it's changing how procurement operates. Instead of reacting to problems, teams anticipate them. Instead of spreading effort equally across every component, they focus on what matters most.

Procurement becomes a strategic function that contributes to competitive advantage, not just an administrative one that processes purchase orders. And when market volatility hits—and it always does—you have the visibility to respond effectively instead of scrambling.