Avnet Applied Computing Launches "Avnet Fastrac," a One-Stop, Secure Customer Design Web Portal; Web-Based Productivity Suite Streamlines Design Process, Cuts Time-to-Market

Business Wire, August 29, 2000

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

TEMPE, Ariz.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 29, 2000

Historically, engineers specializing in applied computing or embedded systems have had to burn valuable hours scouring the Internet for obscure, hard-to-find design information and specs.

In response, Avnet's Applied Computing Group (AAC), an operating group of global electronic components and computer products distributor Avnet Inc., today unveiled Avnet Fastrac(TM), a secure web site designed to give AAC's original equipment manufacturer (OEM) customers a complete set of online tools that puts all the necessary information right at their fingertips.

Avnet Fastrac is a complete productivity suite for engineers that brings essential product and design information, an interactive engineering forum, real-time order status, and valuable part search capabilities onto a single, secure Web site.

"AAC designed Avnet Fastrac based solely on the unique needs and work patterns of the applied computing design community," said AAC president Ed Kamins. "In essence, the Avnet Fastrac site streamlines the design process by bringing together a number of separate resources that engineers rely on every day, and putting them all onto one secure, easy-to-use site.

"The end result is a unique productivity suite that we expect to quickly become a part of our customers' day-to-day business."

Before Avnet Fastrac, Kamins added, designers were forced to search different vendor sites for end-of-life information and product specs, then hop to another site to search for necessary parts before placing a phone call to determine the status of an order, or speak with an integration engineer.

Instead, Avnet Fastrac regularly sweeps supplier sites for the most recent product specs, then downloads local copies for easy reference. That information is coupled with a powerful part search tool that can find any component on the AAC supplier line card, even if only a portion of the part number is known.

Avnet Fastrac is interactive as well, with an "Ask the Expert" page that is answered by AAC engineers, and opportunities for live design chat sessions that are archived for later reference.

The portal also has a full AAC directory that puts the name of every Avnet Applied Computing employee at the user's fingertips, in addition to a case study library filled with real-world solutions and design inspiration.

"Avnet Fastrac was designed to be a 'living' portal which will be constantly refined and improved with each passing quarter, based on feedback from our customers," explained Bob Prezkop, AAC's vice president and group information officer. "In addition, the site is completely secure, and is available only to AAC customers.

"Given the value of the design information our customers are entrusting to us, Avnet Fastrac incorporates the latest security features and all activity will be logged and reviewed 24/7.

"With Avnet Fastrac, we wanted to provide our customers with a way to do their jobs more quickly and easily, and the member feedback so far indicates that we've accomplished that goal."

For more information about Avnet Fastrac, or to qualify for admittance to the site, please go to https://secure.appliedcomputing.avnet.com/fastrac/index.jsp.> About Avnet Applied Computing

Avnet Applied Computing is an operating group of Avnet Inc. (NYSE:AVT). Avnet Inc. is a global electronic components and computer products distributor and Fortune 500 company, with annual sales exceeding $9 billion.

Avnet Applied Computing markets the technology products of leading manufacturers, including platforms and servers, boards and modules, mass storage, peripherals, microprocessors, flat panel displays, and embedded operating systems. Avnet Applied Computing's related services include engineering assistance, supply-chain management, financing, physical distribution and integration of end products.

Avnet Inc.'s Web site is located at www.avnet.com