Corporate Express, a Buhrmann company, has recently enhanced its E-Way Internet ordering site.

Called a "significant generational step" for the Broomfield, Colo.-based office supplies distributor by Mark Hoffman, president and CEO, North American Operations, E-Way sports enhanced functionality in the following four areas:

• User friendliness. A new intuitive user interface provides a look and feel similar to that of business-to-consumer sites yet maintains business-to-business functionality. Also added are such features as teach text (which provides help on each page of the site), and save user ID (which solves one of the more frequently asked question by users, that of what to do in case of a lost password). Other enhancements in this area include electronic forms (including contact customer service and returns), shopping lists and customization (ability to add customer specific information such as company bulletins, home pages and help).
• Search capability. Enhanced key word search allows users to arrive at a desired product faster (from several different directions). Also added are a manufacturer index, global search feature (to search the entire catalog from any page on the site), product accessory finder (that locates related products like toner for printers), product symbols (identifies minority and women-owned businesses, EarthSaver products and others) and order history (allowing for search of previously ordered items).
• Real-time access to information. Online reporting feature provides ability to view, print or download purchasing reports of all transactions (including those made over the telephone and facsimile). Also enhanced: online billing (allowing users to print and download all invoices and statements), online pricing and inventory availability (ability to view number of products available in the warehouse when viewing item detail).
• Spend controls. Customers now have ability to set and track spending limits by users. Also added: prioritized searches, an enhanced shared shopping list (which limits the number of items users may order), catalog access control and approval/workflow routing.

Hoffman says the enhancements are based on feedback and surveys of customers. With about 500,000 registered users, E-Way gives customers access to more than 50,000 products in its intuitive online catalog. Online sales are expected to reach $1 billion by the end of 2002.