Downers Grove, Ill.--Vertical Development Inc. has developed technology enabling aftermarket manufacturers to distribute catalog data on CD and then post updates online. As a result, manufacturers can get valuable product data into their customers' hands faster without incurring additional CD production, replication, and mailing costs.
"Controlling printing and distribution costs and improving the accuracy of published information are critical strategic initiatives for companies striving to improve service yet maintain a competitive price position," said Vertical Development President Jay Wright.
"Our new technology enables them to do both," Wright said. "An automotive CD catalog published to the Vertical Development format is a synchronized Web document that uses the Internet to update its content when needed. It saves the cost of producing and distributing additional CDs while assuring manufacturers that customers have access to the latest product information, reducing the chance of a lost sale due to missing or obsolete data."
The new technology is available on premium versions of VDI's ShowMeTheParts system for producing interactive application catalogs on CD. Easy to use, it enables manufacturers to publish CD catalogs and post updates online as often as needed. CD users can then download updates at their convenience. Once downloaded, the data are seamlessly inserted into the catalog document on the user's computer.
The new technology is an ideal solution for service centers and auto shops without high-speed Internet access.
"Unlike Web pages that require an Internet connection, a Vertical Development CD catalog is available offline, so even shops with dial-up connections can access the data in immediately," Wright said. "The only time they need an Internet connection is to download updated files."
