At Electronica and Productronica 2024, ELE Times caught up with Mr. Babu Ayyappan, Managing Director of Uchi Embedded Solutions. He shared insights about their focus on embedded systems and IoT development, quality assurance, and experiences at the event.
ELE Times: Let’s start by understanding what Uchi Embedded Solutions does and the product portfolio you have displayed at the event this year.
Mr. Babu Ayyappan: Good evening. At Uchi Embedded Solutions, we focus on tools and components for embedded systems and IoT development. It’s a niche field. For instance, an embedded system developer may require tools like debugging and programming tools. We cater to that segment. In IoT development, the process often begins by selecting the chip for development. One of the key products we are promoting is the ESP32 chip, which is widely used in IoT applications. These two segments—embedded systems and IoT—are our primary focus areas.
ELE Times: You’ve mentioned embedded solutions and IoT. Are there any specific trends or changes you’ve observed in these fields over the years?
Mr. Babu Ayyappan: I wouldn’t say there’s anything drastically new, but these fields have always demanded high-quality products. Embedded system developers often face challenges in selecting the right tools because of the plethora of options available in the market. We try to address this by offering global tools that are economical and come from well-known, reliable brands. At events like this, we aim to promote these quality products and grab the audience’s attention.
ELE Times: Can you elaborate on your sales network and distribution channels?
Mr. Babu Ayyappan: Certainly. As a distribution company, we’ve partnered with about 12 vendors from countries like Taiwan, the UK, the US, Germany, and China. We keep our product lines limited to around 12, focusing on quality over quantity. Operating from Bangalore, we manage our sales across India. Thanks to modern connectivity, this model works efficiently. For marketing, we employ a one-man-show approach in major cities like Pune, Mumbai, and Delhi, where we have residential engineers covering the market. This setup works well for us.
ELE Times: Quality and safety are always critical when it comes to components. How does Uchi ensure these aspects in its products?
Mr. Babu Ayyappan: As a distributor, our primary responsibility is to bring quality products to India. We carefully select companies based on their market reputation and business practices. Today, with globalization, anyone can purchase products from anywhere. However, the same product—say, a branded product from Espressif—can be sourced from multiple suppliers. At Uchi, we work directly with authorized distributors. We don’t go through third-party mediators to save costs or speed up imports because we can’t vouch for their practices. By maintaining direct relationships with trusted suppliers, we ensure we import only quality products. That’s the extent of control we have as a distributor in a vast global market.
ELE Times: How has your experience at this year’s event been? Did it meet your expectations, and what are your future plans?
Mr. Babu Ayyappan: Exhibitions serve multiple purposes for us. They allow us to meet customers we might not otherwise encounter, reconnect with existing ones, and engage new prospects. Consistent participation also strengthens our brand reputation, signaling industry commitment. While immediate ROI isn’t always guaranteed, the long-term benefits make the effort worthwhile. Overall, it has been a rewarding experience.
