Author
James Donovan
For decades, our industry has relied on large ‘doorstop’ catalogs from product manufacturers and distributors, for customers and partners to wade through to find the right solutions. The main issue with this approach was the amount of paper and printing it consumed, plus the fact that the catalog was usually out of date by the time it reached the street.
In recent years, web based catalogs such as CommScope's eCatalogs have enabled much more useful search capabilities to ease the route through all the data, coupled with being real-time to improve accuracy. However it usually meant users were on a PC or laptop to access. With the advent of smart devices, tablets and phones, users want all the features of these electronic catalogs but on the move.
CommScope has created an application, or app, for Apple iPads and iPhones that enables users to quickly find products and solutions. The app, named cCatalog®, allows customers to be fully mobile. No longer do they have to be in front of their computers to get product information.
We believe it to be the first of its kind in our industry and even prior to any promotion in the marketplace, close to 250 people have downloaded the app from the online Apple storeas of the end of September. It illustrates the widening use of the web by all types of users.
What does the cCatalog have to offer users? First and foremost, mobility. Via their iPhones and iPads, users can access product information anytime and anywhere they choose. They can also access CommScope’s blogs, press releases and videos on YouTube.
The app’s Twitter and Facebook functionality enables users to share with others information they find. And the project list feature lets them build a list of products they need for specific projects, similar to a shopping cart feature that other sites have.
This is just the beginning of our foray into the world of mobile apps that will hopefully make it easier to do business with CommScope, so please give us your feedback to help us with this journey.
