WINDHOEK – DB Space has gone online in Namibia enabling clients of the distribution company of networking equipment to the ICT and telecommunications industries to get cost estimates and order stock through the web. The online store has been up and running for about two months and the response to this service has been positive.
“All the products on our shelves can be ordered online,” says Philip Galliano, owner of DB Space. “A huge effort has been made to ensure that the photographs and descriptions of items are as accurate as possible and to make it even easier, our clients can search for them by category, product name or part number,” he adds. Another feature of the service is that product manuals can also be downloaded from the site and the number of items in stock is clearly displayed.
The site allows clients to either get cost estimates of the items for sale at the DB Space warehouse in Daimler Street in the Southern Industrial Area in Windhoek, or they can place the order online. The benefits of getting a cost estimate online include being able to browse through a broader spectrum of products and product extensions as well as being in a position to put together costs on projects independently and quickly. “We update our stock before eight in the morning and then again at one o’clock,” Galliano says.
“Our last update for the day is done at five in the afternoon and the levels of stock are reasonably accurate for anybody wanting to work after hours.” For clients who actually buy online, they simply add items to their shopping cart and once the purchase is complete, the system generates an order by email to DB Space and to the customer. Staff then gather the stock that has been ordered, an invoice is generated and the stock is dispatched to the client. Presently, the service is available to clients who have accounts at DB Space only.
According to Galliano, about 20 percent of his high-value clients use the service frequently and find that it works effectively and efficiently. “This new system makes my life a lot easier,” says Carsten Engelhardt, owner of Multi Media and client of DB Space.
“I run a small business, so having access to the store online after hours and over weekends makes a huge difference to how I work.” He goes on to add: “What is good is that I can see what they have in stock and if there is something I need that is not there, I can always request that they order it for me.”
By Staff Reporter