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Progressive Distribution Extends Web Services

"More and more companies are searching for a comprehensive approach for selling direct to consumers." commented John McGovern, President of Progressive Distribution Services, Inc. "Our clients have increasingly benefited from the integration provided in our proprietary suite of fulfillment services combined with our web hosting and site development capabilities. The investments we have continued to make in our data center further differentiate Progressive Distribution from other outsourcing alternatives. By improving the speed and dependability of our data center, combined with the power and flexibility of OrderLink(sm), we believe we have created a unique blend of services that allow our clients to succeed in both traditional and Web commerce channels."

Mr. McGovern noted that for clients that do their own web development, the improvements to the data center also enhance the effectiveness of Progressive Distribution's programming interface FrontRunner. As a real-time API, FrontRunner offers web developers a set of tools to plug-in their e-store, shopping carts and order forms, including real-time access to inventory, order information and shipment tracking data.

Progressive Distribution noted recent data center enhancements include the following:

• Significantly increased capacity in both processing speed and data storage
• Installation of clustered web content servers with automatic load balancing capabilities 
• Migration of all Client transaction databases to servers with high capacity RAID 5 disk arrays, always on hot spare drives, and redundant power supplies 
• Improved power reliability via additional uninterrupted power supplies and the installation of a high-capacity standby generator currently under completion 
• Expanded 24/7 monitoring of all systems and network connections 
• Increased voice and data communication capacity via additional dedicated T-1 lines 
• Improved web site management - clients can manage and change their web sites in real-time from their own location

The expanded data center allows Progressive Distribution to more tightly integrate web sales channels with customer service and fulfillment processes. Through OrderLink, Progressive can deliver a turnkey e-commerce and fulfillment resource for companies who want to leverage the potential of the internet without creating a massive internal structure to manage order processing, customer service, credit card billing, warehousing, and shipping. OrderLink customers include companies in numerous channels of distribution: catalogers, national retailers, direct marketing companies, continuity marketing companies, manufacturers, and Associations.

Founded in 1984, Progressive Distribution Services offers a range of fulfillment services - from call center, order processing, and customer service to warehousing distribution, refunds/returns/exchanges, and database/list management. The company is based in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Source: Progressive Distribution - Nov 2001

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