element14’s innovative interface now enables customers to retrieve product information via SMS

element14’s innovative interface now enables customers to retrieve product information via SMS

New platform provides electronic design engineers and procurement professionals in Australia, China, India, Malaysia and New Zealand with a fast and easy solution to obtain component specifications and stock levels

Accessible on-the-go, anytime and anywhere on mobile phones

Singapore, 24 March 2011 – element14 (formerly Farnell), the industry’s first fusion of commerce and community supporting millions of engineers and purchasing professionals worldwide, today announced the launch of a new mobile interface in Australia, China, India, Malaysia and New Zealand, which enables customers to retrieve detailed product information from element14’s extensive inventory via simple Short Messaging Service (SMS) requests.

The new mobile platform gives users access to the most up-to-date details on the product. Unlike a print catalogue, the system provides the latest pricing and availability within their countries’ inventory. The system is capable of such accuracy as all SMS queries will go through element14’s Web Application Programming Interface (API), which is constantly fed with the latest data, before a response is tabulated by the system and sent back to the user.

“Mobile phones today have become integral to the work of many consumers across the region. With the rapid evolution of smartphones today, people are becoming more reliant on information and the ability to be connected on-the-go. element14 is deeply committed to empowering our consumers with differentiated and innovative solutions to efficiently and effectively meet their business objectives,” says Nader Tadros, Marketing & eCommerce Director, element14, Asia Pacific. With an increasing number of professionals in the electronic design engineering industry adopting such technologies, many are well-accustomed to using their mobile phones to source for information and now require instant access to product specifications on-the-go.

element14’s new initiative provides added flexibility, convenience and accessibility allowing customers to plan and maximise their schedules and development timelines more effectively. This system only requires customers to SMS the unique order code or part number of a specific component to their local countries’ SMS gateway. The system will then retrieve the necessary information from the element14 database and send the info directly to their mobile phones with information regarding the product description, stock, price and even datasheets in PDF if the customer’s phone supports it. Customers can also access more information regarding the product by calling their local customer service number provided, or by clicking on the provided web link. This first-of-its-kind system will provide immediate access to the latest information 24×7, ensuring unparalleled convenience and support.

“This innovative new service has been developed to augment element14’s multi-channel, high service distribution model. element14 will continue to provide an unmatched arsenal of solutions and services such as the mobile service, allowing professionals in the electronics design industry to work in whichever way that is convenient to them,” added Tadros.

The mobile platform system is operational in Australia, China, India, Malaysia and New Zealand.

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About element14

element14 offers more than 130,000 products, for next-day delivery in most cities in Asia Pacific from its three distribution hubs located in Shanghai, Singapore and Sydney. The company offers 24/7 telephone support for customers, 24/5 online technical support and catalogue sales, with a hassle-free return policy.

In Singapore, please visit http://sg.element14.com/. This eCommerce site is integrated with the Group’s global online Community portal (www.element14.com).

Worldwide, element14 is the first collaborative community, research portal and eCommerce website for design engineers and electronics enthusiasts. The website provides product data, design tools, technology information and top brand components to seamlessly facilitate the design process; users can consult industry experts and collaborate with peers around the globe. element14 online Community is sponsored by Premier Farnell plc (LSE: pfl).

About Premier Farnell

Premier Farnell plc is leading the way in the high service, multi-channel provision of essential products, information, software and technology solutions to electronic design engineers, maintenance and repair engineers and purchasing professionals globally. Its differentiated proposition includes 29 local language transactional websites, and the critically important element14 ecommunity for design engineers – an industry first (www.element14.com). With sales last year of £990.8m and underlying profits of £93.3m the Group distributes its comprehensive portfolio of products and services throughout Europe, North America and Asia Pacific, supported by a global supply chain of over 3,500 suppliers and an inventory profile developed to anticipate and meet its customers’ needs. Recently awarded Platinum status by the Business in the Community Corporate Responsibility Index the business takes its CSR commitments very seriously.

While global in scope, Premier Farnell recognises the individual needs of each market and has continued to internationalise its model accordingly, trading locally under different brand names. Its primary electronics businesses trade as Farnell in Europe, Newark in the US, Canada and Mexico and Farnell Newark in Brazil. Across Asia Pacific the business trades as element14.

Key facts

• Operations in 35 countries
• 4,100 employees
• Over 2 million customer contacts in 156 industries
• Over 3,500 leading suppliers
• Over 400,000 products stocked with access to over four million more on demand
• Global leader in legislation RoHS, WEEE, REACH

For more information, please visit www.premierfarnell.com