Kawasaki Construction Selects Bell & Howell's Web-Based Product Support Solutions
WOOSTER, Ohio--May 7, 2001--Bell and Howell Media Solutions announced today Kawasaki Construction and Machinery Corp. of America, an industry-leading manufacturer of wheel loaders, has chosen Bell and Howell's Net-Compass Parts & Service web-based solutions to automate its product support operations.
Kawasaki will implement the Net-Compass Parts & Service applications so its more than 150 dealer locations throughout North America will have access to the most up-to-date product support information. These applications will provide Kawasaki distributors with instant access to real-time data and support for business functions such as online operators, parts and service manual searching, and bulletin notification.
The Net-Compass application suite will allow Kawasaki to reduce product support costs in the maintenance and distribution of product information, while also improving service levels and collaboration with its distributors. The Net-Compass applications will compliment Kawasaki's current Bell & Howell CD-ROM-based system that covers the company's complete loader product line..
Bell & Howell's Parts application includes a powerful, intelligent search engine that eliminates wading through thousands of pages of texts and enables dealers to find parts by full or partial number, description, remarks, serial or figure numbers, or graphics - all in a matter of seconds. The Service applications also makes it easy for distributors to search quickly for the appropriate service manuals and other related documents to aid in servicing customers' equipment.
"The first step in our Internet strategy is to provide our dealers with quick and easy online access to product support information and eventually expanding that capability to our dealers' customers," said Wayne Powell, product support manager of Kawasaki Equipment. "The implementation of these web-based applications helps us with this goal and we expect Bell & Howell's full line of electronic commerce solutions to play a key role in our long-term Internet strategy."
"We are excited that the premier manufacturer of wheel loaders is implementing our Net-Compass applications," said Roy W. Olivier, vice president of Sales and Marketing for Bell and Howell. "Their selection of Net-Compass to launch their online product support program further validates our position as the industry-leading provider of electronic commerce product support solutions."
About Kawasaki Construction Machinery Corp.
Kawasaki Construction Machinery Corp. of America, a division of Kawasaki Heavy Industries, is a leading supplier of a full range of high-quality wheel loaders. Kawasaki is the oldest ongoing manufacturer of rubber-tired wheel loaders in the world with more than 35 years of proven performance history. Kawasaki-articulated wheel loaders incorporate innovative design features, coupled with extensive knowledge and experience gained from real-world applications. Kawasaki loaders are assembled at the company's modern facilities in Newnan, Ga. Service and support operations are headquartered in Kennesaw, Ga. For more information, visit Kawasaki's website at: http://www.kawasakiloaders.com.
About Bell & Howell
Headquartered in Ann Arbor, Mich., Bell & Howell Company is a leading information solutions and services provider to industries worldwide. In each of its businesses, the company transforms information through software and services, helping its customers operate more effectively and efficiently. The Media Solutions Division is a world leader in understanding the problems of manufacturers from industries such as construction, mining equipment, and material handling, and provides the product support solutions to meet the unique product support needs of those markets. Media Solutions delivers a suite of integrated e-commerce product support solutions that are designed to make a manufacturer's parts and aftermarket business run more efficiently and profitably. These solutions include: Parts, Service, Warranty, Sales Configurator and CODE. For more information about the products of Bell & Howell Media Solutions, visit their website at www.msi-usa.com.