July 24, 2008 04:30 AM Eastern Daylight Time 

OMRON Enhances Functionality of Industrial Automation Global Website

KYOTO, Japan--(BUSINESS WIRE)--OMRON Corporation (TOKYO:6645)(ADR:OMRNY) today announced a new product search feature with a suggest function on its industrial automation (IA) global website. The new feature, which brings up a list of product names and model numbers as users input characters into the search field, is expected to dramatically increase the site’s ease of use by reducing the time it takes to find products by approximately 80 percent.

The feature is available on the main product page of OMRON IA’s global website: http://www.ia.omron.com/product/index.html

Background

OMRON developed the new feature in response to feedback received through its IA websites around the world. The following comments are representative of the feedback received from customers and other users.

• The large number of products makes finding information confusing and difficult.
• The website has many levels; it takes too much time to reach the destination page.
• Model names are long, so it is inconvenient to have to input all the characters directly.
• We would like to see a list of models with similar specifications so that we can compare them when making selections.
• The site should allow us to search for product and category names using keywords.

The new product search feature resolves these issues by displaying a list of models that match the character string each time users input characters into the search field. This makes it possible to access low-level product pages with one click, by simply selecting the model from the list using the mouse or cursor keys.

In prerelease testing, OMRON confirmed that the time and the number of clicks required to reach the destination page were reduced to one-fifth or less than previously required. Furthermore, preexisting product pages have been improved to provide more than just specifications. They now include printer-friendly pages, links to product pages in the same category on OMRON IA websites in other countries and regions, and product inquiry forms.

Going forward, OMRON plans to introduce the same functionality on its websites in each country and region in which it does business in order to further improve efficiency for customers involved in global production.

OMRON Global Website

http://www.ia.omron.com

About OMRON

Headquartered in Kyoto, Japan, OMRON Corporation is a global leader in the field of automation. Established in 1933 and headed by President & CEO Hisao Sakuta, OMRON has over 35,000 employees in 38 countries working to provide products and services to customers in a variety of fields, including industrial automation, electronic components, social systems (ticket gate machines, ticket vending machines, and traffic control), and healthcare. For more information, visit OMRON's website at www.omron.com.