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Podcast - FTR Unthreaded with Eric Dudas and Sam Aldinger

In this episode, Eric Dudas of FCH Sourcing Network is joined by Fastenal veteran turned homesteader Sam Aldinger and ERP code-slinger Anders Green of ALOX4 to dive deep into the evolving world of fastener sourcing, exploring why it's still very much an art—despite rising interest in AI, B2B e-ecommerce and automation. They discuss the complexity of matching vague inquiries to real-world parts, the limitations of current tech solutions, and how tools like FCH SourceFinder and the "Scrubber" are paving the way. It's a candid, forward-looking conversation on the digital future of industrial sourcing.

Topics Covered

  • Why fastener sourcing is still an “art form”
  • AI’s current limitations in industrial procurement
  • The FCH SourceFinder platform: evolution & future vision
  • “The Scrubber”: FCH’s legacy data normalization tool
  • Challenges of integrating with PIMs and ERPs
  • The role of digital catalogs in B2B sourcing
  • How industrial buyers make decisions under pressure
  • Building smarter RFQ systems inside ERP environments