The Challenge: Limited HVAC Delivery Capacity
South Side Control Supply Co. has served Chicago’s commercial HVAC/R market for over a century. With 11 locations across Illinois and Indiana, their customers—mechanical contractors on tight jobsite schedules—depend on fast, reliable delivery. Getting the right part to the right place isn’t just a differentiator; it determines whether a job stays on track.
For years, the main branch relied on bike messengers for same-day deliveries. While effective for small items, the 50-pound limit couldn’t support larger equipment like compressors and commercial controls. The model also lacked visibility—no tracking, no real-time ETAs—making it difficult to manage contractor expectations. When their courier was acquired and service declined, South Side Control began searching for a solution.
“Before Dispatch, we used bike messengers. They were right across the street and fast, but nothing over 50 pounds. Once our courier got absorbed by a bigger company, we needed something that could handle the heavier stuff and actually let us see where the driver was," said Patrick Puskarz, Main Branch Manager at South Side Control Supply Co.
The Solution: Scalable Last-Mile Delivery
South Side Control adopted Dispatch for same-day and emergency deliveries from its main Chicago branch, which handles the highest order volume of any location. The platform replaced the messenger workflow entirely and opened up new capabilities:
- Flexible vehicle options (car, van, box truck) for deliveries up to 600 lbs, including large equipment.
- Real-time tracking with live ETAs for full delivery visibility.
- Accurate delivery windows to prevent overpromising.
- A streamlined web interface for fast, consistent dispatch decisions.
Patrick's standard process is consistent: check the Dispatch platform first, confirm a realistic delivery window, then present it to the customer. For most deliveries, the team builds in a two-hour buffer to ensure customer expectations are met, reserving in-house resources only for the most urgent situations.
Why It Matters: Faster Delivery Drives Growth
Same-day delivery has become a decisive advantage. When contractors need a part fast, they choose whoever can deliver first.
South Side Control wins those calls by delivering within hours—while larger national distributors, unable to meet urgent local demand, lose out. As Patrick noted, that edge is hard to replicate without a reliable on-demand partner.
For customers, the value is even greater. Because skilled trade labor rates are at a premium, sending a technician to pick up parts is a costly disruption. Jobsite delivery keeps crews working, projects on track, and customers coming back.
“It definitely provides better customer service and makes our life easier. When someone is upset waiting on a part, I can pull up the driver location and show them exactly where it is. That changes the whole conversation," Patrick concluded.