BWI: element14 Community Provides real-time Updates and an Information Resource on Supply Chain Impact of the Japanese Emergency

Press release from Business Wire India
Source: element14
Thursday, March 17, 2011 12:20 PM IST (06:50 AM GMT)
Editors: General: Consumer interest; Business: Advertising, PR & marketing, Business services, Information technology; Technology
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element14 Community Provides real-time Updates and an Information Resource on Supply Chain Impact of the Japanese Emergency


Bangalore, Karnataka, India, Thursday, March 17, 2011 -- (Business Wire India) -- Following the recent terrible events in Japan, and the uncertain impact on the electronics supply chain element14 has created a dedicated online space at www.element14.com/japanemergency. By creating this area of the community, element14 hopes that it will fulfil a clear need by acting as a central repository for the whole electronics industry on the Japanese situation, while additionally being a conduit for information flow at this difficult time. Suppliers are posting the latest updates on the anticipated impact of the disaster by product family and device type, including likely changes to lead-times. There are also discussion threads building on the community's many forums as customers ask questions, and seek answers from suppliers and other industry representatives, in this dynamic and rapidly changing situation.

"Naturally, our suppliers' immediate concerns are for their people and families while they assess damage to their facilities. Power outages, disruption to road, sea and air transportation and communications are all adding to the confusion and our thoughts and support are very much with those affected at this time," commented Harriet Green, CEO of Premier Farnell, the organisation which provides the element14 community. "We have had many requests from customers already for information and online, interactive forums such as ours really come into their own at a time like this to provide relevant, timely updates, easily accessible from anywhere."

element14 will work with suppliers to help spread the reach of their updates as widely as possible in this constantly changing situation.

In response to requests from community members, element14 will also be posting links to some of the organisations leading the relief effort in order to help expedite support to where it is needed as quickly as possible. Employees across the Group are also actively fund-raising to support the humanitarian work and Premier Farnell has agreed to match employee donations.

element14 also wishes to send its thoughts and condolences to the people of Japan.

About element14

element14 offers more than 130,000 products for same day dispatch from our global warehouses from its three distribution hubs located in Shanghai, Singapore and Sydney. The company offers 24/7 telephone support for customers, 24/5 online technical support and catalogue sales, with a hassle-free return policy.

In India, please visit http://in.element14.com/. This eCommerce site is integrated with the Group's global online Community portal (www.element14.com).

Worldwide, element14 is the first collaborative community, research portal and eCommerce website for design engineers and electronics enthusiasts. The website provides product data, design tools, technology information and top brand components to seamlessly facilitate the design process; users can consult industry experts and collaborate with peers around the globe. element14 online Community is sponsored by Premier Farnell plc (LSE: pfl).

About Premier Farnell

Premier Farnell plc is leading the way in the high service, multi-channel provision of essential products, information, software and technology solutions to electronic design engineers, maintenance and repair engineers and purchasing professionals globally. Its differentiated proposition includes 29 local language transactional websites, and the critically important element14 electronics Community for design engineers - an industry first (www.element14.com). With sales last year of £795.3m and underlying profits of £54.8m the Group distributes its comprehensive portfolio of products and services throughout Europe, North America and Asia Pacific, supported by a global supply chain of over 3,500 suppliers and an inventory profile developed to anticipate and meet its customers' needs.

While global in scope, Premier Farnell recognises the individual needs of each market and has continued to internationalise its model accordingly, trading locally under different brand names. Its primary electronics businesses trade as Farnell in Europe, Newark in the US, Canada and Mexico and Farnell Newark in Brazil. Across Asia Pacific the business trades as element14.

Key facts

-- Operations in 35 countries
-- 4,100 employees
-- Over 2 million customer contacts in 156 industries
-- Over 3,500 leading suppliers
-- Over 400,000 products stocked with access to over four million more on demand
-- Global leader in legislation RoHS, WEEE, REACH

For more information visit the website at Premier Farnell.


CONTACT DETAILS
Christina Loh, Communications APAC, element14, + 65 6788 3922, cloh@element14.com

KEYWORDS
CONSUMER, MARKETING, BUSINESS SERVICES, IT, TECHNOLOGY

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