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