Independent Glass Distributor Goes Online to Increase Sales

Independent Glass Distributors (IGD) has been in the wholesale automotive glass business for over 50 years. IGD supplies retailers with windshields, vintage glass, urethane, and hard to find moldings in an economical and timely manner from over 20 distribution centers across the United States. IGD supports their retailers through phone-in customer service and custom-built order entry applications.

Retailers call IGD customer service representatives to check the availability and pricing of automotive glass and hardware, and to place orders.  IGD customer service employees then find the closest warehouse location that contains the parts and provides the retailer with their price based on a customized formula. IGD wanted to be able to offer a higher level of service, 24 hours a day, to their customer base leveraging both the Internet and their current investment in AS/400 and Windows software.

Dunn Solutions Group links it all together and delivers a complete solution

Dunn Solutions Group teamed with IGD internal IT staff to develop IGD EZOrder, an e-commerce website designed specifically for retailers in the automotive glass industry. EZOrder leverages web services and .Net to integrate with the AS400 and custom pricing business rules. Product and pricing information is dynamically delivered from the AS400 to Microsoft's Commerce Server, via Web Services. Microsoft Commerce Server is used to manage the web-based transactions and site User accounts.



Increased Sales and Better Customer Satisfaction

The IGD EZOrder web site enables retailers to shop for automotive glass and hardware online 24 hours a day. EZOrder enables IGD to better understand and serve its customers.

IGD EZOrder benefits include:

  • Increased customer loyalty and retention by providing real-time integration with inventory levels at all warehouses
  • Better customer experience by allowing a retailer to quickly identify a part, alternative parts, display the part graphic, and the associated hardware kits required for installation.
  • Optimization of inventory levels at each warehouse based on customer inquiries and orders
  • Re-use of existing software by leveraging web services which will allow IGD to decrease long term maintenance costs.