In reference to the Web site, senior VP and CIO Ronald Griffin stated, We re not competing with our existing business, we re complementing it. Atlanta-based United Parcel Service Inc., has weight and size restrictions on what it will carry, meaning items such as large appliances, drywall or lumber online aren t available for delivery. On April 26,2001, online selling was extended to all customers in the 48 states in the continental United States with a selection of 20,000 items. Its complete 50,000 items are offered to shoppers in San Antonio, Texas and in Las Vegas. The site contains how-to sections for building, repairing, installing, gardening, and decorating.
Customers take a hands-on approach to purchasing home improvement merchandise.
For instance, a carpenter will want to get the feel of a hammer or drill before buying it, which the Internet obviously doesn t allow. It offers flexible, extensible, scalable solutions for relationships, whether it is with customers, employees, partners, or suppliers. The software allows the company to tailor relevant information for each individual based on real-time information that it gathers. The Home Depot has also deployed the Verity K2 Toolkit to provide online customers with advanced information retrieval. Verity s technology provides precise and accurate e-commerce search and retrieval.