Boeing Co. reported its online orders for aftermarket parts have hit $1 billion for 2021, supported by its e-commerce initiatives as well as increased demand. The OEM further noted that demand indicates continued recovery by the commercial aerospace market from the negative effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We’re seeing innovation accelerated by necessity across our services business as the aerospace industry emerges from one of the toughest periods we’ve faced,” stated Ted Colbert, president and CEO of Boeing Global Services.
“The aftermarket supply chain solutions Boeing provides, such as parts support, are an essential service for our customers as they emerge from the pandemic,” Colbert continued. “The digital advancements that we’re driving enable us to be nimble in our response to the uneven recovery and simplify how Boeing supports our customers.”
As of 2021, Boeing customers are able to purchase from all product lines on the Boeing Distribution Inc. (formerly, Aviall) online parts page. Previously, some aftermarket parts had been offered only by phone or email requisition.
Boeing detailed that its distribution and technology teams’ efforts made it possible to the reach the $1-billion milestone by giving more customers access to use e-commerce for their purchases, increasing the digital customer self-serve ordering from 75% in 2020 to 85% so far in 2021.
Boeing’s e-commerce platform has improved navigation than in the past and new functions, like ‘live chat’, to simplify transactions and solve common online-order problems.
“Reaching this milestone represents our distribution and technology teams’ commitment to finding new and better ways to serve our customers, as well as our customers’ taking advantage of this service to easily access spare parts support they can rely on,” stated Giovanni Spitale, vice president of Commercial Parts, Boeing Global Services.
