DOWNERS GROVE, IL -- Vertical Development, Inc. (VDI) has added online hosting to its suite of catalog and data management systems and services. The new service, which will be introduced next week at the 2006 Aftermarket eForum in Chicago, provides a portal where VDI clients can post electronic catalogs, product guides, interchanges and other literature. In the process, it enables aftermarket customers to find the data they need, quickly and easily, according to the company.

According to VDI Vice President Ron Garand, the new service fills a vital need in the marketplace – targeting Internet-savvy customers who are more likely to use online lookups rather than search through printed catalogs to find the latest information they need.

The new service dovetails with Vertical Development’s e-Publisher system, a program that supports simultaneous publishing to print, web and CD-ROM formats from a single data source. “A number of our clients installed e-Publisher and contracted our online e-WebCatalotg hosting service at the same time,” said Garand. “That means their online catalogs can go live immediately, with virtually no downtime.”

A key benefit of VDI’s online service is that all the software and technology needed are built right in. “While most of our clients have websites, many do not have the software or web support needed with today’s online parts look-ups. Without the right backup system, their data could stall, causing them to potentially lose a sale,” he said. “By hosting their online catalog with Vertical Development, they have all of the advantages of an online look-up without the software or programming costs involved, backed by a technical support team who can provide troubleshooting and maintenance whenever needed.”

For more information about VDI, go to: www.verticaldev.com

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