| Expert Solution | India

| Teleconference | Interview Date: July 2025

Context

As India’s automotive market grew more competitive, a Japanese parts supplier found itself squeezed between rising local quality and the need to reduce costs. Before overseas sourcing, their supply chain still leaned on imports and Japanese partners.

To stay ahead, they turned to Arches’ Expert Solution, not just for research, but for hands-on support in finding and connecting with reliable local suppliers.

Key Insights

• Beyond desk research: Arches combined industry analysis with first-hand expert interviews, revealing supplier strengths and weaknesses not visible in public data.
  
• Integrated approach: Unlike traditional research firms, Arches not only mapped the supplier landscape but also facilitated introductions to vetted local companies.
  
• Risk reduction: Speaking directly with buyers who had real purchasing experience helped the client assess supplier quality, responsiveness, and reliability — mitigating the risk of costly mismatches.
  
• Speed to action: By combining research with on-the-ground support during the client’s trip to India, Arches accelerated the supplier discovery and validation process.
  

Client Perspective

Q: What challenge led you to undertake this research?

“My department handles sales of automotive parts to major Japanese automakers. To stay competitive in India, where local players are improving rapidly, I was tasked with leading a cost reduction project. That meant finding reliable local suppliers, but we needed to do this efficiently and with clear insights on quality and risk.”

Q: What kind of research was conducted, and what did you learn?

“The research focused on identifying local suppliers. Arches mapped production volumes, industry structure, and leading players, then created a candidate supplier list. During our business trip, we conducted initial interviews with these companies, supported by Arches. We also gained insights from experts who had actual purchasing experience with the suppliers. This gave us visibility into quality, service levels, and responsiveness. Such information we could never get from desk research alone.”

Q: What was the outcome of the project?

“Thanks to Arches, we were able to identify appropriate suppliers quickly and with confidence. Instead of taking risks with companies found online and discovering mismatches later, we entered supplier discussions well-prepared. This not only saved us time and cost but also reduced uncertainty in building a stronger local supply chain in India.”

Outcome

Arches enabled our client to quickly identify and validate reliable local suppliers in India, equipping them with first-hand insights on quality and responsiveness before entering negotiations. This reduced the risk of costly mismatches, saved significant time and cost, and gave the Japanese parts supplier the confidence to build a stronger, more competitive local supply chain.

About Arches’ Expert Solution

Powered by local insights and real expert interviews, Arches’ team of ex-Big 4 strategy consultants delivers go-to-market plans, market research, and due diligence across Asia and beyond. We connect clients with seasoned professionals worldwide to provide actionable insights that desk research alone cannot reveal.