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News Release from: Future Electronics
Edited by the Electronicstalk Editorial
Team on 15 June 2001
Handheld access to the distributor's
extranet
Customers of Future Electronics, are benefiting from rapid component specification and 'real-time' application data updates provided by handheld access to the company's extranet
Customers of leading technical distributor, Future Electronics, are benefiting from rapid component specification and 'real-time' application data updates provided by handheld access to the company's extranet Using mobile infrastructure technology developed in partnership with systems integrator, Citria, and software developers, AvantGo and First Wave, Future has equipped its Technical Solutions Managers (TSMs) and field sales personnel with customised PDAs that offer wireless mobility throughout the field and internally within Future
This article was originally published on Electronicstalk on 1 Feb 2001 at 8.00am (UK)
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In addition to 'real-time' product updates, the system also allows Future staff to download internal and corporate news features.
"This state-of-the-art mobile product represents the next step in the development of our design focus and will provide real benefits both for our customers and internally", comments Fred Knowles, technical director of Future Europe.
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He continues: "We are renowned for the depth of our technical capabilities and this intuitive, user-friendly system will minimise any delay in the updating of our linecard and short form information.
This will mean even faster access to the latest product data - increasing levels of service to our customers.
And for our staff, we are able to maintain a product catalogue on our extranet from which they can download information to take with them, rather than using a manual catalogue that was often inaccurate and out-to-date - not to mention cumbersome to navigate!".
The current rollout is being trialled exclusively on the Microchip franchise and following its successful completion, will be extended across other lines.
Such has been the system's initial success in Europe that Future has already committed to a rollout later in the year across its North American and Asian regions.
Furthermore, Microchip has been so impressed in its role as supply partner that it is also set to implement its own version of the system featuring similar PDAs and docking system, for its staff.
Citria was responsible for designing a PDA and intranet service, which guides Future's TSMs and field sales personnel through a set of intuitive question fields.
These have been developed top narrow down the search for the exact components that meet a customer's design requirements.
Citria also oversaw design of the user-friendly interface, converting a complex product catalogue into a logical and easy-to-use structure.
Using AvantGo 4.0 M-Business Server software on Handspring Visor PDAs, Future personnel are able to upload real-time information updates on the extranet via synchronisation with a desktop PC, laptop or mobile phone.
A second stage development will see the introduction later this year of an integrated customer relationship management (CRM) system from First Wave that will standardise customer account management and response mechanisms across Europe.
This will also be accessible via the PDAs in the field.
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