RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, NC — The MEMA Information Services (MIS) Council recently selected Robert Bosch Corp. of Broadview, Ill., as winner of the 2004 Aftermarket Web Challenge (AWC) for its extranet application Bosch Online Advantage. The annual Web competition is the aftermarket’s oldest and most recognized award for excellence in Web applications.

This year’s competition, which was held Oct. 19 in Marco Island, Fla., during the MIS Council’s annual Fall Conference, focused on business-to-business extranets. Finalists were judged by MIS Council members from leading aftermarket companies on a predetermined set of criteria, including parts catalog/ordering, promotions, return on investment and general content.

Bosch formally launched its extranet site to warehouse distributors at the 2003 AAPEX show. The company continually updated the site throughout 2004, incorporating order search features and online document retrieval.

Key highlights of the award-winning extranet application include:

* Order management, including emergency orders and order tracking,

* Product and real-time availability look-up,

* Self-service administration,

* Promotional information, and

* MyDocsOnline, a feature that enables customers to view electronic documents such as invoices, credit memos, statements and return authorizations.

The MIS Council Board of Governors selected three finalists in September 2004 based on written applications and screen shots of applicant extranet sites. Finalists were Robert Bosch Corporation, KEM Manufacturing Co. of Fairlawn, N.J., and Car Component Technologies, Inc. of Bedford, N.H. (a division of American Remanufacturers, Inc.).

“It is apparent through the number of first-rate applications submitted for the 2004 Web Challenge that many aftermarket manufacturers are seeing the value in developing extranet sites for their customers,” said Rick Bruback, IT director for Clevite Engine Parts and chairman of the MIS Council Board of Governors. “This year’s competition provided a great benchmark for aftermarket manufacturer attendees who also have developed similar extranets and for those in the planning stages.”

“One of the key attributes of the MIS Council is the sharing of information among peers on proven successes and obstacles,” said Chris Gardner, MIS Council director. “The combined presentations of the aftermarket manufacturers of varying sizes and products provide our members with real world models and ideas that can be applied to their own corporate applications.”

The MEMA Information Services Council is an industry peer group of professionals responsible for their companies’ information services operations and whose companies are members of the Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association. The council serves as a forum for information exchange on issues relating to e-commerce, Internet, EDI and information technology applications. Its annual conferences and industry committees facilitate information exchange and help the aftermarket industry develop and utilize standards for electronic commerce.

For more information, go to: www.mema.org.

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