E-store a focus for 2003.

• Position: Advertorial

Equipment World Inc. is continually improving on customer service through electronic means, while at the same time not forgetting that business can still be done on a handshake or on the back of a napkin, which is what has allowed them to "grow side by side" with neighbouring customers.

Providing specific electronic services to industrial, commercial, retail and institutional sectors has always been Equipment World's focus, says Fred Buchy, Branch Manager for the Sudbury-based operation.

E-commerce strategies are one of the company's priorities for the coming year.

In 2004 they are looking to implement new systems that would allow receiving and ordering of goods to become more efficient for their industrial clients.

"Some of our major industry customers have immediate requirements for e-commerce on their procurement systems," Buchy explains.

"We are being specific to the needs that those customers present to us, while at the same time being broad enough to accommodate all of our grassroots customers as well," he explains.

Equipment World has a presence in all sectors, says Buchy. This is increasingly evident when one looks at the cross-section of businesses serviced by Equipment World's office in Sudbury, each of which has an alliance with Equipment World.

Through broader use of their Web site, Buchy plans to identify other ways in which businesses can obtain easier access to products and services. The company is looking into setting up an e-store where clients can purchase goods by clicking on the shopping cart.

"E-commerce is almost like a general store out there where people can give you a model number or product code and order it."

A recent interaction with a client is a good example of the flexibility and convenience of e-business, says Buchy.

"Our sales people recently met on-site with a customer who placed a request for a certain type of product. Not only did Equipment World have it in stock, the sales person also showed the customer, through a Web site video, how it worked, and then directed the client to the downloadable operator's manual...