Long regarded as an innovator in engineering solutions, Festo has developed an online shopping portal which operates in combination with online engineering tools.
The Festo online shop falls into the global Festo Integrated Business Platform (IBP) concept. When fully implemented, this model includes a national contact centre, automatic fax handling, e-procurement solutions and online sales platform. The online shop is the selected channel with which Festo is launching the IBP concept in South Africa.
E-commerce is growing
Festo online shopping is available in over 30 countries and boasts over 110 000 registered users. The site records almost half a million sessions per month, with users downloading an average 65 000 sets of operating instructions, 60 000 product brochures and 80 000 2D and 3D CAD modules per month. The high amount of traffic that the site generates demonstrates the manner in which e-commerce is becoming a global trend. Festo South Africa says that the introduction of the online shop in sub-Saharan Africa has given it first mover advantage, and demonstrates the company’s continuing commitment to customer service delivery. “Once again Festo is blazing a trail in the fluid power industry in South Africa,” says Nico Landman, contact centre manager, Festo South Africa.
Ordering errors reduced
“What Festo is doing with the online shop is unique. We have combined the online shop with a set of easy to use engineering tools that prompt users to enter parameters for the design challenge they are currently trying to solve. Once a solution is found the engineering tools automatically fill in the order sheets, providing an entire solution comprising multiple components, as a single part order. The beauty of this system is that the entire ordering process is simplified, and consequently the chance of errors creeping into the ordering process is practically eliminated,” explains Landman.
Online = up-to-date
Landman points out that the online shop has the added advantage of always being current. “Festo registers over a hundred new patents a year for innovations in pneumatic and electronic automation. As a result, hard copy catalogues become outdated in a matter of months. The online shopping portal is a logical solution to this problem. New innovations are uploaded to the site as soon as they become available. This ensures that customers always have access to our latest product offerings.”
Selection and ordering simplified
The online shop simplifies the ordering process for customers in a number of ways. “The speed with which an order can be processed is greatly enhanced when using the online portal and engineering tools. The need for a human consultant has been largely negated. As a result ordering is no longer restricted to office hours or the availability of a consultant. Product availability and price quotes are presented to the customer immediately, which adds efficiency to the internal processes of our clients,” enthuses Landman.
User categories provide protection
The Festo online shop has been designed with client requirements in mind. The site has three distinct user profiles which grant users different levels of access. The plain ‘Catalogue user’ profile grants users access to Festo engineering tools, downloadable CAD drawings, FluidDraw and the full Festo product catalogue but without price and availability. This user category can browse the available products and add items to a shopping cart, but cannot finalise an order. This has been implemented to provide companies and employees with full Festo online functionality without running the risk of a rogue employee ordering products without prior authorisation. The ‘Price and availability’ user profile provides users with all of the functionality of a plain catalogue user profile, as well as the price and availability of products. The ‘Order profile’ provides users with full access to the online portal and tools as well as the ability to finalise and implement orders.
“The manner in which the site is designed makes it easy to integrate into existing company structures for procurement without compromising the functionality of the site to engineers working towards a solution online,” explains Landman.
Online order tracking
Order tracking allows customers to track orders from the initial order stage, through manufacture and all the way to delivery. Tracking is available to all Festo clients, whether the order was made online or not, ensuring that clients receive the best possible service regardless of how orders are processed.
Speedy delivery
To ensure that products arrive at their destination as intended and are not left to chance with the postal service Festo has contracted couriers. Of course, clients who wish to order products online and collect their orders from a Festo outlet can still do so.
Festo believes that the combination of its online shopping portal with highly effective engineering tools has resulted in a level of service and functionality unparalleled in the South African market, ensuring that Festo remains a leader in innovation.
For more information contact Joanne Dix, Festo, +27 (0)11 971 5560, [email protected], www.festo.com
| Tel: | 08600 FESTO (33786) |
| Fax: | +27 11 974 2157 |
| Email: | [email protected] |
| www: | www.festo.co.za |
| Articles: | More information and articles about Festo |
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