Saying it wants to provide the customers with the right tools, SAF Holland launched Aftermarket Parts on Demand (POD) electronic catalog today during Heavy Duty Aftermarket Week in Las Vegas.

Juan Hernandez, international marketing and sourcing manager for SAF Holland’s Aftermarket Business Unit, says the catalog contains 15 years of data about every product the company has sold. Distributors have access to 15,000 assembly numbers along with their respective component parts and exploded views. “We got every bit of information from our engineers, our salespeople and our customer support people so we can help our customers help their customers save time. And when they are saving time, they are also saving money.”

POD enables distributors to: find precise parts information, check on pricing and availability, download parts manuals, acquire warranty information, determine size and weight and order on line.

A user ID and password are required to access POD. Users can search using a variety of criteria. Exploded view photos can be enlarged so users can see exactly which component is needed. By clicking on the component, the parts counterperson will get the exact part number, which is often something the fleet does not have.

Hernandez says “POD is a work in progress” and that the company is working on adding cross-referencing capabilities, developing the tool for the Canadian market and designing a similar system that will include list price and parts availability information for use by fleets

A mobile version will be available as an app in the second quarter of 2015.

Carl Mesker, vice president – Aftermarket Americas for SAF Holland, kicked off the press conference by talking about some recent initiatives the company has taken. It launched a separate customer service team to handle inquiries from its aftermarket customers. In addition a dedicated aftermarket sales team was formed, its print parts catalogue was updated and expanded and a distribution center in Cincinnati, Ohio was established and dedicated to the company’s aftermarket customers.

“Four years ago SAF Holland made a commitment to serve the needs of our aftermarket customers,” Mesker says. “POD is a powerful initiative to grow the Aftermarket Business as a leader in aftermarket parts for suspension, fifth wheel, landing gear and coupling products.”