Covering 1.7 million parts with 4.4 million attributes and 8.7 million interchanges, ShowMeTheParts is the largest public parts database on the market. However, this database can also be pared down to fit specific needs without losing the depth of its content. For Exide Technologies, that means using ShowMeTheParts to help its retail partners find the right batteries for their customers, no matter the application.

As one of the world’s largest producers of batteries, Exide supplies products for private label brands as well as its own. By working with aftermarket tech leader Vertical Development, the company was able to utilize ShowMeTheParts for access to data on both types of product lines, creating a turn-key solution for retailers adding batteries to their stores.

More importantly, by using a digital format for delivering product data, Exide is able to provide retailers and customers with more information than is possible with a print catalog and ensure that the information is always up-to-date. It’s also easier to access, allowing anyone with a computer or mobile device to access the catalog.

Mid-States Distributing Company, known as The Heart and Soul of Farm, Ranch and Home, is a 62-year-old cooperative comprised of 43 independent, farm, ranch and home retailers across the U.S. and Canada. Retail stores carry products ranging from pet supplies, power equipment, agricultural and automotive equipment and supplies, sporting goods, clothing and footwear to honey bees — a tremendous amount of variety. Having such a wide range of products means that customers could be looking for batteries to fit anything from marine products to tractors. A print catalog covering all the models and interchanges would be enormous, and with constant model changes, portions of it would always be out of date. That’s why Exide chose to go with ShowMeTheParts when creating a virtual catalog and mobile-friendly battery lookup site.

Mid-States partnered with Exide for their Durastart label, as well as some Exide branded products. Together, Exide and Vertical Development have created a mobile-friendly website at DurastartBatteries.com, so stores and customers alike can get parts information as soon as they start keeping stock.

“Implementing the ShowMeTheParts web catalog in both the desktop and mobile platform provides Exide customers like Mid-States with up-to-date application information for all the segments they serve, while covering the wide range of years their customers need. That is just not practical in a print format,” shared Lee Wilson, product information manager at Exide Technologies.

“Exide’s retail partners and consumers enjoy the convenience of having this data readily available and easy to access giving them the ability to search for their application and product information needs from any computer or mobile device,” he concluded.

With Exide adding information with each product release, the stores selling these batteries will always have the latest information right at their fingertips, and it’s still as accessible as any other ShowMeTheParts website or mobile app.

What if a store doesn’t have a specific battery in stock? By including dimensions and other specifications in the database, customers have the information they need to ensure they’re getting a perfect match even when they can’t compare old and new batteries side by side.

Ready to partner with Vertical Development to deliver your products more quickly and seamlessly to customers? Give us a call at 847.609.9540 or email sales@verticaldev.com.