GWW vs NOK Comparison

Founded in 1927, W.W. Grainger originally distributed various motors via a mail-order catalog. Over the course of the 20th century, the firm expanded into new industrial product categories and launched its first digital catalog in 1995. Today, the company organizes itself into two segments focused on different customer bases. Its larger segment, high-touch solutions, offers a vast array of maintenance, repair, and operations, or MRO, supplies and bespoke inventory management services to larger businesses. Its smaller segment, endless assortment, operates two online platforms, Zoro and MonotaRO, that offer comprehensive catalogs of MRO supplies to smaller businesses. Grainger has operations throughout the world but primarily generates sales within the US.

Nokia is a networking equipment vendor focused primarily on supporting wireless networks and, to a growing extent, Internet Protocol and optical systems. The firm operates three segments. The mobile infrastructure segment sells equipment and software used to operate the core of carrier and enterprise wireless networks. Network infrastructure comprises IP, optical, and fixed-network equipment, including switching and routing equipment, optical components, and devices used in fiber-to-the-premises networks. The portfolio business comprises businesses considered noncore to Nokia in the future, including fixed wireless access customer premises equipment, enterprise campus edge, and microwave radio.