Issue link: https://cp.revolio.com/i/1178690
ALL IN | AD Today 2019 | 31 COMPANY BACKGROUND Capitol Group is a third-generation, family-owned business based in Springfield, IL that has been serving Plumbing, Mechanical, HVAC, and Industrial contractors and Retail Design customers from 6 locations since 1946. Capitol Group is an AD Member in the Plumbing, PVF, and HVAC Divisions. THE CHALLENGE In an increasingly digital marketplace saturated with the large-scale webstores of national chains, Independent Distributors are faced with the need to remain competitive. Many Independent Distributors are adopting the digital mindset and implementing their own eCommerce strategies to keep up with the demands of their customers. Capitol Group was no exception and in 2017 they partnered with AD eCommerce Solutions and AD trusted partner Unilog to build their own Digital Branch. With the goal of building a digital strategy that would serve their customers' needs and create a user-friendly customer experience, the leadership team at Capitol Group questioned whether a website would suffice. After seeing many of their customers working on smart phones and tablets while on the job site, Capitol Group recognized the need for a seamless user experience across all devices. SOLUTION As a means of offering a more accessible alternative to a mobile-friendly Digital Branch for their customers to use on smart phones and tablets, Capitol Group chose to develop a mobile app that could accommodate their needs. The mobile app was built in conjunction with Unilog and offers the following features: • Scan a barcode to quickly go to the product within the catalog • Post photo queries to Capitol Group's customer service by taking new photos or uploading existing ones of a product directly to the app • Navigate Capitol Group's product catalog, complete with product taxonomy and enriched SKUs • Seamless browsing and check out process • Check with New Products inside the warehouse • Locate Capitol Group branches and enjoy hands-free navigation 1. BETA LAUNCH Capitol Group invited their internal sales and customer service teams to test and use the app. This served as formal training for the staff who would later be answering customer questions about the app's functionality. AD MEMBER CAPITOL GROUP EDGES OUT COMPETITION WITH NEW CUSTOMER-FRIENDLY MOBILE APP CASE STUDY