Top 3 Reasons to Choose Cloud-Based PCB Assembly

Updated Oct 2024

There's a good chance that what you do every day involves more than a few cloud-based applications. You likely manage your money and pay your bills online. You probably do a little shopping from your PC or mobile device. The applications you use at work may very well be cloud-based. Hosting all kinds of applications in the cloud just makes sense. You can get to them from anywhere at any time.

When it comes to your hardware development and manufacturing project, the cloud makes a lot of sense as well. By leveraging the power of the cloud, you can streamline your PCB manufacturing process, reduce costs, and accelerate time-to-market.

Here are the top 3 reasons why you should consider cloud-based PCB assembly:

You want to get your PCBs, prototypes and finished devices into your hands as quickly as possible. A cloud-based PCB assembly platform supports that objective every step of the way.

Instant Quotes: Get your project started off on the right foot with an instant quote. There’s no need to wait around for an email. Just upload your design documents and BOM and you’ll know exactly how much you will pay for your PCBs. By eliminating lengthy back-and-forth communication, your design can get manufactured faster.

Rapid Prototyping: The software platform used by your PCB assembly service provider will get prototypes turned around quickly. They leverage sophisticated software to create the most efficient assembly schedule, accelerating your design cycle.

Real-Time Project Tracking: Always know exactly what's happening with your order with one-click transparency. Monitor the progress of your projects in real-time through a user-friendly online dashboard.

Lower prices is another excellent reason to look for a cloud-based PCB assembly provider.

No Minimum Order Quantities: Because cloud PCB assemblers can combine small orders, even orders for single prototypes, with larger orders, they can eliminate traditional minimum order requirements. Order exactly what you need without worrying about minimums.

Economies of Scale: The best PCB manufacturers can run analytics across their entire customer base to determine which parts are the most in demand. They then negotiate with part suppliers to buy these items in large quantities for deep discounts and pass these on to you. You benefit from economies of scale through shared resources and bulk purchasing power.

Transparent Pricing: With data at your fingertips that updates automatically as you manage your order parameters like shipping speed, quantity, and parts information, you can gain complete visibility into your project costs.

If you order something from Amazon, it is easy to log in and see whether it has shipped, and if so, when you can expect it to show up. Checking the status of your PCB assembly project should be just as easy. With a cloud-based PCB management program, you get

Online Inventory Management and Reporting: Check the status of your project at any time. If you are storing an inventory of PCBs or finished hardware devices with your service provider, you can manage and monitor your inventory with a single click.

Data-Driven Price Projections: Even if you're only at the PCB prototyping stage, it's useful to know how much your PCB assemblies will cost when you begin to scale and order larger quantities. Look for a cloud-based provider built on data-driven insights that will optimize your manufacturing processes and allow you to make informed decisions.

Secure and Reliable Transactions: With a secure, cloud-based API, your order data remains protected by robust security measures.

Software might not be the first thing that jumps to mind when you think about PCB assembly, but now you know how it supports the entire production cycle and delivers real advantages for PCB designers. Like many other things, PCB assembly is better in the cloud.