Empire Machinery & Supply

An Activant Trading Partner Connect Success Story

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Activant B2B Seller Gives Distributor Online Presence in 31 Days

Empire Machinery & Supply Corporation has long been know for its progressive approach to technology, so when its customers started asking for a customer service-oriented Web site, the company was quick to respond.

Empire, along with technology partner Activant, designed, implemented, and went live with an Activant B2B Seller Web site, www.empiremachinery.com, in 31 days.

Empire Machinery was founded in 1914 on the waterfront in downtown Norfolk, VA. Originally supplying products to local industries - lumber and paper mills as well as the shipbuilding and ship repair business - the company now also serves large mechanical contractors, various government services, and various types of manufacturing facilities. Empire is a small independent business, locally owned and operated by the McNeal family.

Challenge:

Help a Norfolk, VA-based industrial distributor implement a customer service-oriented Web site in a short period of time

Solution:

Activant Trading Partner Connect B2B Seller

Benefits:

The new Web site was available for customer use in 31 days.
Improved customer service at a lower cost.

Rapid Implementation

Empire Machinery wanted a rapid implementation of a B2B Seller site. Empire's management team and Activant's e-business consultants worked closely to make sure everything ran smoothly and the site met everyone's expectations.

Hank Turner, Jr., president and CEO of Empire Machinery, adds, "The entire process ran quite smoothly. We are very excited about what this new offering will mean to our customers."

Improving Customer Relationships

Empire prides itself on maintaining close working relationships with its major accounts, and Turner hopes the new Web site will help facilitate those relationships. "We work continuously with our customers," says Turner. "We pay attention to detail and are very service oriented. We maintain a large inventory and large outside and inside sales force. If someone calls us at 11 p.m. at night and needs something, we will get it to him.

"Our goal with the B2B Seller site is help those accounts that don't take a lot of personal attention - such as ones who frequently order the same items or have general questions - and free up our inside sales people to focus to the customers who do need that personal attention," added Turner.

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