Truck Parts and Service | Heavy Duty Trucking, Aftermarket, Service Info
Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/883923
12 A corporate transformation is nearing completion at Har- man Heavy Vehicle Specialists. Set in motion in 2014 when current owners Jay and Ian Johnston bought out Jay's business partner, the company's revolution has been comprehensive. From its website to its brick-and-mortar facilities, no aspect of Harman Heavy Vehicle Specialists hasn't been evaluated, altered or overhauled in the company's quest for improvement and optimization. Ian Johnston, the company's vice president of operations and marketing, says the results have been a resounding suc- cess. Always a progressive company, Harman's transforma- tion moved the business to the technological forefront of the independent aftermarket, and laid the groundwork from which the nearly 80-year-old distributor can continue to thrive for decades to come. Now that it's almost over, Ian Johnston can exhale. The plan has worked out. "Every time you make changes you're hoping for the best- case scenario. You never think it's the right time," he says. "We were hoping it wouldn't be a nightmare." Instead he says it's been the opposite. The new facilities and technologies implemented companywide were immediately ac- cepted by Harman's 50 employees, and corporate productivity is up across the business's three locations. "When we moved into our new buildings, just within a couple weeks, we would fi nd ourselves asking 'How did we ever survive not being here?'" he says. There have been other advantages, too. Harman's new build- ings were the most evident of its changes, but Johnston cites the implementation of customer relationship management (CRM) software for its sales team and an e-commerce site developed in partnership with VIPAR Heavy Duty as two other changes made this year with immediate payoff potential. Harman also has outfi tted its Total Fleet Service facility with an infl ux of new tools to "give the team more capacity and cut- ting-edge technology" to service their customers, Johnston says. "Our guys embrace technology when it gives them an advan- tage," he says. "When it enables them to do something differ- ently and be more productive, they're keen to use it." Indeed, the company's forward thinking isn't a manage- ment-exclusive trait. Harman employees are welcomed to pro- vide ideas to strengthen and grow the business, and Johnston acknowledges the company's new web ordering portal as one change they've been campaigning for "for a while." Harman HVS and the Johnston family also remain active in the industry. Jay Johnston has served on several industry association boards during his career, and now following in his father's footsteps Ian serves as president of Heavy Duty After- market Canada and GenNext, and will be co-chair of Heavy Duty Aftermarket Week 2019. Ian Johnston believes that activism has been crucial in earning the company's third consecutive Truck Parts & Service Distributor of the Year nomination. "I think it's one of the main reasons we've been nominated," he says. "We believe a strong industry is going to help all of us within the industry … and if you feel strongly about [this indus- try] like we do, the best way to support it is to be involved." T R U C K P A R T S & S E R V I C E | O c t o b e r 2 0 1 7 By Lucas Deal, Editor lucasdeal@randallreilly.com As it approaches its 80 th anniversary, Harman HVS has updated its facilities to prepare for future generations of success. Harman Heavy Vehicle Specialists at a glance Source: Google Maps, Harman Heavy Vehicle Specialists Harman Heavy Vehicle Specialists