Instant results obtained from abf.com

BuildDirect.com is a distributor of building products with a global reputation for high quality and low prices. Its customers are savvy online shoppers who put a high value on both convenience and expedience.

Until recently, however, its customers needed to call BuildDirect.com on the phone to determine the shipping charges for their online orders. Not a big inconvenience, mind you, but not exactly expedient, either.

That all changed when BuildDirect.com began using Transparent Links to enhance its Web site. Now, when BuildDirect.com customers order materials, they have the added convenience of checking their freight charges online.

Dan Brodie, BuildDirect.com’s director of operations, said Transparent Links allows his company to do four times the amount of work it could do before.

“It’s a phenomenal time saver. Before we were linked to abf.com, every customer needed to call for freight rates,” Brodie said. “With Transparent Links, our customers get instant results for freight rates online while they’re placing their order.”

BuildDirect.com encourages customer loyalty by passing along ABF’s competitive prices to its customers. “Transparent Links has allowed us to give our online customers the complete cost of ordering a product and having it delivered to their doorstep,” Brodie said. “Our customers love it.”

Since Transparent Links has been a major contributor to the success of BuildDirect.com, the company loves it, too. “In 2002-2003, we saw an incredible 667 percent growth. That sounds unbelievable, but it’s true. ABF helped us achieve that success by saving us labor and time.”

ABF designed Transparent Links, one of the acclaimed eCenter tools, with customer loyalty in mind. As its name implies, this innovative tool allows ABF customers to create a transparent link between their Web site and abf.com.

With Transparent Links, you can provide shipment information and rate quotes directly to your customers. Because your Web site appears to be the source of the service, Transparent Links becomes a value-added tool that helps you build customer loyalty and enhance customer retention.

It’s easy to take advantage of Transparent Links. All you need to do is register, a process that requires minimal effort from your MIS or IT department. For more information, go to abf.com/tlinks, or contact your ABF account manager.

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