In a statement, GE said that its SourceNow solution, a platform where buyers can float requests for quotes to pre-qualified suppliers, was developed by a small start-up concept team from its Power Services Middle East and Africa (MEA) unit based in Dubai.
GE added that the product is particularly useful for small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which often have limited access to, or awareness of, high-quality suppliers.
Michelle Wu, CIO and VP of GE’s Digital Technology for Power Services MEA, said: “SourceNow will change the way industrial services suppliers and customers do business. The large number of verified vendors and customer review ratings help to offer competitive prices and bring speed and efficient options to buyers.
We have seen consumer goods industries use digital solutions to provide various scales of products, ranging from e-books to food service delivery. However, SourceNow provides services on a larger scale, with simplicity and easy access to complex and sophisticated services in sectors, such as power generation and oil and gas.”
According to the company, SourceNow already has more than 430 registered suppliers and offers more than 20 different categories for industrial services in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Egypt.
The available categories include welding and fabrication, machining, EPCs, shop repairs, equipment rentals, and manpower.
“Looking at the broader picture, SourceNow builds on our commitment to help industrial services suppliers and SMEs grow faster. By connecting them and giving them easy access to each other, the digital solution can support their business objectives and speed up their decision-making processes,” Wu added.