Electronic components do not need to die

Emporium Partners is a firm specialised in the procurement and logistics of electronic components (semiconductors, sensors, resistors, etc.).

The company acts as an intermediary between electric component manufacturers and distributors, on the one hand, and industrial manufacturers that need these components, on the other.

With operations primarily in Europe, Asia, and the US, Emporium aims to make its processes more circular as it expands into Latin America.

In other words, it is crucial to extend the equipment lifecycle and value for its customers to develop a more robust presence in Latin America.

Until recently:

• Emporium lacked a structured approach to delivering reliable technical support for its equipment. This could lead to customer frustration, as interventions may rely on non-certified technicians or remote guidance.
  
• Without a global circular process to enable repair or revalorisation, old or damaged equipment ends up being binned and wasted.
  

With Siembras’ platform, Emporium customers can locate trusted technicians and solve issues fast

Siembras de Origen is a Colombian-based startup that set up a B2B digital platform connecting and optimising supply chains by enabling transparent, compliant, and efficient trade of bio-products.

Electric components, as such, are not bio-products. Nevertheless, Siembras de Origen adapted the platform to cater to Emporium’s needs.

Siembras’ customised platform:

• Includes a directory of certified technicians: customers can quickly locate trusted local technicians, reducing downtime and improving confidence in Emporium’s equipment.

• Provides training, learning and certification journeys for technicians: Emporium ensures a consistent standard of technical service, lowering installation and maintenance errors while building a skilled regional workforce.

• Builds knowledge for installation, maintenance, repair, and remanufacturing: Emporium can capture and reuse technical know-how, speeding up service delivery, reducing repeat mistakes, and supporting circular-economy practices for long-term equipment value.

Such features will enable digital traceability by recording each piece of equipment’s location, maintenance history, and technician interventions. This data will then support predictive maintenance, alerting Emporium to service needs before failures occur, reducing downtime and extending equipment life.

EU-LAC Digital Accelerator: A two-step process to turn a prototype into a multi-country operations plan

The EU-LAC Digital Accelerator first established an acceleration roadmap, including scope, milestones and KPIs, before delivering two services to the corporate-startup partnership:

• Service n°1: PoC design & Prototyping

Such service helped Emporium and Siembras work together to develop a prototype of the Siembras platform, including: 

• A searchable directory of certified technicians, 
• Structured training and certification workflows,
• A knowledge management system for installation, maintenance, repair, and remanufacture.

The prototype validated the platform’s technical feasibility and the benefits it would bring to Emporium before scaling.

• Service n°2: Scaling into corporate structures

The scaling service first involved an analysis of operational, technical, and regional barriers to implementing the platform within Emporium’s Latin American operations (e.g. staff workflows, local technician networks, and customer onboarding).

Later, the accelerator, along with the two partners, co-created a scalability report detailing how the platform can be rolled out efficiently across multiple countries while ensuring consistent training, support, and circular-economy practices.

For Emporium, a working platform to solidify presence in LATAM; for Siembras, a gateway to more corporate clients

Emporium Partners (Corporate)

Siembras de Origen (Startup)

Emporium has a digital platform that ensures reliable local support and proper installation, reducing customer equipment downtime. The firm also lowers shipping and warranty costs by handling maintenance and repairs more efficiently. Finally, Emporium can extend equipment lifespan and plan maintenance in advance, saving money and supporting sustainability.

Siembras successfully tested its platform with a real corporate client, proving it works in practice and confirming that it meets the needs of similar companies. By working with a European corporate, the Colombian startup gained international exposure, making it easier to attract future clients outside its home market. By building a network of trained technical partners, Siembras opened new business opportunities beyond software sales (e.g., subscription services for corporate clients to access the platform’s certified-technician directory).