Avnet Named Innovator of the Year at Arizona Governor's Celebration of Innovation
PHOENIX--Avnet, Inc. (NYSE:AVT), a leading global technology distributor, was recognized as Innovator of the Year - Large Company at the Arizona Governor's Celebration of Innovation. Avnet was chosen for the results its Request-to-Order (R2O) automated order management system achieved for its vast network of value-added resellers (VARs).
The first system of its kind in the distribution industry, R2O integrates Avnet's VAR support capabilities, including solution configuration, quoting, lead-tracking and ordering information, into a single Web-enabled portal available around the clock to its VARs. The system has allowed some customers to conduct up to 95% of their business through the system which has allowed 20,000 worker hours per year to be automated, freeing employees on both sides to do higher value tasks.
'Receiving the Innovator of the Year award validates the outstanding work the Avnet Technology Solutions and Avnet Global Information Solutions groups did together to create strategic competitive advantage for Avnet as well as its customers and partners,' said Steve Phillips, chief information officer at Avnet. 'By simplifying the end-to-end order management process for VARs and providing them with invaluable market intelligence, R2O is a powerful resource. We knew we had a winning solution based on the response of our customers, but we are delighted to have our efforts recognized by the Arizona Tech Council and Arizona Department of Commerce.'
An annual event recognizing Arizona technological and business achievement as well as leadership in innovation, the Governor's Celebration of Innovation is the premier technology community gathering of its kind in Arizona. The Innovator of the Year - Large Company award is presented to an Arizona-based company or business unit generating more than $50 million in annual revenues that has achieved significant business success, technical innovation or scientific accomplishment.
The Innovator of the Year Award is the latest in a series of prestigious awards for R2O, which also put Avnet at No. 13 on the InformationWeek 500 as well as on the InfoWorld 100 lists of the nation's best users of information technology in 2005.
Additional details are available at http://www.celebration-of-innovation.com/newsdetail.aspx?newsid=34.
About Avnet, Inc.
Avnet (NYSE:AVT) enables success from the center of the technology industry, providing cost-effective services and solutions vital to a broad base of more than 100,000 customers and 300 suppliers. The company markets, distributes and adds value to a wide variety of electronic components, enterprise computer products and embedded subsystems. Through its premier market position, Avnet brings a breadth and depth of capabilities that help its trading partners accelerate growth and realize cost efficiencies. For fiscal year ended, July 1, 2006, Avnet generated revenue of $14.25 billion through sales in approximately 70 countries. Please visit www.avnet.com for more information.
About the Governor's Celebration of Innovation
The Governor's Celebration of Innovation was established in 2003 by combining two technology award ceremonies: the High Tech Industry Cluster's 17-year student awards ceremony and the Arizona Software and Internet Association's 10-year 'Celebration of Innovation.' With the addition of the Governor's support, the Governor's Celebration of Innovation has become the premier technology community gathering of its kind in Arizona. The inaugural Governor's Celebration of Innovation took place in November 2003 and was a colossal success with over 1,200 in attendance. For more information visit www.celebration-of-innovation.com.
CONTACT:
Avnet, Inc., Phoenix
Michelle Gorel, 480-643-7653 (Media)
michelle.gorel@avnet.com