14 Jan ARI Links e-Catalog Deal with Outdoor Power Equipment Manufacturer
MILWAUKEE- ARI, a Wisconsin-based developer of e-Catalog business solutions that connect equipment manufacturers with their service and distribution networks, announced it has expanded its software licensing relationship with Ohio-based MTD Consumer Group, a manufacturer of products for the lawn and garden power equipment industry. MTD brands include Cub Cadet, Troy-Bilt, Yard-Man, Ryobi, Yard Machines, McCulloch and White Outdoor.
ARI will provide on-demand updates to MTD’s parts catalogs, and support a seamless, XML-based interface for both its EMPARTweb and PartSmart software tools to provide access to up-to-date parts information and enable e-Commerce. In addition, MTD has licensed EMPARTpublisher to allow them to take over control and maintenance of their information system that was developed by ARI.
“In order for MTD to realize our strategic goal to distribute electronic parts catalogs to our entire distribution network, increase efficiency, and drive our e-Commerce initiative, we needed a strong, proven partner,” said Gary Lobaza, senior vice president, service & consumer direct for MTD. According to Mr. Lobaza, EMPARTweb will expand the availability of information to more dealers as well as complement the information already accessed by over 3,000 dealers currently using PartSmart.
“EMPARTpublisher will allow MTD to streamline its publishing process to quickly and easily publish on the web or distribute catalogs via PartSmart, said Brian E. Dearing, chairman and chief executive officer of ARI.
According to Dearing, under the new agreement, MTD joins the growing number of manufacturers and distributors in the Outdoor Power Industry, including Allen Power, Ariens/Gravely, Briggs & Stratton, and others who have extended their relationship with ARI in order to take advantage of ARI’s suite of e-Catalog products for both the Web and CD-ROM.
ARI currently provides approximately 74 parts catalogs for approximately 57 equipment manufacturers in the U.S. and Europe. More than 82,000 catalog subscriptions are provided through ARI to approximately 23,000 dealers and distributors around he world. The Company builds and supports a full suite of multi-media electronic catalog publishing and viewing software for the Web or CD and provides expert catalog publishing and consulting services. ARI also provides a template-based dealer website service for equipment dealers to establish a web presence. In addition, ARI e-Catalog systems support a variety of electronic pathways for parts orders, warranty claims and other transactions between manufacturers and their networks of sales and service points. ARI currently operates three offices in the United States and one in Europe and has sales and service agents in Austraia, England and France providing marketing and support of its products and services.))