Website stands the test of comparison

The new RS website gives users, for the first time, the ability to compare any number of the 150,000 products in terms of cost and attributes side-by-side on a single page.

Distributor RS has made a significant investment in its online capabilities to transform the service it offers its customers.

The new website encompasses a new custom-built search engine together with redesigned functionality which gives users, for the first time, the ability to compare any number of the 150,000 products in terms of cost and attributes side-by-side on a single page.

The new website boasts much improved navigation, with better search tools and clearer presentation of results, and more information displayed on the screen, making it much faster for customers to find the products they want.

Over two million product data attributes have been added, making it easier for customers to search by features most important or relevant to themselves.

Once the right product line has been found, customers can compare the products that interest them and build instant "feature comparison tables" to assess price, size and various other product attributes.

Search results also clearly show technical information and stock availability, so choosing a product becomes much easier.

For multichannel users the website now mirrors the paper catalogue, making the product layout familiar and consistent to use, whichever medium the customer chooses.

Having undertaken extensive customer research amongst its customers, RS is confident that the new site will maintain RS' position as a leader within online purchasing.

With over one million browsers to the website each month, including more than 500,000 registered users, the RS website has become a vital part of the business, accounting for more than 25% of all orders that RS receives.

The new site has proved popular amongst RS' online customers.

Seth Proctor from Cummins Power said: "This site is by far the best I have to use to place orders, thank you for making it so easy and for doing what I believe would be impossible - improving yet further what was a brilliant site".

The new site contains detailed information on over 150,000 products, two million product data attributes, and provides customers with technical advice through over 90,000 datasheets.

Klaus Goeldenbot, RS UK General Manager said: "As more and more businesses take their procurement processes online, the RS website plays an increasingly important role in the maintenance of British industrial momentum".

"We believe that the new website keeps us at the forefront of industrial e-commerce and provides our customers with the information and tools that they need to choose the right product at the right price and specification".

"We are delighted that the significant investment we have made in our key asset has resulted in a new website that pleases our customers and keeps us at the forefront of industrial e-commerce".

As a multichannel business RS offers the customer flexible choices in ordering products from the website, the catalogue, by phone, fax or via the nationwide RS Trade Counter network.

This multichannel approach, coupled with an unrelenting commitment to service, ensures RS' position as the UK's leading industrial distributor.

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