Customer Sales & Serv Rep

Applied Industrial Technologies; Fort Wayne (IN); On-site; USD 21,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

Applied Industrial Technologies in Fort Wayne, IN is seeking a Customer Sales & Service Representative to build profitable customer relationships and take personal responsibility for each contact, ensuring needs are met while advancing company interests.

The CSSR works with customers to address inquiries about products and services, sources profitable options, and coordinates with suppliers to optimize pricing and on-time delivery. This role emphasizes service, accuracy, and teamwork.

Qualifications

• 6+ months of customer service experience or 1+ year in a stockroom/driving role.
• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Demonstrated mechanical and mathematical aptitude.
• Excellent communication and organizational skills.
• Strong computer skills, particularly in Excel.
• Ability to sit and stand for extended periods and lift up to 50 lbs.

Responsibilities

• Professionally handle requests to ensure issues are resolved promptly and thoroughly.
• Recommend and source profitable products using internal inventory first.
• Proactively review open orders and quotes to ensure on-time responses.
• Communicate disruptions, approvals, corrective actions, and feedback to management.
• Maintain a balance between company policy and customer benefit.
• Maximize profit by working with suppliers to gain chargebacks and promote profitable options.
• Support pricing and margin improvement efforts and reduce overrides.
• Provide backup support to other Service Center associates and handle related duties.

Skills

Communication skills

Organizational skills

Mechanical aptitude

Mathematical aptitude

Excel skills

Learn new systems

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Tools

SAP

Excel

Job description

Position Summary:

A Customer Sales & Service Representative (CSSR) is responsible for establishing and maintaining profitable relationships with customers on behalf of Applied by taking personal and complete responsibility for each customer contact and by ensuring that customer requirements are met while pursuing the interest of the Company.

The CSSR is an integral part of the Applied sales team and interacts with Applied's customers by providing them with information to address inquiries regarding products and services.

Responsibilities/Duties:

• Professionally handle requests from customers to ensure that issues are resolved promptly and thoroughly. Requests are received via phone, email, fax, EDI, walk in customers and as communicated by Applied sales associates
• Recommend and source the most profitable products, utilizing internal inventory first, supplier inventory as an alternate option, to meet or improve upon the customer required dates.
• Proactive review of open customer orders and pending quotes to ensure on time responses, shipments , and conversion of quotes to orders
• Communicate disruptions in service levels, approval requests, corrective actions needed, customer feedback and preventative actions to Service Center management.
• Maintain a balance between company po licy and customer benefit in decision making.
• Handles issues in the best interest of both Applied and Customer
• Maximize profit by working with suppliers to gain additional chargebacks, recommending the most profitable product offerings.
• Support pricing and margin improvement efforts by communicating opportunities with management, adopt and utilize methods that will reduce
• overrides, promote most profitable options to our customers, and recover freight expenses.
• Gain and utilize product knowledge and expertise to assist customers with product selections and coordinate supplier engineering support to drive the sales process.
• Responsible for personal investment in gaining proficiency in our systems, product training, adoption of company initiatives and tools and overall continuous career development.
• Continuously identify and evaluate process improvements that positively impact the Customer's experience by using Customer Feedback, Supplier Nonconformance, and On Time and Error Free forms and metrics.
• Perform warehouse functions including pulling and packing product, receiving, cycle counting, stock put away and delivery of product.
• Provides emergency and after hours services as scheduled.
• Provide backup support to other associates within the Service Center as necessary along with necessary along with other duties assigned by management.

Education/Work Experience:

Required:

• 6+ months of customer service experience or 1+ year of experience in a Stockroom/Driving position within industrial distribution
• High school diploma or equivalent
• Demonstrated mechanical and mathematical aptitude
• Excellent communication and organizational skills
• Ability and desire to learn new systems and processes quickly
• Strong computer skills, particularly in Excel
• Requires ability to sit and stand for extended periods of time, walk, bend, and lift up to 25 lbs. regularly and up to 50 occasionally.

Preferred:

• SAP experience in a customer service setting
• Knowledge of industrial products and hydraulics
• Ability to learn and use calipers to measure specs on a wide variety of industrial parts
• Highly developed sense of integrity and commitment to customer satisfactions
• Demonstrated passion for excellence in customer service
• Ability to communicate clearly and professionally, both verbally and in writing
• Has a pleasant, patient and friendly attitude
• Detail oriented with strong communication and listening skills
• Possess a solid work ethic and team player mentality

Founded in 1923, Applied Industrial Technologies (NYSE: AIT) is a leading value-added distributor and technical solutions provider of industrial motion, fluid power, flow control, automation technologies, and related maintenance supplies. Our leading brands, specialized services, and comprehensive knowledge serve MRO and OEM end users in virtually all industrial markets through our multi-channel capabilities that provide choice, convenience, and expertise.

Applied Industrial Technologies is built on a philosophy that puts people first. We are an equal opportunity employer, and we are committed to a workforce in which we enforce fair treatment and provide growth opportunities for everyone. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment regardless of age, race, color, national origin, genetics, religion, gender, marital status, physical or mental disability, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws, regulations, and ordinances.