MCI introduces J4500 online parts catalog

Owners of J4500s, unit number 63776 and later, can now do their parts searching and shopping over the Internet, with the aid of MCI's new online parts catalog. The new catalog is highly sophisticated yet easy to use, taking full advantage of smart navigation and 3-D imaging to help operators pinpoint the parts that they need.

Users of the catalog will first be presented with a 3D image of the coach, with options to click on the body, the chassis, the electrical system, air and brake systems, or the drive train.

Those systems in turn will appear in 3D, and operators will then be able to navigate through dialogue boxes and further maneuverable 3D images that will lead them to the exact part they're looking for.

Operators will then be able to place the item in a shopping cart to start an order that can be fulfilled through the MCI Parts Store.

Michael Anstead, director of technical services, says that while operators will appreciate the 3D aspect that allows them to turn the images and flip them around for a closer look, "The neatest thing is the search function. All an operator has to do is type in a keyword, such as 'pump,' and then just click on the part that matches what they're looking for."

Anstead's team debuted the parts catalog at UMA Motorcoach Expo in San Francisco last month. MCI will soon be sending materials about the new catalog to operators who have J4500 coaches delivered by this new program. Those who have older J4500s or other models should continue to use MCI's existing catalogs, which are available in PDF format.

Customers will still need to have an MCI Service Part account with access to use the online catalog. Operators who don't already have an account can establish one by calling an MCI Fleet Support manager or MCI Pro Support representative, or by requesting online registration.

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