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The virtual AC drives distributor

Original article date: June 1999

We’ve seen it done over the web with software, music and even said it with flowers. But now an e-commerce site from which industrial users can select order and pay for low power drives? Alan Quinn considers its value.

The new ABB Industrial Systems e-commerce site which can be reached at www.abb.compac.uk forms part of a new technology business initiative called Comp-AC which also encompasses instant telephone ordering credit card payment rapid despatch and round-the-clock telephone help-lines.

Comp-AC e-commerce is an interactive business-to-business web site which uses ABB’s distributor network to process on-line enquiries and orders and allows surfers to follow a procedure from initial enquiry to ordering products on-line. It covers low power drives between between 0.37kW and 37kW.

“When we launched Comp-AC at the end of last year we promised to revolutionise the way people would select purchase and operate low power AC drives. The development of this e-commerce site gives Comp-AC another channel to market and two ways to pay ” says Ian Rennie vice president of ABB’s global drives operation.

Once on line the first screen shows a map that gives the location of all outlets for each of the 22 ABB distributors in the UK. By selecting a distributor by name or location the user is linked directly to that distributor’s Comp-AC e-commerce service and can start a drive enquiry.

“We have integrated our entire distributor network. It is our distributors who form the backbone of Comp-AC especially for elements like rapid delivery and instant ordering ” says Rennie.

From here there are two options. If the user knows exactly what is needed he or she can click on a Quick Buy option select the exact drive required from a product listing and proceed to the payment details. Alternatively the customer can use the interactive Select tool to specify requirements in more detail.

To find out more about the products special features and services being offered by the distributor there are hyperlinks to each of the distributors’ Web sites.

With the on-line Select tool the user is prompted to answer some basic questions about the power phase and voltage requirements of the application by clicking the relevant box from a drop-down menu. He or she will then be directed to the Comp-AC drive that best fits his or her requirements.

From here it is possible to build up an order by choosing additional options that are available with the selected drive such as flying start dynamic braking EMC filters and mounting arrangements.

The amount of time needed to enter this information is reduced by intelligent feature-selection software. For instance if a fieldbus option like Profibus or Modbus-Plus has been selected the system’s software will automatically select the necessary DDCS serial adapter.

As further options are added the total cost of the order is automatically updated. Once all the features have been picked the customer can choose how many units they require. Otherwise they can store their original order and start another enquiry about drives for a different application.

After all the different drives required have been selected the contents of the entire order can be reviewed and the preferred payment and delivery methods selected. Those paying by credit card simply enter their card details which are then forwarded to the distributor by a secure e-mail system that uses SSL (Secure Server Layer) technology. This encrypts the information and protects it from outside interference enabling fast and safe business transactions over the Internet.

Alternatively existing customers who already have an account with one of the distributors submit their completed order by filling in their account details. However non-account holders can request to be invoiced on delivery of goods by opening a new account subject to providing appropriate company information. On arrival at the distributor’s office all e-commerce orders are processed immediately

One of the reasons often to justify e-commerce is the ease of order processing and reduction of paperwork. But we should equally remember that many companies are set up with traditional accounting systems and engineers and designers do not necessarily have the authority to order items over the telephone or over the web. An order number would have to be created in the usual way and processed in the usual way before the order could be placed. In addition, it is questionable whether ordering items over the web will really save any paperwork even if the person doing the ordering has the authority to do so. All the items typed into the web site form will probably have to be re-typed into a company ordering system for internal consumption.

So how applicable the new approach is for ordering industrial equipment remains to be seen. Having said that if we don’t try we shall never know.

June 1999

Added on 24 February 2009 at 5:56 pm | Read more Drives, pneumatics articles