Hudaco's value-added offering is in demand from customers. Hudaco is in the fortunate position maintaining its technical skills base through loyal and motivated employees. It can also quickly and easily train new staff through training offered internationally by its suppliers and through its own in-house training programmes. The group sources products from more than 800 international suppliers across the industrialised world. It carries more than 230 000 line items in stock. Demand is relatively inelastic, with low line item sales predictability, while supplier lead times can range from three months to well over a year in extreme cases. Inventory holding is, therefore, Hudaco's most important asset, as its key competitive advantage is the ability to offer availability on demand.