Do it Best Makes Information Week 500

Do it Best Corp., a hardware, lumber and building materials buying cooperative from Fort Wayne, Ind., recently ranked 248th on the 18th annual, 2006 Information Week 500, for its use of leading-edge technology. This list, selected by the magazine's editors, includes what it considers to be the nation's most innovative IT organizations among companies with at least $500 million in annual revenue.

The company says it made several key investments in technology this year, that it says were designed to help increase efficiencies at the corporate level and help members streamline their backroom operations. The co-op launched an enhanced website with a member portal that it says provides real-time access to news and product and program information, as well as interactive tools to help members run their businesses. Do it Best Corp. also says it increased data processing speed and improved access to critical files in its primary storage unit. The co-op says these investments result in an extended deadline for orders, which gives its members more flexibility in planning inventory changes.