New Website Delivers Critical Element of RS Components E-centric Vision Across Its Asia Pacific Markets

SINGAPORE, Sep. 6, 2011 /PRNewswire-Asia/ --RS Components (RS), the world's leading high service distributor of electronics and maintenance products and the trading brand of Electrocomponents plc (LSE:ECM), has unveiled a transformation of its websites (www.rs-components.com) that significantly enhances the online experience for its Asia Pacific customers. 

Similar to the launch of its new China website in August, RS Components' new Asia Pacific websites encompass new intelligent product search feature and superior browsing capability, giving customers faster and easier access to over 550,000 products.  The new websites have now been implemented across the region including Australia, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea and Thailand.

The new websites (www.rs-components.com) represent the latest step in a plan to put eCommerce firmly at the heart of the company's business, ensuring that RS customers enjoy the best and most relevant online experience, regardless of location or browsing device. The launch follows extensive research by RS into its customers' use of the website and takes the best examples offered by consumer websites from around the world.

The new functionality enables customers to more easily search the products that they want and to access an array of 3D CAD models. The website's enhanced search algorithm delivers more relevant content and allows customers to tailor their results in their own way. Best practice layout and navigation is used throughout the revamped website and customers are able to choose from three different views:

• List view - a large set of search results with limited technical information (default view);
• Gallery view - a large set of search results without technical information to allow users to quickly scan available products;
• Compare view - a small set of search results with full technical information.

All three viewing options allow customers to choose the way they want to experience RS Components' website: the way they want to review available products, technical information, pricing and stock availability.

Additional major enhancements include clearer pricing, instant stock availability and 'Compare View', which delivers a more intuitive product comparison.

"The enhancements made to RS China's website have greatly helped our buying processes. Searching for products online is now faster and more efficient for both engineers and procurement specialists, making the online buying experience more comprehensive. We are very happy with the changes and fully support RS Components' online initiatives," said Liu Jin Xia, Purchasing Engineer, Skyray Instrument Inc.

RS Components has consistently invested in eCommerce initiatives, both in Asia Pacific and globally. Some of these initiatives include the introduction of a fully integrated and seamless transactional website for China customers, offering Alipay's advanced escrow-based system for online payments.

"I'm very impressed with the layout of the new RS website as it's now much easier to find products, both using the improved search facility and through the clearer page layouts. The addition of the comparative viewing tool is especially helpful as I can evaluate several products in one go which will be an invaluable time saver for my business. The improved browsing capability means that I am now more aware of all the services on offer. It's obvious to me that RS has really understood what its customers require and is committed to delivering a superior online experience," stated Steve Hyman, Armourer, Armoury Services.

eCommerce is fundamental to the RS business. Alongside its website, RS offers market-leading web-based procurement solutions for small and large companies. In the financial year ended March 2011, these channels delivered sales worth £575m having grown by 37%. Over 53% of the Group's revenues are now being generated via online channels and this is set to rise further as the company delivers on its eCommerce strategy, building a £1Bn+ eCommerce business at its heart.

Marcelo Wesseler, Head of eCommerce, Asia Pacific said: "Our customers told us that they wanted better search capabilities with minimum fuss. We want to go beyond that requirement and transform their entire online experience with us. The delivery of this strategic milestone dramatically reduces the number of clicks required for customers to find new products, and enhances the look and feel of the site. We are pioneers and a global force in B2B eCommerce, having developed our first website in 1998, and are continuing in the same vein with this launch of the most advanced transactional website in our industry sector. It represents a cornerstone of our e-centric vision and an important step in delivering our eCommerce strategy."

About RS Components

RS Components is the world's leading high service distributor of electronics and maintenance products serving 1.6 million customers worldwide. Through operations in 32 countries and 17 warehouses, the Group distributes 550,000 products ranging from semiconductors and optoelectronics to power tools and protective clothing. The product and service portfolio supports the entire product lifecycle from R&D through pre-production to maintenance and repair, shipping more than 46,000 parcels on the same day the orders are received.

RS Components and Allied Electronics are the trading brands of Electrocomponents plc. The Group is listed on the London Stock Exchange and in the last financial year to 31 March 2011 had revenues of GBP1.18bn.  For more information, please visit the website at www.rs-components.com.