Activant Releases B2B Seller Version 5.0

An Activant Solution Update

Features

E-mail This Page

Newest Version of Web-Based Storefront Enhances Efficiencies and Customer Service

YARDLEY, PA, April 28, 2006 - Activant® announced today the general availability of B2B Seller version 5.0, the latest version of the fully integrated, Web-based storefront solution for distributors, which includes new features based on customer requests such as enhanced search capabilities, a redesigned customer purchase reporting and analysis module, support for alternate units of measure, and many more.

"B2B Seller version 5.0 is full of enhancements that give distributors more control over how their customers interface with their Web-based storefronts, allowing for a simpler and more efficient shopping experience," says Steve McLaughlin, senior vice president and general manager of the wholesale distribution group at Activant. "Each new feature in B2B Seller 5.0 is developed to help distributors increase market share and cut costs - without sacrificing service."

Delivering Customer Convenience

Gary Lane, IT Director at All Brand Appliance Parts, understands that convenience is the most important aspect in delivering a straightforward, online shopping experience to customers. If functions such as navigating the site or populating a shopping cart are not intuitive, customers are probably not going to make online shopping a regular thing.

"With B2B Seller, we've been able to give customers real-time access to inventory and around-the-clock shopping, but we're hoping to make things even easier and more efficient than they already are," says Lane. "The new functionality in version 5.0 will help us achieve that."

One of the features Lane looks forward to using is the ability to access Prophet 21's item short codes as a searchable field in the Quick Order Pad of All-Brand's B2B Seller site. Many of All Brand's customers already use these short codes when placing orders over the phone, so adding this functionality to the site will only increase their ability to easily place orders online.

"B2B Seller's power and visibility allows us to sell more in less time," concludes Lane, "and with options like using short codes in the Quick Order Pad, we'll be making it even easier for customers to do business with us on the Web."

Features in B2B Seller 5.0 include:

Multiple Strings in One Search - Customers can now perform searches using the same logic methods found in many popular Internet search engines. B2B Seller also supports multiple strings in the same search box, resulting in targeted searches that deliver more accurate results to the customer, without the need for doing multiple searches.
Customer Purchase Reporting and Analysis in My Account - Customers receive better access to purchasing information by taking advantage of the all-new Customer Purchase History feature. Incorporating many of the existing Past Purchases queries, Customer Purchase History allows customers to view activity by category or item, receive purchasing summaries, view information on an item-by-item basis, or generate graphical displays. The Customer Purchase History feature also gives customers placing a new order the option to quickly add any item from a purchasing report to the shopping cart.
Search Field Selection Control - This functionality simplifies the process of administering the search environment by offering a user-friendly, graphical interface that allows your site administrator to assign separate search fields to the Keyword Search, Product Search, and Advanced Search headings. This provides site administrators the flexibility to ensure that the proper search fields are included within each type of search, with no interdependence between the different searches.
Alternate Units of Measure - B2B Seller version 5.0 includes support for ordering in multiple units of measure for any item that has been set up that way in your enterprise software solution. Your customers can now buy in bulk without having to manually convert from one unit of measure to another. The Unit of Measure field appears as a dropdown option that allows customers to easily choose any valid unit of measure recognized by your enterprise software solution for a given item.
And many more!

Pricing and Availability

Activant B2B Seller version 5.0 is currently available. For additional information and pricing, please visit http://distribution.activant.com or call 1-800-776-7438, press 1.

About Activant's Wholesale Distribution Solutions

Activant provides technology solutions and services to more than 3,800 wholesale distributors throughout North America. A leading technology provider for the distribution industry, Activant develops comprehensive enterprise software solutions to help distributors improve customer service and maximize the return on their technology investment. In addition, the company offers an Internet trading network that expedites sourcing, expands geographic reach, and streamlines transactions between distributors and manufacturers. Activant solutions are backed by a host of professional services, including support, consulting, and educational programs.

Activant Solutions Inc. ("Activant") is a leading technology provider of business management solutions serving small and medium-sized retail and wholesale distribution businesses in three primary vertical markets: hardlines and lumber; wholesale distribution; and the automotive parts aftermarket. Founded in 1972, Activant provides customers with tailored proprietary software, professional services, content, supply chain connectivity, and analytics. More than 30,000 customer locations use an Activant solution to manage their day-to-day operations. Headquartered in Texas, Activant has operations in California, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Utah, Canada, France, Ireland, and the United Kingdom.

For more information, please visit www.activant.com.

About Activant / Legal & Trademark Information

###

Prospective customers are encouraged to fill out and submit the convenient Activant Web Contact Form.