Symbol Launches Channel-Centric E-Business Initiative, Allows Customers to Order Mobile Computing, Wireless LAN, Scanning Solutions Over The Net
Features Speed, Ease of Use in Selecting and Ordering Product/Reseller Solutions
1999-10-4 HOLTSVILLE, N.Y.
Symbol Technologies today announced the launch of a new e-business initiative -- available today -- that provides business partners, customers, and
prospects a faster, more efficient way to do business with Symbol through the Internet. Symbol's e-business initiative is being rolled out now to U.S.
resellers and customers with a global rollout to occur next year.
Symbol Business Partners, direct customers and other prospects can now go online to order the entire Symbol product line and obtain real-time information on
orders, status and tracking information, speeding Symbol's transaction and fulfillment process. This new online initiative is enabled by Symbol's enhanced and extended worldwide logistics
capability.
Symbol has had a long history of using the Internet as a business tool. Symbol was the first major company in the industry to launch a "dot.com" site and the first to unveil a business partner
specific extranet.
"Customers and business partners are rapidly embracing the e-business arena as the preferred way to do business," said Tomo Razmilovic, president and chief operating officer of Symbol. "Symbol will
use e-commerce as a business engine that will make it easier for customers, partners, and prospects to buy Symbol products over the Web at any time of the day or night, with as much reseller
value-add, support and service as they desire. This strategy leverages Symbol's own growing worldwide manufacturing and logistics capability and extends it from "brick and mortar" to "click and
mortar". It's just a natural extension to our current Web capabilities and sales strategies and it will strengthen business relationships with our partners and customers."
Other on-line initiatives for customers and partners include enhancing their ability to access and interact with Symbol's technical support and customer services groups and their offerings.
Business partners and customers will enjoy a number of benefits from Symbol's new e-business initiative, comprised of three major mechanisms:
Symbol Fulfillment Center
The Symbol Fulfillment Center serves as a virtual online corridor between Symbol's entire fulfillment operation and its direct customers and business partners. Using a special URL, users can now
instantly access complete order information via a secure, password-protected portal, enabling them to place orders, check inventory or confirm product delivery online. Orders received through the
Symbol Fulfillment Center are fulfilled using Symbol's expanding worldwide logistics operations.
Symbol Online Catalog
Symbol's new channel-centric online catalog, Symbol Online, found here on the Web, enables prospective customers to order products at list price from Symbol
by credit card or locate an appropriate business partner using Symbol's Partner Connection. Symbol Online product pricing will not compete with that of their business partners. The Symbol Partner
Connection is an online search engine that showcases partner solutions by technology, industry and applications. New resellers can also access distributors to order product on Symbol Online.
Symbol Online will supplement the business development activities provided by Symbol's Channel Business Development Telesales Group.
"Symbol Online will become another source of new pipeline opportunities where prospects with solution requirements can be matched to business partners offering solutions." said Stanley P. Jaworski,
Jr., vice president, Symbol Channel Marketing - The Americas. "We believe we can build significant new business through our partners using this site to generate highly qualified leads."
Symbol Logistics Capabilities
Symbol is currently expanding its worldwide manufacturing and logistics capabilities to meet increasing customer demand. In addition to increasing its capacity in Europe, Asia and the Americas,
Symbol will also further extend its capabilities
through strategic partnering. ScanSource, Symbol's largest distributor, will provide outsourced logistics support for order fulfillment in the United States.
"We're pleased to be Symbol's outsourced logistics partner," said Mike Bauer, President of ScanSource. "Symbol has traditionally led the way with innovative products, technologies and go to market
strategies. Once again, Symbol is the first to market with e-business. They have been quick to recognize the core competencies of distribution in this area and are aggressively leveraging the
partnership to deliver this capability to their customers and partners now."
Symbol will process and invoice all orders and assign them for fulfillment through one of its warehouses or to ScanSource. As Symbol's e-business initiative rolls out across the world, additional
partnerships may be formed for added local support as needed in each geography.
About Symbol Technologies
Symbol Technologies, Inc., The Enterprise Mobility Company™, is a recognized worldwide leader in enterprise mobility, delivering products and solutions that capture, move and manage information in
real time to and from the point of business activity. Symbol enterprise mobility solutions integrate advanced data capture products, radio frequency identification technology, mobile computing
platforms, wireless infrastructure, mobility software and world-class services programs. Symbol enterprise mobility products and solutions are proven to increase workforce productivity, reduce
operating costs, drive operational efficiencies and realize competitive advantages for the world's leading companies.
For press information:
Symbol Technologies, Inc.
Erin Farrell: farreler@symbol.com
+1.631.738.4068
Bill Abelson: abelsonb@symbol.com
+1.631.738.4751
Patricia Hall: hallp@symbol.com
+1.631.738.5636
Joey Marquart: joey.marquart@edelman.com
212-704-8133
Elizabeth Blicharz: elizabeth.blicharz@edelman.com
212.704.4484
Symbol Technologies Europe, Middle East, Africa:
Helen Rigby: helen.rigby@symbol.com
+44 118 945 7527
Symbol Technologies Asia Pacific:
Tze Hui Low: Lowt@symbol.com
+65 6796 9621
For financial information:
Symbol Technologies, Inc.
Erin Farrell-Talbot
+1.631.738.4068
Lori Chaitman: chaitmal@symbol.com
631.738.5050
For industry analyst information:
Symbol Technologies, Inc.
Shirley Schroedl: schroeds@symbol.com
631.738.4388
