Sonepar – Everything You Need to Know About Electrical Wholesale

Electrical wholesale forms the invisible backbone of our modern world, and sonepar is the engine of innovation. Why is sonepar so indispensable for trades, industry and commerce? The market leader will be setting standards in 2026 with digital services, smart solutions and sustainable strategies.

With this guide, you’ll get all the relevant info, trends and insights into the electrical wholesale of the future. Learn more about products, services, digitalization, sustainability, employee culture, challenges and trends that will shape the industry through 2026.

Sonepar at a glance: Market leader in electrical wholesale

Sonepar has become indispensable in today’s electrical wholesale sector. The company stands for innovation, reliability and a strong regional presence. But how did sonepar grow into an international heavyweight and what role does the market leader play in Germany today? This overview gives you the key insights into its development, structure and significance.

Sonepar’s history and development

Sonepar was founded in 1969 in France and has developed within just a few decades into the leading electrical wholesaler worldwide. Today the company employs over 45,000 people in more than 40 countries. In Germany, more than 5,400 employees work at around 200 locations.

The company has remained family-owned and consistently focuses on sustainable growth and innovation. In 2023, sonepar generated worldwide sales of €33.3 billion, of which €3.9 billion in Germany. The combination of tradition, innovative strength and global networking makes the company one of the most important players in the industry.

Here is an overview of the most important key figures:

These figures show how sonepar has been shaping the industry for decades and continues to set new standards.

Sonepar Germany: structure and significance

Sonepar is the market leader in electrical wholesale in Germany. The company targets commerce, trades and industry. Thanks to its extensive branch network and its own logistics centers, fast deliveries are guaranteed.

Special warehouses for industrial products and 24-hour delivery for standard items are integral parts of the service promise. The company works closely with leading manufacturers to offer a broad and reliable range. The strong regional presence makes it possible to respond flexibly to customer needs and implement individual solutions.

For a deeper insight into the structure, the range and its role in Germany, it’s worth taking a look at the Sonepar company profile.

The company relies on modern logistics, digital services and partnership-based relationships. This ensures it will remain the pace-setter in German electrical wholesale in 2026 as well.

Assortment and services: the product and service portfolio 2026

Sonepar offers a comprehensive range and innovative services that will shape electrical wholesale in 2026. The company combines a vast product variety with tailored services, providing real added value to customers from trades, industry and commerce. The focus is on availability, digitalization and individual solutions that distinguish the company as a leading partner.

Product variety and availability

Sonepar’s range in 2026 is broader than ever. More than 100,000 stock items are available immediately, while around 400,000 additional products can be ordered at short notice. This means the company covers virtually every need in electrical wholesale. Core categories are cables, conductors, installation materials, lighting products, power tools as well as solutions for residential and building technology.

Special ranges for industry, smart home and automation are increasingly moving into focus. Sonepar is responding to new requirements and continuously developing its portfolio. Customers benefit from fast availability thanks to its own large warehouses and optimized logistics.

A central element is the online shop. Here, customers have 24/7 access to the entire range, can compare products, check availability and order directly. The platform offers an intelligent search function, filter options and detailed product information.

An overview of the most important product areas:

With this approach, the company will remain the first choice for professionals in electrical wholesale in 2026.

Services and added value

The service offering sets benchmarks in the industry. Personal consulting and individual project support form the foundation. Customers receive professional assistance with planning, product selection and implementation—vendor-neutral and tailored to their requirements.

Digital services such as the Sonepar Shop app enable orders directly from the construction site. The E-Helper app provides quick answers on standards and regulations, greatly easing everyday work in the trades. The company also offers interfaces for integration with ERP systems and craft software, automating processes and reducing errors. In the context of modern process optimization, it’s worth taking a look at the automation of business processes, which ensures efficiency and future viability.

In-house logistics and regional large warehouses ensure reliable 24-hour delivery of many standard items. For special requirements there are customer-specific solutions such as professional lighting design or the Wi‑Fi site survey service.

Sonepar also supports customers with Weiterhelfer offerings and the E-PARTNER program, which creates exclusive benefits for craft businesses. This way, the company remains a reliable partner for trades, industry and commerce even as complexity grows.

Digitalization and innovation in electrical wholesale

Digitalization has fundamentally changed electrical wholesale. Sonepar uses innovative technologies to optimize processes and offer customers new added value. Digital services, automation and efficient interfaces are at the heart of the company’s strategy.

Digital services and platforms

Sonepar relies on a broad range of digital services to make its customers’ day-to-day work easier. The shop app enables fast material orders directly from the construction site. With the E-Helper app, users gain access to current standards and regulations, making project planning and execution more efficient.

By integrating ERP and craft software, processes are automated and sources of error reduced. Digital interfaces ensure seamless inventory management and save valuable time. The learning world and the Sonepar Academy offer digital training opportunities so that skilled workers always stay up to date.

A look at the digitalization trends 2025 shows how relevant digital platforms and automation are for electrical wholesale. The company is continuously developing its digital offerings to meet the growing need for efficiency and transparency.

Innovative solutions for customers

Sonepar offers innovative solutions that go far beyond classic electrical wholesale. The SmartX Navigator helps customers navigate the product range and provides targeted product recommendations. Digital project planning tools, such as lighting design in the central warehouse, make complex projects simple and easy to follow.

A practical example of innovation is the Wi‑Fi site survey service, which uses digital technologies for optimal network coverage. Automation and efficiency gains are always in focus. AI-powered services and intelligent platforms will play an even greater role in the future.

These digital and innovative solutions reinforce the company’s position as a pioneer in electrical wholesale. Customers benefit from more transparency, flexibility and significant time savings on their projects.

Sustainability, responsibility and corporate culture at Sonepar

Sonepar stands for a corporate culture that puts sustainability, responsibility and innovation at the center. The electrical wholesaler values modern leadership, digital transformation and a work environment that respects employees’ needs. This makes the company not only a role model for the industry, but also an attractive employer for the future.

Sustainability strategy and commitment

In 2022, Sonepar was recognized as an “Employer of the Future,” underscoring its consistent focus on innovation, digitalization and employee friendliness. The company is increasingly adopting sustainable strategies to assume environmental and social responsibility. This is reflected in numerous programs and initiatives.

Measures include, among others:

• Occupational health promotion and prevention

• Accessibility in the workplace

• Flexible working time models for better work-life balance

Diversity and equality are integral parts of the corporate culture. The reviews on kununu show scores between 3.5 and 3.7 for diversity and equality, confirming the commitment to an inclusive work environment. Environmental awareness is also strengthened through targeted programs, with digital tools such as efficient document management in wholesale helping to conserve resources and make processes more sustainable.

Employee reviews confirm with 3.2 out of 5 points the solid environmental and social awareness. These figures show that continuous improvements are possible and desired.

Employee satisfaction and culture

Average tenure at sonepar is over 13 years. This speaks to high employee retention and a stable working environment. The most popular benefits include:

• Free parking and employee discounts

• Company pension plan

• Home office options

• A wide range of training opportunities

Employees particularly praise the strong team spirit, development opportunities and appreciation within the company. Nevertheless, there are challenges, especially in communication, staff shortages and restructuring. The rating of internal communication is currently 2.9 out of 5 points.

Suggested improvements include more in-person training, more open internal communication and greater involvement of trainees. The company takes this feedback seriously and continuously works on a positive, future-oriented corporate culture.

Challenges and opportunities in electrical wholesale 2026

In 2026, electrical wholesale stands at a turning point. Companies like sonepar must adapt daily to new market conditions. The industry is shaped by global change, digitalization and the pursuit of sustainable solutions.

Current challenges

The greatest challenges for sonepar and electrical wholesale in 2026 lie in material availability and disrupted supply chains. Global uncertainties and geopolitical crises make the procurement of components more complex. Those interested in details on current supply chain trends will find valuable insights in the article Supply chain trends 2024–2025.

In addition, new ERP systems and advancing digitalization are increasing day-to-day complexity. Staffing shortages remain a central issue, while demands on flexibility and expertise are rising. Companies are under pressure to further optimize and streamline processes.

Challenges include:

• Bottlenecks in product availability

• Employee overload due to restructuring

• High investments in digital infrastructures

• Need to implement legal and technical innovations quickly

These factors challenge the entire industry and demand innovative solutions.

Opportunities and future trends

Despite the challenges, the industry offers numerous opportunities. Digitalization is becoming the most important growth driver and differentiator. More and more processes are automated; products, services and platforms are becoming more interconnected. Anyone wanting to keep an eye on world market trends can refer to the report World market for the electrical and digital industry.

Sustainable business models and green technologies are gaining in importance. Customers benefit from new, smart service offerings and individual solutions. Training and employee retention become success factors, because only well-qualified teams can master the transformation.

Important opportunities:

• Development of innovative digital services

• Expansion of sustainable product lines

• Smart solutions for trades and industry

• Stronger customer loyalty through individual offerings

The outlook shows: Electrical wholesale will remain systemically relevant, and sonepar will continue to act as a driver of innovation.

Outlook: Sonepar and the electrical wholesale of the future

What does the future of electrical wholesale look like? This is precisely where sonepar is setting new standards. The coming years will be shaped above all by digitalization, sustainability and smart technology. In this outlook you’ll learn how the provider is leading the transformation of the industry and which trends will be particularly important through 2026.

Digital and sustainable future trends

Sonepar is investing heavily in digital services and platforms. The integration of innovative tools such as AI and automation will be further expanded. A central topic remains the digitalization of processes. Here, the integration of SharePoint in the company plays an important role in making collaboration more efficient and transparent.

Sustainability is also in focus. Sonepar relies on green technologies, promotes energy-efficient products and develops solutions for smart homes and Industry 4.0. Customers benefit from individual services tailored to digital and sustainable requirements.

Important trends through 2026:

• Expansion of AI-powered applications

• Automation of ordering and delivery processes

• Integration of smart home systems

• Development of environmentally friendly product lines

Sonepar as an engine of innovation and role model

The company remains a pioneer when it comes to service quality and future viability in electrical wholesale. Strong customer orientation, innovative offerings and the consistent further development of digital platforms secure its market leadership.

At the same time, employee culture is moving further into focus. Investments in employer branding, training and flexible working models create an attractive corporate culture. Close customer relationships and tailored solutions strengthen sonepar’s position as an innovation engine.

In 2026, the provider will continue to shape the industry and set trends. The company remains a role model for sustainable and digital progress—and is thus ideally positioned for the future of electrical wholesale.

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