Connecting with North America

2025 connector specifier and buyer survey

Welcome to Harwin’s 2025 North American Connector Market Survey, where we explore the trends, technologies, and strategic decisions shaping this critical sector. As our world increasingly relies on electronic systems in everything from aerospace and telecommunications to industrial automation and cutting-edge consumer electronics, the importance of reliable connector solutions has never been greater.

The Global Connector Market

2024

$0

Billion

0%

Forecasted Increase

2034

$0

Billion

USA = 13% of the market

Source: Global Market Insights

Respondents

The survey was conducted during April 2025 and received responses from more than 300 professionals working in a variety of roles including engineering, procurement and management, all based in the USA

0%

Engineers

0%

Buyers

0%

CTO

Last Bought Connectors?

No Data

Which applications?

Other responses: 

Consumer Products | IT and Computers | Home Appliances | RV & Boat Industry | Building Systems

Choosing connectors And suppliers

Choosing Technology Requirements

Power/Current

No Data

Choosing Technology Requirements

No Data

Top 3 Technology

Power

2

High-Reliability

1

Data

3

Supplier Selection - Primary Consideration

Reliability

2

Performance

1

Operating Lifetime

3

Most important criteria?

Average scores out of five

Online Tools

More than 50% of respondents are using online tools as part of the design process

Who uses AI and Solutions such as ’digital twins’ for design and optimization

No Data

Early adopters are already using Artiﬁcial Intelligence (AI) in their design process with more than one-in-six (17.5%) using AI tools.

Select connectors

Assist PCB design

Accelerate qualiﬁcation

Automate testing and quality control

AI was also cited as a useful tool for both predictive maintenance during manufacture and overall supply chain optimization.

DO YOU USE OR PLAN TO USE 3D printing for prototyping or production?

No Data

3D printing is in use by almost one third (30.4%) of respondents, who use this:

Prototyping

Ensuring mechanical ‘fit’

Rapid sampling

Small batch manufacture

Tooling design

Material evaluation and selection

“As demand grows for advanced design tools, AI integration, and rapid 3D prototyping, these capabilities are emerging as key differentiators in connector selection. Industry leaders are already aligning their strategies to meet this shift—ensuring engineers have the digital support they need to design faster and smarter.”

Sourcing Information And buying connectors

How do you source information?

1

Supplier / Distributor

2

Sales/Product Teams

3

Online Component libraries

Engineers vs Buyers

Supplier/distributor

Online component libraries

Sales/product teams

Supplier/distributor

Sales/product teams

Industry specific online communities/platforms

The survey indicates that engineers and buyers value different resources.

The supplier / distributor and sales / product teams feature highly for both, while online platforms are valuable to buyers but less so for engineers.

Conversely, engineers value webinars highly, but few buyers ﬁnd them useful.