Chicago June 7, 2001 Audio equipment manufacturer Kenwood Americas has tapped sell-side solution provider Click Commerce to develop a private e-marketplace solution to streamline Kenwood's business operations and enhance brand awareness with its extended channel of more than 1,000 distributors, dealers and sales representatives.
Kenwood was searching for an e-commerce solution that would allow the company to gather real-time information from its channel about transactions and customers in order to optimize its supply chain while also protecting its brand equity in the home and car audio electronics market. In addition, the company's major distributors wanted access to updated information, training capabilities and demand forecasting applications online.
The manufacturer is looking to the private marketplace to leverage its brand equity, optimize information flow through its distribution channels and create a competitive advantage within its industry.
Joe Richter, president of Kenwood, said that initially his company thought it would have to replace its entire legacy system. But the Click Commerce solution will allow Kenwood to leverage its legacy systems and move many of its business processes online via a private e-marketplace. "This allows us to provide our channel partners with accurate, real-time information and commerce capabilities over the Web now while also leveraging a flexible technology platform for the future," Richter said.
The Click Commerce solution will integrate with Kenwood's back-end systems, enabling Kenwood and its entire channel to move from relying on phone and fax to employing a Web-based solution, with all the attendant potential efficiencies.
"With a distribution network as complex as Kenwood's, a channel management solution is essential to deliver the information, commerce capabilities and customer service necessary to the company's valued distribution partners," said Michael Ferro, Jr., founder and CEO of Click Commerce.
Founded in 1961, Kenwood USA Corp. is based in Long Beach, Calif., and is the largest subsidiary of Kenwood Corp. (Japan).
