In Four Months, pcOrder Quadruples High-Tech Industry
Participation in its Valued Information Partnership
Program (VIP Program)
More Than 80 Computer Manufacturers Rely on VIP Membership to Provide
Critical Information to the Computer Channel
AUSTIN, Texas, Oct. 8 /PRNewswire/ -- In the past four months, more than 60 major computer peripheral manufacturers have joined pcOrder's VIP Program to provide comprehensive product and configuration information to the more than 10,000 reseller sales representatives and end-user customers who use pcOrder-powered electronic commerce systems.
The VIP Program, which began in January of this year, now has more than 80 participants, representing over $20 billion in channel sales. Every day, more than 10,000 requests for price quotes and product information flow through pcOrder's enabling technology. Among the industry leaders who joined since April are 3Com Corporation, Fujitsu PC Corporation, NEC Technologies, Inc., Best Power, Okidata, Samsung Electronics, Inc., Tektronics, Inc., Global Village Communications, ViewSonic Corporation, Asante Technologies, Inc., Tripp Lite Worldwide, Unisys Corporation, and Xircom, Inc.
VIPs provide electronic data feeds to pcOrder, enabling resellers and their customers to view detailed product descriptions, accurate configurations, enhanced marketing information, and product
specifications. VIPs also receive special VIP designation within the system and the highest level of service for recording ongoing changes and additions to their product lines.
The VIP Program's success in bringing together major computer peripheral manufacturers and the distribution channel reinforces pcOrder's central role in the computer industry value chain. pcOrder
enables efficient and effective purchasing through electronic commerce links that bring together manufacturers, distributors, resellers, and corporate end-users. Given the level of industry participation in the VIP Program, pcOrder is rapidly becoming the industry standard for product and configuration information.
''We joined the VIP Program because it is a one-stop resource for the reseller community that allows them to understand how our products fit into technology infrastructures and to sell our product set much more effectively,'' James Szmak, Director of Internet Commerce Operations at 3Com Corporation.
The VIP Program is designed to maximize exposure to the pcOrder network of partners while providing resellers and their corporate customers access to additional technical and marketing information on computer products. By joining the VIP Program, manufacturers enhance their presence at the point-of-sale and enable pcOrder users to sell their products more effectively. Reseller sales representatives and their corporate customers use pcOrder-powered applications to
automatically configure systems, find pricing and availability information, access product data, and electronically place orders.
''pcOrder is increasingly occupying a critical role in our industry by helping buyer and seller meet to share crucial information,'' said Mike Tatum, Vice President of North American Sales at NEC
Technologies, Inc. ''This enabling technology speeds up the sales cycle and improves the rate of technology adoption.''
Original members of the VIP Program include ABL Electronics Corp., American Power Conversion, CTX International Inc., Epson America, Inc., GoldenRam, Kingston Technology Company, Logitech, Inc., Micronics Computers, Inc., Micropolis Inc., Radius Inc., Shiva
Corporation, Simple Technology, and Western Digital Corporation.
''We believe that the successful momentum of the VIP Program will continue and even escalate over the next six months,'' said Ross A. Cooley, Chairman and CEO of Austin-based pcOrder.
''Manufacturers and the marketplace need electronic commerce to enable the exchange of accurate, comprehensive product and configuration information that leads to smarter, faster purchases.''
pcOrder's distributor and corporate reseller partners have been a key to the success of the VIP Program. Among these partners, ECadvantage has taken the most proactive step in recruiting manufacturers to participate with pcOrder. A subsidiary of MicroAge Inc., ECadvantage has
launched an equivalent program to VIP called the ECdata Program. ECadvantage and pcOrder formed a partnership in order to leverage MicroAge's channel relationships with hundreds of manufacturers. Whether manufacturers sign up through pcOrder or ECadvantage, they are
considered a partner of both programs, reach the same audience, and receive the same program benefits.
About pcOrder.com
By partnering with major manufacturers, distributors and resellers, pcOrder.com is revolutionizing the way computer products are bought and sold. pcOrder offers the computer industry a new vision of electronic commerce by providing an advanced electronic sales channel, access to improved market data and a new interactive forum for marketing. pcOrder is located at 6034 West Courtyard Drive, Suite 210, Austin, Texas, 78730. Telephone: 512-342-0100; Fax: 512-342-0200; WWW address: pcorder.com . |
