Solutions Targeting
Your Bottom Line!
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| Case Study: Parts Express |
Client: Parts Express
Business: Catalog Retailer/Wholesaler of electronic parts and audio
Website Address: http://www.partsexpress.com
Years As Client: 1996 to 2004
Description Of Work: WMSI started with Parts Express in 1996 working with them on their first generation web site. Today they are on their fifth version and sales online are now a major percentage of their total business as a company. Each step has been strategically planned step in the growth of their company.
Parts Express is a true example of how to use the web the right way. Early challenges of limited product data, available labor, limited understanding of the technology and cautious management has turned to aggressive utilization of everything the web can offer the company to keep them on a profitable path of growth in their industry.
Parts Express sells over 13,000 products online and has transacted well over 100,000 sales through their web site. Each sale delivered through the web site is a sale with lower cost of doing business then a sale transacted through their other channels of operations.
The structure and administration of the database was a critical aspect of WMSI's focus in the development of the site. As the site grows the amount of traffic has dramatically increased and proper hardware and software systems has also been a concern. Initially the web site was hosted on a simple web account. Now the site is served on multiple company managed servers dedicated to specific functions of the site.
The Parts Express web site features:
- Secure Online Ordering
- Multiple Path Search Capabilities
- Technical Talk Discussion Forum
- Various Category Lookup Wizards
- Manufacturer Spotlight Pages
- Weekly Email Sales Flyer
- Almost Real Time Inventory Availability
- Out Of Stock Notification
- Shipping Notices With Tracking Data
- Express Ordering
- Deal Of The Day Specials
- Catalog Ordering System
Most Current Work: WMSI managed the company's web team meetings each month bringing new ideas and suggestions on how to improve existing functions on the site. Parts Express is benefiting from an outside business consultant relationship that brings in a focused E-business and internet technology expert (WMSI) to keep the company from getting too close to the trees to see the forest.
WMSI has built and installed a Content Management System on the Parts Express web site to allow for better management of all the resource data that accompanies a product database this size. This database system will allow for authors and editors to prepare documentation on the products separately from the rest of the ecommerce system. Then when a product is shown on the web site the ecommerce system looks into the Content Management System Database to find the related documentation to present on the page. This documentation can include; A Glossary, FAQs, Installation Instructions, Owners Manuals, Specification Sheets, Additional Images, Buyers Guides and more.
WMSI added their RightTime Survey System to poll the Parts Express customers and web site visitors to give the web team the needed feedback to make further improvements to the web site.
Summary: Parts Express is a great example of growing your business the right way. Develop a strong relationship with a company that can lead you to do the right things online while you can focus on the things that your company does best. WMSI has been a vital ingredient to the growth of Parts Express online. Parts Express balances all the ideas and implements the ones that will accomplish the most good with the available resources.
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