Co-op increases online member services

nO IT BEST Corp., Fort Wayne, In., has launched a l-lredesigned members' Web portal, bringing together information and interactive tools in a single easy-to-use site.

"It's one of the most powerful resources rve've ever provided to our members," said Larry Pensinger, director of e-business. "Mydoitbest. com leverages the power of technology and makes everything available rvith just one log-in."

Pensinger and his team spent a lot of time on access and security issues. "One of the things we tried to do with the new portal is offer a lot of flexibility," he said. Instead of calling headquarters, members can assign access to their own employees based on what each one should see and use online.

The new portal retains the best features of the previous version, which was launched in early 2001. Visuals were enhanced and the most commonly used links are just a click away, either as direct links or on pull-dorvn menus. Many new features were added to help members run their businesses more efficiently, especially in the online tools section.

"They will save a great deal of time for our members," said Pensinger. "Instead of searching for paper forms that need to be filled out manually, a member can enter information on a computer and have it delivered to Do it Best

Corp. immediately."

Nerv online tools include:

Lumber Information & Pricing: Pensinger said that member requests for current lumber prices. even on nights and rveekends. had a large role in the portal redesign. Norv. instead of calling headquarters, members can log on anytime for the latest prices.

Invoice Management: Members can vierv and pay regular rvarehouse. drop ship. and miscellaneous invoices online. Search and sort capabilities are built into the online invoice management system. making it easy to find specific line items. SKU numbers. vendors. and invoices based on a number of criteria such as invoice number. member number. or amount due.

All invoices from January 2006 onrvard rvill be stored in an online archives for a minimum of three years, and will be dorvnloadable in a variety of formats. In addition. members rvill be able to dispute invoices online. if necessary, and pay online through electronic funds transfer.

Online Claims: This feature offers several improvements over the old paper-based model. To make a claim. members key in the appropriate SKU or UPC. select the reason for the claim. and the proper form displays automatically. Once the form is submitted. their account is usually credited by the next business day. When members need to return items to their retail service center. they can print an authorization to include rvith the merchandise. The site also stores a record ofeach claim for future reference.

Commodities Catalog: This is a searchable database of products. such as roofing materials. insulation.and dryrvall. that provides current pricing information for products previously purchased and the ability to place orders online. Members can also look up current promotions and store a list of favorite products.

Material Safety Data Sheets: Retailers are required by OSHA to supply MSDS to consumers on demand. "The traditional rvay is to keep paper files in a cabinet. Memben rvould call us and rve'd fax them out." said Pensinger. "Norv. members can go online and dorvnload rvhat they need. when they need it."

Image Search: More than 25.000 high-resolution lifestyle and product images are now available online. In the past. members had to call headquarters and the images rvere located. burned onto a disc. and mailed out. Now. members can go online and dorvnload images for sales circulars. newspaper ads. store fliers. and displays.

Training: Previously. training videos-rvhich are produced at an in-house production studio-rvere only available on DVD. Norv streaming video can be dorvnloaded

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