Distributors have a multitude of complex products that have traditionally been made available in a physical parts catalog.
But as the industry shifts digitally, customers are searching for a way to identify the part they need online. They don’t want to call someone and then have that person rifle through pages of a physical catalog. That’s where the electronic parts catalog comes in. An e-catalog gives customers up-to-date information, increases efficiency, and simplifies the purchasing process. It transforms the online experience, and the best part is distributors already have the information they need to implement one.
Distributors and aftermarket organizations possess massive amounts of data and information about their products. Whether from bills of materials stored in the ERP system or technical publications manuals, this information is readily available and can be used to create an e-catalog. The engineering department will also likely have 2D and/or 3D assembly drawings that can be repurposed to create a richer interactive online experience. Customers will be able to select a part from a visual assembly to get the right part number and product information to confidently identify what needs to be quoted or ordered.
If all of this data is already in an ERP system, it can seamlessly integrate into a digital solution so that customers don’t need to worry about supersession, obsolescence or ordering the wrong part. So while this process may seem complicated, distributors already possess the tools they need to make it a success. It’s about leveraging these tools, recognizing that this is what buyers want and taking the steps to make it a reality.
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Distribution customers don’t have time to waste when they want to make a purchase. In their most urgent times, they need parts quickly and they want the most effortless way possible to get them. A digital parts catalog provides up-to-date information about both price and availability. There’s no more having to call or email to find out if something is available or what it costs. If the price changes on something, that information is automatically updated and prevents potential errors or misunderstandings. All the information they could need is available instantly and at their fingertips.
