ProSys Information Systems launched a B2B e-procurement site called BizXchange in 2002 and needed a catalog management solution to provide quality product content quickly. Using CNET Channel's DataSource enabled ProSys to launch on time with detailed, high-quality product information. DataSource continues to be a key part of BizXchange's success by ensuring customers have accurate product comparisons. ProSys plans to leverage DataSource's global capabilities as it expands internationally.

1. “With DataSource, we know that our catalog content is taken care of so we are able to focus on
other features that our customers need. It certainly is easier now to manage data.”
— Chase Champagne
Director of Software Development, ProSys Information Systems
Customer Profile
ProSys Information Systems Employs CNET Channel
DataSource™ to Go-to-Market Quickly with BizXchange™
ProSys Information Systems was founded in April 1997 by Michelle Champagne says that CNET Channel provided strong support during the
Clery and Bruce Keenan. The company, based in Norcross, Georgia, is implementation phase of the project. “Whenever we needed help, they
a leading reseller of personal computer products and provides a range of were there.”
high-end IT services such as consulting, network design, implementa-
tion, and support. BizXchange, is a Web-based e-procurement tool that features a
customized online catalog. Companies that purchase products through
In 2002, the management at ProSys decided to launch a B2B venture. BizXchange are able to automate their procurement processes without
The goal was to develop a Web site that would offer IT and consumer expending capital on expensive software and hardware infrastructure.
electronics products from leading distributors to corporate customers, The site offers attributes supported by CNET Channel’s DataSource,
and would provide both national and international service and delivery including product searches, shopping cart capabilities, order entry, order
options. Additionally, ProSys wanted a flexible solution that would enable status, tracking information, and standard reporting capabilities.
its customers to reduce the costs of purchasing computer systems. What
was needed was an e-commerce site that would help the company’s For the BizXchange site, ProSys has partnered with seven different
customers develop a standardized computing platform and purchase all distributors and is able to offer its customers a single source for all of the
the components for it. peripherals required for their needs. ProSys maintains excellent relations
with hardware manufacturers and acts as a liaison between the manu-
“We were in a position where we needed to come up with e-procurement facturers and BizXchange customers to help them negotiate pricing.
capabilities, and we needed to do it quickly,” says Chase Champagne,
Director of Software Development at ProSys. “We wanted to be able to
provide detailed information on our products, and we needed the ability
to continually add more products and features to our Web site. We were
At a Glance
working with one company, which was providing us with product data.
But we weren’t satisfied with their solution,” he says. “The bottom line is Company: ProSys Information Systems
that, when customers come to our site to look for products, the quality Website: www.prosysis.com
needs to be there. We need to be able to show the product and all its Headquarters: Norcross, GA (U.S.)
features so our customers can make good decisions about the products Founded: 1997
they’re purchasing from us.”
Employees: 200
During the process of developing its B2B e-commerce site, BizXchange,
ProSys discovered CNET Channel. “We were in a real time crunch, Summary of Challenges: ProSys Information Systems
trying to get this system going,” says Champagne. “We learned about was in the process of launching a B2B purchasing site and
CNET Channel, and realized that using DataSource would mean we needed to deliver a quality experience to users. Instead of
could get going right away, and that we could do so without having to dedicating a staff to developing a catalog management
dedicate a staff to keeping up with all the new products offered by
manufacturers.”
system, the company looked outside to find a solution
partner that could deliver content, and could do so quickly.
Content Quality Matters Most
Early on, ProSys recognized the need for quality content and presenta-
Summary of Results: CNET Channel’s DataSource
tion, and that led them to the decision to switch from another catalog enabled ProSys to launch BizXchange, a leading eProcure-
service to DataSource. “With the competitor’s product, we might have ment site, in 2002. ProSys plans to take advantage of
been able to deliver our B2B site on time, but it would have been ugly. DataSource’s global features and functions that will speed
With DataSource, we delivered on time and the site presented very well responsiveness to customers around the world while
to our users,” says Champagne. offering the quality user experience they’ve come to expect.
While ProSys staff members were building BizXchange, they began
using another CNET Channel solution — ChannelOnline — to build
TM
quotes for customers. Available over the Web as an affordable
subscription service, ChannelOnline addresses the unique business
needs of small to mid-size VARs.

2. BizXchange specializes in procuring hard-to-find products, and uses
DataSource to source product from many different suppliers to ensure
that its corporate customers always have the products they require.
BizXchange currently takes advantage of 1.25 million SKUs, and 1,000
custom-built SKUs, all maintained and delivered by DataSource.
“No doubt about it, DataSource is a key component of our success,” he
adds. “When users come to our site, they are shopping for a product.
They want to be able to read detailed information, be able to compare
products, and see pictures. The bottom line is that our site faces our
customers, and the quality needs to be there. With DataSource, we are
assured of that quality.”
Next on the Agenda: Going Global!
ProSys has big plans in store for BizXchange. “At the time we took on
DataSource, we never even considered going global,” says Champagne.
“But now that we’re growing and venturing into globalization, we’re very
happy to know that CNET Channel has that global capability and
experience and that DataSource works in multiple languages. It means
that we will be saved from having to worry about tasks we otherwise
would have had to contend with, and that gives us great peace of mind."
About ProSys Information Systems
ProSys Information Systems was founded in April 1997 by Michelle Clery
and Bruce Keenan to provide its customers a flexible reseller of personal
computer products and to incorporate a national presence. ProSys is a ProSys Information Systems' B2B Web site, BizXchange
is powered with CNET Channel product information
woman-owned minority business with offices in Atlanta, Miami, Boca
Raton, Tallahassee, Birmingham, Raleigh, Nashville and Memphis. A
strong believer in partnering with its customers to ensure mutual success, "No doubt about it, DataSource is a key
ProSys offers unique business solutions to customer needs and treats
the customer’s customer as their own. The company offers customized component of our success. When users
solutions, makes personnel available 24 hours a day, and stocks some
products locally for immediate delivery. For more information about come to our site, they are shopping for a
ProSys Information Systems, call (888) 337-2626 in the United States or
visit www.prosysis.com product. They want to be able to read detailed
information, be able to compare products, and
About CNET Channel
see pictures. The bottom line is that our site
CNET Channel is the world's leading independent source of on-demand
product information, supporting both online catalogs and traditional sales faces our customers, and the quality needs to
with detailed content on over 2 million technology products. More than
1,000 companies in 35 global markets including Best Buy, Dell, Tech be there. With DataSource, we are assured of
Data, Actebis, CDW, Microsoft, HP, Computacenter and Yahoo! rely on that quality.”
CNET Channel to power their e-commerce platforms. In addition, the
company's ChannelOnline solution combines this data with sales, order
management, sourcing and ecommerce storefront tools to automate the — Chase Champagne
complete sales cycle for more than 2,250 VAR professionals. CNET Director of Software Development, ProSys Information Systems
Channel is a subsidiary of CNET Networks (NASDAQ: CNET).
CNET Channel
Corporate Headquarters
235 Second Street
San Francisco, CA 94105 USA
Toll-Free 1.877.276.5560
Tel 415.344.2000
www.cnetchannel.com
CNET Channel, DataSource and Transactive Product Data are trademarks of CNET Networks. All other company and product
names may be trademarks of their respective owners. Copyright © 2005 CNET Networks. All rights reserved.