City Electric Supply (CES) digitizes switchgear assembly, fulfillment

City Electric Supply (CES) is bringing digital precision to one of the most manual corners of the electrical supply chain fulfillment.

The distributor has rolled out its CES One-Line Service nationwide. The digitally powered fulfillment model allows contractors to turn a single diagram into a finished, fully assembled panelboard or switchboard in days instead of months.

Originally piloted in 2019, the service has evolved into a connected network. It links CES branches, six regional fulfillment centers and Siemens-certified assembly teams through a centralized digital workflow. Contractors upload their one-line drawings. From there, CES’s platform manages every step of the process from configuration to parts allocation to production. The company said that eliminates traditional takeoffs and accelerating project timelines that once stretched from six weeks to nine months.

“With CES One-Line Service, we’ve built a digital process that delivers consistent, high-quality results for every customer,” said Blair Feidler, vice president of operations at CES. “From a 400-amp panel to a 4,000-amp switchboard, our goal is to provide speed, accuracy and reliability — everything our branches and customers need to meet tight deadlines.”

CES’ new fulfillment technology

The digital backbone of the service enables real-time coordination across CES’s $26 million in ready-to-build inventory. It routes orders through fulfillment centers that use standardized data templates. Those centers also feature Siemens-trained technicians to ensure more than 99% build accuracy.

“The speed of our network lets branches collaborate with customers in a whole new way,” said Rich Antonaros, director of CES Online North America. “By digitizing the process from quote to completion, we’re helping contractors finish projects faster and take on the next one with confidence.”

For Siemens, the program demonstrates how digital integration between suppliers and distributors is reshaping the electrical industry.

“City Electric Supply understands Siemens panelboard and switchboard technology from the ground up and delivers project solutions in record time,” said Lesa Tate, national accounts manager at Siemens.

The launch underscores a broader shift toward digital transformation in electrical distribution. In that shift, automation, cloud-based coordination and data-driven fulfillment are becoming essential to overcoming supply chain and labor constraints.

CES sees itself as redefining what it means to deliver “just-in-time” switchgear by blending:

• Digital design
• Inventory visibility
• Localized assembly

For contractors under constant schedule pressure, CES’s One-Line Service represents more than speed. It’s a move toward a fully digital project lifecycle where every drawing, component and delivery is connected.

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