The successful sourcing of quality products at fair prices only solves the first half of the problem of getting manufactured goods to the consumer.  Goods provided by the factories normally carry no branding, proper documentation, and the packaging is normally very basic.  The OEM customer is tasked with finishing the productization process - creating a recognized brand, product support, custom packaging, documentation, etc.   Once all the additional bits and pieces have been designed and produced, the factories can integrate these into the manufacturing process, delivering a finished product to the OEM customer.

Depending on the product, part of the final production process involves establishing a support capability and training of staff.  This can represent a lengthy and expensive process for the OEM, increasing the time to market by many months.  Jade Connections provides services to both the Original Device Manufacturer (ODM) as well as the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) to bridge the gap between the purchase of a widget in a box to a proper product ready for the mass market, reducing time to market, and increasing profits for both OEM and ODM.   This way both the OEM and ODM can focus on their core competencies, while reducing time to market.

Jade Connections has programs in place to help both the OEM and ODM in many areas, including Brand Development, Quality Assurance, Product Support, and Documentation.
 

Brand Development

In addition to branding issues related to product packaging (described in the Private Sourcing pages), Jade Connections provides solutions for both the manufacturer (ODM) wishing to establish their own brand presence, as well as the OEM customer.

In partnership with its sister company, Jade Networks International, Jade Connections provides customized community sites, revolving around the OEM / ODM products.  These sites contribute to the establishment of strong customer communities which in turn enhance brand loyalty and spread the word about the OEM / ODM products.

Community site design is currently available in both English as well as Chinese (for products targeting the China market).
 

Quality Assurance

In addition to the standard testing and quality assurance procedures Jade Connections uses as part of the sourcing process, Jade Connections can often offer more intensive testing options, both during the product design / development phase, as well as later during the production phase.

Design / Development Phase

Jade Connections works with OEM / ODM partners during this phase to both iron out pre-production problems as well as contributing to the product design process.  For products involving software and/or network components, Jade Connections works with its sister company, Jade Networks International, to provide Custom Software / Network Development and other Consulting Services.

Production Phase

Often certain types of problems are not encountered until the product goes into production.  Jade Connections works with OEM / ODM's to identify and resolve problems at this stage.

NOTE: community design products can be especially prone to problems at this stage.  As these products are primarily price driven with the designs being acquired from third parties, manufacturers often do not have the technical or engineering expertise to identify problems or solutions.  Jade Connections can be of great assistance in providing the expertise to bridge this gap.

Product Support

For many products, an integral part of the final productization process is the provision of some form of product support.  For products of this nature, the first thing that a retail customer will ask is "who can I call when something goes wrong?"

Jade Connections can provide private labeled product support, utilizing any combination of website tools, email, instant messaging, internet chat (via the vendor website), and telephone.  Support activity is logged via a Jade Connections CRM system, available to either the OEM and/or ODM.

For more information on Jade Connections call center support options, please see Call Center Solutions.
 

Documentation

The quality and quantity of product documentation provided by the manufacturer varies from complete and comprehensive to non-existent.  Typically the standard documentation (user manuals, etc) have been translated from Chinese by a non-native speaker with the results not appearing professional by western standards.  In addition to the language issues, often the supplied documentation is incomplete.   Of course, OEM / ODM branding has not been integrated.

Sales collateral is almost never provided.

Jade Connections works with OEM / ODM customers to provide both comprehensive as well as professionally worded user documentation and/or sales collateral.  Printing and incorporation of custom documentation, through working with the ODM, is ensured.

While Jade Connections specializes in the production of English language materials, we also work together with our Chinese partners to translate back in to Chinese material produced for English speaking markets.  This allows us to first create a complete and accurate set of documentation, and then have that same information made available for products targeting the China market.