Hewlett Packard cuts delivery time of bespoke PCs

Hewlett Packard has slashed the delivery time of its PCs ahead of arch-rivals IBM and Compaq so resellers can receive tailored Vectra line models within 48 hours rather than up to 15 days.

The company is extending a PC configuration-to-order scheme across Europe, following a successful two-year trial with Northamber and Actebis.

It said resellers would see a four-fold increase in the number and range of available models, and a reduction in costs.

?We are taking out inefficiencies of the supply chain so we?re in better touch with real demand. It will help the whole gamut of resellers from corporate to Vars,? said HP European marketing manager Ian Whittaker.

Denying that last year?s French lorry strike had exposed the firm, Whittaker said the efficiency boost was in response to booming business.

Northamber said its configuration capability had contributed to a rise in HP PC sales of more than 1,000 a month, over the past two years.

?What you see is what you get. It?s about giving the customer exactly what they want,? said Northamber marketing director Loay Lawrence.