Before the site was launched, customers ordered via fax, and Cisco's records show that one in three faxes was rejected due to errors. With a minimum lag time of 24 hours, multiplied by the number of resubmitted orders, customers experienced at least three days' processing time. But that's all changed. The Cisco Connection Online site now makes it impossible to enter an order with mistakes. For example, when using CCO to order a router for domestic or international installation, online buyers are prompted to specify the correct electrical interface.
Cisco can provide a delivery date within one hour of the submittal.
After that, CCO integrates the order with a back-end Oracle manufacturing package. Furthermore, benefits are not limited to order and payment transactions. The site provides online documentation, order updates, design tools and help-desk support. Cisco delivers the tools to cut the time required for negotiating contracts, determining pricing, calculating lead times, checking on status and verifying shipment dates. Customers can track orders, payments, reconciliation of returns against invoices, and the status on their line of credit.