I think yes we are ready to follow this eco-friendly movement. I looked into my drawer to check out the last digi-key catalog. Even though it is very well organized if you want to search a specific spare part it is a bit messy the paper version. Also the 1168 pages of the catalog contributes making the search process difficult. I believe that it will be much better with the on-line catalog.
You're absolutely right to bring up the assumption that Digi-Key must have researched or surveyed its audience before making the move. You don't make a sweeping change of this magnitude without having some objective data to justify it. Bright ideas don't always turn into successful actions!
I think the paperless trail will continue to expand, and that's just fine as it only speeds the process of procurement and inventory management. It also opens up intriguing possibles for secure JIT and replenishment contract services...digitally speaking that is.
I think we are definitely ready for the changeover. As it is right now most companies offer both versions. Generally the print version is going to end up in a drawer, on a shelf or in the recycle bin. Why not help the environment by not printing them in the first place. In todays age most of the people doing purchasing, business or personal, have access to a computer and generally do their ordering online anyways.
I am ready for the change over. On-line catalogs with their search capability make putting your fingers on exactly what is available much easier. Even in the consumer world, I can't believe companies spend so much money on catalogs that just go into recycling. When I want to buy something, I go online and search for it.
Usually I buy my more expensive parts from them (FGA), but recently I have been using other suppliers, specifically because the Digi-Key web interface is so poor.
In some cases it resembles something from the late 90's
I don't mind using the web for ordering and processing parts, but it would be nice if such interfaces were a little cleaner, the Maxim one for example is obviously designed for hardcore engineers, in fact we could say that the Maxim site is 'a shrine to click boxes and sliders', it resembles some sort of web based front end for a piece of complex test equipment.
Is this sort of web ordering /part interface system the result of web designers and engineers conferring or is it a direct result of the web designers trying to shoehorn too much data into the browser window?
When any company decides to take such a significant step, as to moving catalogues and order systems from paper to the Browser window, then they really need to consider the result far more carefully.
Well HC, thnx for details reported in outlining topics and opinions as feedback about article from Barbara. I was doing some thinking in the following senses: paperless is a matter discussed so far; it was about office automation, integration between fax and mail and so on. Believe or not paperless is not strong implemented especially speaking about day-by-day life, procedures from Public Administrations and so on and picture is various and depending or regions (Latam, Northen Europe, MiddleEast, Asiapac). Could Govs all together push and speed up paperless advent definitely or finally end users are in charge of its adoption?
They are tightly integrated, web interfaces and 'paperless offices' or paperless order processing, in-fact a true paperless system extends far beyond the boundaries of the office fax and photocopier.
Long gone are the days of custom applications written in C++ or other such languages,where users needed to load software/specialized apps into their computer system before being able to join into the 'paperless' office.
Since such systems have expanded beyond the bounds of the 'majority' computer systems (MS) there is a requirement for a highly refined and understandable layout format to communicate information.
what better medium that a web browser to act as the portal to such systems. (we can say that everyone with a computer has a web browser, and in fact most other digital devices are capable of handling the the various incarnations of data available.)
However many 'paper-less' implementations are designed incorrectly,that are only capable of handling certain fixed format screen layouts (try taking a look at digi-key, maxim on a portable device), other implementations have usually been hacked onto the outside of the system as new devices/technologies have become available.
As a result too many check boxes/sliders/ tables become difficult to layout correctly on portable systems, not to mention that every single byte of layout data has to be transmitted over what ever medium is being used to connect the systems,(imagine an order system that needs to transmit several hundred K of data to a portable device, so that the user can reply back with an order consisting of several hundred bytes), on mobile devices you pay for the bandwidth, both financially and time wise then imagine that user stuck some place in the middle of a poor network coverage area.
These are the things that many of these systems do not take into account.
Thanks HC--this is the kind of feedback that really helps. I know Digi-Key--as are other catalogs--is very conscious of ease of doing business and have therefore eliminated a lot of registration information a volume distributor may ask for to set up a volume production system. To me, a fully-integrated systems would have as few steps as possible, although a certain amount of information has to be input by the engineer.
This is a bold move for Digi-Key which is usually pretty conservative about major chnages, although they always are thinking one step ahead in terms of what their customers need. Initially, I was a littel surprised, but I have no doubt this decision was made with a lot of customer feedback. What I wonder, is, will users have someone else's catalog on hand while they are working on the Digi-Key site? And does that matter as long as Digi-Key gets the order?
even Jornals that used to come in printed form now have options to e-book version only.
I agree that some will like to still have hard copies, but since they are just catalogs, i think going completely paperless isn't so bad. its not like a newspaper or a magazine.
I don't know if DigiKey ran an opinion pole on this first, but i believe they will have wide support. Design engineers have alife that is completely PC based so it make little difference.
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