Datrontech opens online service

Datrontech UK launched its ecommerce site in Birmingham under police guard today. The distributor was aiming to net between 15 and 20 per cent of its business via the Datrontechonline.com site by the end of the year, said newly appointed MD James Morgan. However, the half million pound investment drew the attention of more than just passing punters at today's Computer Trade Show in Birmingham. When The Register arrived at the stand, the demonstration and kit appeared to be under scrutiny by two Boys in Blue, who were "just passing" according to Morgan. The online service, which will target Datrontech's 4,000 resellers in the UK, is the first time the distributor has offered to sell components over the Web. But there is a reason for this late start, according to Morgan. "Resellers still haven't really adopted the Internet in this field yet," he said. "For some of the broadliners, the driving force for ecommerce is to take off costs. But this means the major benefits are for the distributor, not the customer." According to Morgan, Datrontechonline.com will be more useful for future than present business. And as he rightly confided out of earshot of the Old Bill, "There's also more value attached to a business if it's an Internet company." ®