Avnet Applied Computing Solutions Selects StreetSmarts to Enhance Sale

Avnet Applied Computing Solutions Selects StreetSmarts to Enhance Sales Productivity

    Business Editors/High-Tech Editors

    PHOENIX--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 31, 2005--

StreetSmarts Provides Immediate Access to Critical Sales Knowledge Information and Resources
    Involve Technology(TM) Inc., the market makers in Sales Knowledge Automation technology, today announced that Avnet Applied Computing Solutions, a division of Avnet Inc. (NYSE:AVT), has chosen StreetSmarts(TM) to enhance its sales teams' ability to share knowledge and experiences, and identify subject matter experts within the division. Avnet Applied Computing Solutions is using StreetSmarts as a central resource to enable the sharing of sales insights and best practices among its team. StreetSmarts complements Avnet Applied Computing Solutions' existing CRM and intranet solutions to provide insight on the "hows" of selling. Avnet Applied Computing Solutions' implementation of StreetSmarts includes answers and information on product details, services programs, competitive insights, sales processes and tactics, and responses to everyday sales questions.
    "Avnet Applied Computing Solutions selected StreetSmarts because of its ease of use, the minimal amount of time required to manage the system and the simplicity of loading relevant content. With StreetSmarts, we are providing a great tool for our sales team to help them share best practices through a Web-based interface or e-mail program, and we were able to roll out the solution within 30 days," said Charlie Babb, vice president, Avnet Applied Computing Solutions. "This tool is also beneficial to our sales support team, who now only have to answer questions once, and sales reps will have access to these responses at their fingertips."
    "StreetSmarts expands upon current CRM and Sales Force Automation systems by providing access to the 'how' of selling. Organizations use StreetSmarts to give their sales teams a way to share their knowledge and experiences, and draw from company experts immediately, anytime from anywhere," said Lisa Cramer, president and chief operating officer of Involve Technology.
    "StreetSmarts allows Avnet Applied Computing Solutions' sales organization to get the answers they need quickly, and marketing and management teams are able to support sales in real-time without answering the same questions repeatedly. We're really pleased to have earned the right to include Avnet Applied Computing Solutions as a StreetSmarts customer."

    StreetSmarts Overview

    StreetSmarts is a fully Web-based Sales Knowledge Automation technology that works through e-mail to capture, manage and deliver essential sales knowledge and experiences for sales reps ... anytime, anywhere. An embedded incentive system motivates sales reps and experts to use and contribute sales knowledge to improve the performance of the entire sales team. StreetSmarts is driven by a variety of configurable items and management of the system is automated and doesn't require IT resources. StreetSmarts is scalable from dozens to thousands of users and works in conjunction with a company's CRM/SFA system, e-mail system, and intranet.
    StreetSmarts delivers a completely different, yet complementary set of features and functions from SFA/CRM and intranets. It uniquely addresses and solves many of the problems faced by sales and marketing organizations such as: reducing the sales cycle, ramping new reps, and increasing productivity of existing reps and reducing time spent answering the same questions over again.

    About Avnet Applied Computing Solutions

    Avnet Applied Computing Solutions focuses on the unique requirements of computing original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), independent software vendors, and value-added resellers looking to get embedded systems or wireless and data collection solutions to market quickly. By partnering with Avnet Applied Computing Solutions to provide engineering, integration, logistics and support services, your company can focus on developing innovative solutions for your customers more quickly and profitably than your competition. Avnet Applied Computing Solutions leverages the supply-chain leadership and global presence of parent company Avnet Inc. (NYSE:AVT) to provide its customers with the world-class supply-chain management, financing and distribution capabilities that help them be "First to Market(TM)." For more information, visit http://www.acs.avnet.com or call 877-ASK-AVNET.

    About Involve Technology Inc.

    Involve Technology is the market leader in Sales Knowledge Automation solutions which enable companies to sell more effectively while reducing sales support time and costs. It does this by allowing sales teams to share their knowledge and experiences as well as draw from company experts immediately, anytime from anywhere. The company's flagship product is StreetSmarts, which focuses the power of Involve Technology's thinking to help sales teams close deals more easily.
    For more information, visit the company's Web site at www.involvetechnology.com or call 800-997-9098 in the United States or 602-953-7711 outside the United States.

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CONTACT: Involve Technology Inc., Phoenix KC DeKorte, 602-953-7781 kcdekorte@involvetechnology.com or Avnet Technology Solutions Michelle Gorel, 480-794-6943 michelle.gorel@avnet.com or Brodeur, for Avnet Sonia Bovio, 602-808-1164 sbovio@brodeur.com

KEYWORD: ARIZONA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: HARDWARE TELECOMMUNICATIONS SOFTWARE NETWORKING PRODUCT SOURCE: Involve Technology Inc.

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