Partner Press Release
Tech Data Joins RosettaNet: New organization Focuses on Optimizing E-commerce in the IT Industry

For Release June 7, 1998

C learwater -- Tech Data Corporation, a leading international distributor of technology products, today announced its support of RosettaNet, a global initiative to adopt common business processes created to advance IT supply chain interaction worldwide.

RosettaNet involves key companies in the IT supply chain who have taken responsibility for helping to define and adopt these business processes. As a RosettaNet partner, Tech Data is responsible for providing its expertise to define new business processes and to identify existing ones that should be adopted into the supply chain. Tech Data will also be responsible for promoting and implementing the agreed upon business processes through its own company and IT supply chain partners.

"E-commerce has been instrumental in making it easier and more cost effective for IT resellers and vendors to conduct business with Tech Data, and we see even greater opportunity to enhance these capabilities through the principles set forth by RosettaNet," commented Dusty Williams, Tech Data's director of electronic commerce who also serves as the distributor's RosettaNet representative. "The formation of RosettaNet comes at an opportune time as Web-based purchasing begins to take off in our industry. We are committed to working with this organization to make E-commerce as efficient and beneficial as possible to the reseller channel."

"We are very pleased to have secured executive ownership for this endeavor from such key influencers in the IT supply chain," said Fadi Chehadé, chief executive officer of RosettaNet. "This executive ownership, which stems from the clear understanding of the need for standards and their ensuing business impact, is our strongest guarantee that RosettaNet business processes will cross the chasm for specifications to widespread implementation."