CDW Debuts Suite of ROI Toolkits To Help Customers Build Business Cases for IT Investments

Business Wire, August 30, 2005

VERNON HILLS, Ill. -- Toolkits Are The Newest In Growing List of CDW Value-Added Services Delivered Online, Via Telephone And From The Company's Distribution Center

CDW Corporation (NASDAQ:CDWC), a leading provider of technology products and services to business, government and education, today introduced new tools to help customers make more informed provisioning and procurement decisions regarding network security, server consolidation and wireless networking.

CDW created these tools in response to a growing trend of chief information officers who increasingly demand business cases from their IT departments to justify technology expenditures. The toolkits provide businesses with a credible and realistic method for predicting the ROI (return-on-investment) of technology solutions from leading manufacturers.

Developed in conjunction with Ziff-Davis Media's Custom Solutions Group, the toolkits are based on models generated from customer and other industry interviews plus recommendations from experts on CDW's technology specialty teams. The toolkits are available immediately to CDW customers. Additional ROI tools are under development.

CDW's Security, Server Consolidation and Wireless Networking ROI Toolkits consist of two key components each:

--Technology Assessment - a Web-based survey that compares customers with like-sized industry peers on technology deployment (security, wireless, etc.) and operational metrics -- this tool is available at www.cdw.com/assessment

--ROI Calculator - an application that calculates ROI and other financial metrics for customers deploying specific configurations of technology products and solutions -- this tool is used in conjunction with a CDW account manager or technology specialist

"We continually improve our abilities to respond to customers' IT needs, especially among medium and large organizations," said Firooz Ghanbarzadeh, Senior IT Solutions Manager at CDW. "IT Managers can use these tools with our technology experts to help predict ROI of technology projects including the ability to compare metrics against companies of similar size and industry. The results can then be presented to management."

The CDW ROI Toolkits are the newest in a growing list of value-added services that CDW delivers online, over the phone and via its distribution center. These services include Web-based purchase management tools, automated software license management, asset tagging and the ability to custom configure IT systems prior to shipment. In addition, CDW customers benefit from around-the-clock technical support and access to certified technical specialists and systems engineers who help them assess, design and support their IT requirements.

About CDW Technology Specialist Teams

CDW offers ten technical specialty teams featuring more than 200 technology specialists and systems engineers who respond to customers' needs. Teams include:

--Document Management

--Mobile/Wireless

--Networking LAN/WAN

--Power

--Security

--Storage

--Technology Services

--Telephony

--Voice and Data

--Volume Software Licensing

About CDW

CDW(R) (NASDAQ: CDWC), ranked No. 347 on the FORTUNE 500, is a leading provider of technology solutions for business, government and education. CDW is a principal source of technology products and services including top name brands such as Adobe, APC, Apple, Cisco, HP, IBM, Microsoft, Sony, Symantec, Toshiba and ViewSonic.

CDW was founded in 1984 and today employs approximately 4,000 coworkers. In 2004, the company generated net sales of approximately $5.7 billion. CDW's direct model offers one-on-one relationships with knowledgeable account managers; purchasing by telephone, fax, the company's award-winning CDW.com Web site, customized CDW@work(TM)extranets, CDWG.com Web site and macwarehouse.com Web site; custom configured solutions and same day shipping; and pre- and post-sales technical support, with more than 120 factory-trained and A certified technicians on staff.