Parts Town — a distributor of OEM foodservice, HVAC and residential appliance parts — has added a visual search capability to its mobile app.

The Addison, IL-based company said its new HVAC Data Plate Scanner allows HVAC technicians to identify and purchase the parts they need with a simple scan of the data plate on HVAC equipment.

This streamlines the process that would traditionally have technicians relying on deciphering model and serial numbers from data plates, Parts Town noted, which often comes with errors or delays. The new feature negates this with optical character recognition (OCR) technology.

“The scanner allows technicians to quickly and accurately identify the exact OEM parts needed for HVAC equipment repairs,” the company stated in a July 9 news release. “The functionality not only saves time but also ensures accuracy, as it directs users to a landing page that lists all parts associated with the model, making the service call process more efficient and effective.”

The HVAC Data Plate Scanner is currently in beta testing for Parts Town, during which it plans to gather customer feedback and continuously improve the feature.

Learn much more about the feature here.