APD Transmission Parts Actively Selling Online

APD Transmission Parts e-Catalog, created by Soflex Online, has gone live, and is now accepting online orders. History was in the making when Steve Runion, owner of STR Transmission Repair, Inc. placed the first online order. STR has been doing business in Woodstock Georgia for twelve years.

“The e-Catalog is fantastic, it’s a real easy parts lookup and ordering system, and it’s obvious a lot of work has gone into this” Steve said. “Information can be accessed in so many ways such as by Vehicle, Manufacturer, Transmission and Part number, I think its great”. The ability to order after hours, even from home, when it is less stressful, allows him to take the time to see what he needs. This fact is very appealing.

“I want to see us all embrace technology and elevate the public opinion of our industry” Steve said. “The general public perceives us as grease monkeys and high school dropouts, and I feel that this will help change that opinion. Take someone with an electronic transmission, it makes him feel better about leaving his car with us when he comes in and sees us using computers. Customers are more willing to pay the price that the job is worth when they feel they are getting more for their dollars. APD is the first, but I think the industry will follow”.

He also stated that because the e-Catalog promotes use of the correct terminology and numbering system, it would drastically reduce ordering errors. “The direct link to Transonline is also great, in an instant you are linked to unlimited technical information. When asked if he thinks online ordering is the wave of the future, Steve responded “Oh yes, its here”.

APD’s e-Catalog provides exploded view illustrations with hot spots for each part. Specific model year variations and detailed textual information are also provided. The site provides a context sensitive link to the Transonline Web site, which offers builders quick access to relevant technical information.

Michael Habif, president of APD, reports that online ordering at the company’s Web site has been a big hit among the customers who have tried it thus far. Transmission shops simply log on to www.apdtransmission.com after requesting a password from the company. Michael noted that “with the wealth of technical information on line, shops are finding they are using the Web with increasing frequency. The new online catalog is a logical extension of the industry catalog pioneered by APD and enables shops instant access to a database of over 15,000 part numbers.” Michael also commented that more shops are investing in high-speed access lines such as DSL to improve the flow of information they access on the Web. The online ordering site is especially appealing to the company’s export accounts that operate in multiple time zones, and to shop owners who prefer to order parts after the close of regular shop hours.

Additional distributors currently preparing to begin selling online include Mid States Transmission Parts, Oklahoma Transmission Supply, Future Transmission Parts, and Wesco Transmission Parts.

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