Manufacturers expand range of products available online

Norbain SD, Europe’s largest distributor of CCTV and Access Control equipment, is rapidly expanding the number of product lines available at www.norbain.co.uk following completion of a major web development project.

Extensive development work has been underway since last autumn to develop a supplier extranet that provides Norbain suppliers with secure remote access to the Norbain web site. This enables Norbain’s suppliers to upload support information such as datasheets, high resolution images, manuals and software to their Norbain-stocked products direct onto the Norbain web site. Users of the site will be able to access up to the minute, product specific technical information and marketing materials 24/7.

Huw Edwards, Marketing Communications Manager at Norbain SD said: "Twice a year new Norbain CCTV and Access Control catalogues are delivered direct to registered customers and this cycle will continue for the foreseeable future. However, the main benefit of the extensive online product listing will be that it will carry current support information.   Also, as web based content is open-ended, we are able to contain many more product specific resources such as datasheets, manuals and pictures."

Each time the Norbain catalogue is published the new products that are added to the web site will be clearly identified. It is also possible to pull up a complete list of new products by clicking on the appropriate menu link. Details of old products that are no longer in the catalogue will remain accessible in the technical archive.

Two of Norbain’s Business Development Managers (Anne Bowden, Access Control and Buzz Coates, branded CCTV products) will manage the new process in partnership with manufacturers. Anne Bowden explains:

"Once a manufacturer has uploaded their data onto the web site, the new information will be checked for accuracy before it is authorised for use on the live web site. This will be particularly important initially as suppliers get used to how the site works although it’s a useful mechanism to ensure mistakes don’t creep through onto the site.

"Early feedback tells us that suppliers are very enthusiastic about the new web functionality and that they will be keen to ensure their data on the site is maintained as accurately as possible. Our customers are very keen to have access to information that is as up to date and accurate as possible and we believe this will motivate manufacturers to participate. Compared with the printed catalogues, the web site will prove much more effective at communicating the latest technical and product information."

Simon Holt, Marketing Manager of TDSI, believes the Norbain web site represents a big step forward for manufacturers:

"We are very committed to keeping our own marketing materials up to date, but getting that information out to and used by customers is difficult. The Norbain web site is an excellent additional channel for us; the first time we’ve been given such an opportunity by a distributor."

Many of the products listed will be accompanied by support information including datasheets, manuals and high quality pictures. Alongside this wealth of information are documents concerning Norbain’s customer Charter, No quibble Guarantee and Return/Repairs policy. When complete the Norbain web site will offer the most extensive online information source for CCTV and Access Control products available in Europe.

For more information, visit www.norbain.co.uk.

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