AVAD is both expanding its field sales force to markets beyond its current footprint and blending national and regional call centers to reach more of its customers and provide local support to its dealer base.
The North American distributor will transform its physical branch locations in many existing markets, as well as opening branches in new locations. AVAD also is changing its approach to logistics by establishing central distribution centers across North America that will provide increased inventory availability and rapid order fulfillment to its customers.
A critical part of AVAD’s new initiative will include expanded will-call access that will more precisely place product where and when it needs to be available.
As part of this initiative, AVAD is launching a new transactional and information-based web and mobile portal platform. Customers will be able to use the portal to access the best brands in the industry, and it also will be a gathering place for the AVAD community to learn, train, and share ideas. In addition, AVAD is expanding its design services for dealers, and has doubled its tech support department.
According to the announcement, trade partners will benefit from AVAD’s new strategy through streamlined operating costs, improved methods for delivering training and education, and the opportunity to showcase their products at AVAD’s soon-to-be-announced experience centers located throughout the U.S. and Canada.
“We are very excited about the future of AVAD, and these changes to our business approach,” said Tom Jacoby, chairman and CEO for AVAD. “The current AVAD business model was developed before virtual sales organizations and just-in-time product deliveries were the standard of commerce in North America. AVAD intends to break out of its longstanding ‘analog’ branch model and take our business to our customers. The future of AVAD includes a meaningful expansion of digital, web and mobile tools, central and regional call centers, expansion of our design and technical services, a regional-based sales force, and extended availability of will-call centers in many new markets along with the continued use of company-operated physical locations in many of our existing markets.”
These investments and enhancements will be implemented immediately with several AVAD locations transitioning to new sales centers over the next 30 days.
