Saturday, December 28, 2013: Global technology distributor Avnet, Inc. (NYSE: AVT) today announced that it was named to the 2013 InformationWeek 500 – a list of the top technology innovators in the U.S. Avnet received this prestigious award for a new order quoting system that was developed for its electronic components business in the Americas, Avnet Electronics Marketing. This system uses custom-developed software, network optimization and in-memory computing, helping the sales team increase their responsiveness to customers.
“Avnet acts as an extended sales force for leading technology manufacturers, managing more than 7.3 million orders annually,” said Ed Smith, president, Avnet Electronics Marketing Americas. “We knew that by improving our sales team’s ability to quote orders, Avnet could better serve our customers. Avnet’s new quoting system exemplifies how technology implemented in partnership with the business can successfully drive tangible results.”
Avnet’s IT and electronic components business teams worked collaboratively to create a custom application that serves as the foundation of the new quoting system. They designed the system to meet the nuances of small order quotes that include technology products from multiple manufacturers. The quoting system focuses on speed, searching millions of products in a database and returning results in less than three seconds.
“Technology has the power to transform the way business is conducted and completely reshape the customer experience,” said Steve Phillips, senior vice president and CIO, Avnet, Inc. “Avnet’s new quoting system is an example of the role advanced IT tools can play in positively changing the way we support our customers. This InformationWeek honor underscores Avnet’s commitment to using technology to further improve customer service.”
Avnet was one of the companies that InformationWeek identified and honored as the most innovative users of information technology in the U.S. in its annual InformationWeek 500 listing. Unique among corporate rankings, the InformationWeek 500 spotlights the power of innovation in information technology.
“The theme of this year’s InformationWeek 500 is digital business. It’s a movement, rooted in data analytics, mobile computing, social networking and other customer-focused technologies that are turning companies and industries on their ear,” said InformationWeek Editor-In-Chief Rob Preston. “Every enterprise is now a digital business – or needs to become one fast. The organizations in our ranking are leading the way.”
Read about Avnet’s approach to IT on the Behind the Firewall blog: http://blogging.avnet.com/weblog/cioinsights/
Learn more about Avnet’s perspective on the IT market through its Tech Trends video series: http://www.avnetondemand.com/
Follow Avnet on Twitter: @Avnet
Connect with Avnet on Facebook or LinkedIn: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Avnet/111721912175548 or http://www.linkedin.com/company/avnet
