Messenger - OEConnection
Transcription
Messenger - OEConnection
Right part. Right place. Right time. Volume 5 May/June/July 2004 Messenger A newsletter for professionals in the original equipment parts business. D2D Plus – Dealerships Achieve Results In This Issue + Now available for Isuzu, Nissan, Jaguar and Land Rover Dealers D2D Plus – Dealerships Achieve Results pg 1-2 What D2D Plus Dealers Are Saying pg 1- 2 Tip of the Month pg 2 D2DLink Displays Ford PDC Quantities pg 3 Nissan and Isuzu Dealers Are On-board With D2DLink pg 3 How to Buy and Sell Parts Online pg 4-5 Red River Chevrolet Customer Profile pg 6 NADA 2004 pg 6 Ford FAD Update pg 7 OEConnection Employee Profile pg 7 Coming Soon: Update Your Parts Inventory Midday and on Saturdays D2D Plus, OEConnection’s newest online tool to help parts departments reduce idle inventory and build profit, now has over 2,500 subscribers. “We reduced our obsolescence from 25% to 2.7%. That’s an 89% reduction!” Jeff Brooks, Parts Manager Dick Ide Pontiac, Rochester, New York D2D Plus is now available to Nissan, Isuzu, Jaguar and Land Rover D2DLink subscribers. Introduced to Ford and General Motors dealerships just three months ago, parts managers are telling OEConnection continued on page 2 Now when doing part searches, the discount icon is larger and easier to see. Be sure to advise parts counter people to click on the blue discount button to find parts that have been discounted by other dealers, to help reduce purchasing costs. Here’s What D2D Plus Dealers Are Saying: y goal — now, and m ventory right in le id an 5% is th 8% ss “We’re at realistically, le t, Bu . ill ro ze — is ach it, and w optimistically lping me to re he is , us lls Pl ca e 2D D coming phon my goal, and ith just four in r W ou f it. of n ai rts nt that’s 35 pa help me mai sed 00 in parts — ,2 ba t $1 lis of nt ou rid disc we got . I created a rts I just five days include the pa to t shelves — in lis e th d ke ea my tw is e, us Pl ag ount. D2D on inventory applied a disc d an , ad lo ” wanted to un ventory clean. lp keep my in ), new tool to he rd (Fo n er, Parts Manag – John Riffe, Missouri Saint Robert, Sellers-Sexto “With D2D Pl us, we reduce d our obsolesc to 2.7%. That ence from 25 ’s an 89% re % duction! We our idle stock so ld almost all — over $45,00 of 0 — in just tw that I’ve got m o months. Now y obsolescence under control, monthly to man I’ll use D2D Plu age it so it sta s ys low. Last ye scrapped $2 ar we actually 0,000 in obso lete inventory threw it out — — but we ne it just sat in ou ver r warehouse. out, we reve D2D Plus cam rsed the writ e e of f, and sold it write off wou instead. That ld have been a to ta l loss. I love D – Jeff Brooks 2D Plus.” , Parts Manag er, Ro chester, New York CD changers that I “D2D Plus is great! I sold five n rid of without this probably would have never gotte nd day. I’m sold!” product. And that was just the seco – Bill Brown, Parts Manager Carolina Harrelson Nissan, Rock Hill, South Dick Ide Pont iac continued on page 2 1 Here’s what D2D Plus Dealers Are Saying: continued from page 1 kly t. My wee g is grea in rt S o p M D re Plus ring my “The D2D es compa e d u th cl to in ow report routine n rt phase-in f a o p s iu nd d a ra rt in a 50-mile stock repo ith w s ck he p searc lp us sto D2D Plus to ation to he this inform g ow I know in N us s. le us. I’m r future sa fo r te et and I’m b ory oking for, our invent lers are lo ea d er th o ” what parts eir needs. ter meet th able to bet Hampshire anager mouth, New itt, Parts M – Jeff Leav c Cadillac GMC, Ports Coast Pontia “I posted tw o sets of ru nning boards D2D Plus — on originally ov er $350 ea at a discou ch — nt. We sold both sets to different deal two erships almos t im mediately. Th parts had be ese en on our sh elves for at le months. They as t 48 were purcha sed as spec orders, neve ial r installed, an d the parts w not returnable ere — a very co mmon scenar So using D2D io. Plus, we sold those parts, which freed up the space an d opened up that cash to bu y parts that w e really need .” – Ole Olson, Parts Manag er, Elk River Ford , Elk River, M innesota 00 of idle inventory in “I sold between $3,000 and $4,0 her $10 grand of idle one month. Then one day — anot because of D2D Plus.” All sold! parts — off my shelves — – Mike Smith, Parts Manager Duncanville Ford, Duncanville, Texas Contact Us continued from page 1 that the benefits of D2D Plus are worthwhile and have an impact on their businesses. D2D Plus can help parts departments reduce idle inventory and carrying costs, increase inventory turns, and better control their stock levels and parts assortment. D2D Plus has three components: Idle Inventory Marketing – Identify and discount slow-moving stock and then offer it for sale to D2DLink dealers nationwide. All D2DLink subscribers can view the lowest priced parts first when doing part searches. Inventory Reporting – Helps identify missed opportunities and in-demand parts, helping dealers to stock the right parts. Parts Bundling – Selling dealers combine unwanted, miscellaneous parts into bundles, and discount and post those bundles. D2D Plus subscribers search for bundles, and view ‘for-sale’ bundle parts matched to their on-hand stock. For more information about D2D Plus, or to enroll, call OEConnection at 888-776-5792, x3, or visit www.OEConnection.com. + + + Tip of the Month 4150 Highlander Parkway Richfield, Ohio 44286 phone: 330-523-1800 fax: 330-523-1700 toll-free: 888-776-5792 [email protected] www.OEConnection.com For comments, feedback, or suggestions on this newsletter’s content or value, and to submit product feature suggestions, please contact the newsletter editor: Janice Schenk Marketing Manager — D2D Products 888-776-5792 x1891 [email protected] To subscribe to D2DLink, D2D Plus, or D2D Express for your dealership, please contact: Don Battista Sales Manager 888-776-5792 x1845 [email protected] To learn more about OEConnection’s products and services for your auto manufacturer, please contact: Jon Palazzo Director of National Accounts 888-776-5792 x1844 [email protected] or Jon Purcell Director of National Accounts 888-776-5792 x1895 [email protected] Thank you to two parts managers for their D2DLink suggestions — for dealerships to display their toll-free or parts department direct telephone numbers on the locator. Each dealership will receive OEConnection hats for each of their counter staff! Ray Brakke, Parts Manager at Suss Pontiac GMC, Aurora, Colorado writes: “I’d like to see 800 numbers on your locator so it’s less expensive for us to call other dealers to buy parts. Can you please encourage other dealers to use your advertising feature so those toll-free numbers appear on the D2DLink locator? If they want to sell their parts, they should shoulder the cost of the incoming telephone call.” Rocky Ward, Parts Manager at Ray Schultens Motors (Ford), The Dalles, Oregon, writes: “When we call another parts department, the dealership’s operator has to connect us. Please tell dealerships to post their parts department’s direct telephone numbers so we don’t waste time going through the operator. Better yet, how about a toll-free number, so we don’t have to wait on our dime?” Here’s how to display your toll-free telephone number on D2DLink. In Setup, select Company Info. In Setup, select Locator Seller. This phone number will appear in all parts searches. Click Edit for each OEM’s Locator Advertisement Message. Submit address, email, telephone, fax number and parts manager changes to: [email protected] or call 888-776-5792 x2. For product and technical questions, call Customer Care at 888-776-5792 x2. OEConnection is a venture of DaimlerChrysler, Ford Motor Company, General Motors, and ProQuest. 2 Have a suggestion? Email us at [email protected]. If we publish it, we’ll send you OEConnection caps for every member of your parts department team! D2DLink Displays Ford PDC Quantities Ford D2DLink subscribers are now able to view Ford’s PDC/depot part quantities from within the D2DLink locate screens. John Graham, Ford Customer Service Division’s OEConnection Project Manager said, “Having PDC part quantities available from within D2DLink is a real coup for Ford dealerships. The first decision a counterperson makes when locating a part is, ’When do I need it?’ Now, they have one online tool, which combines nationwide dealer inventories, PDC visibility, FAD inventories, and even parts offered at a discount by dealers using D2D Plus. It’s also important to note that we’re working to have Blue Diamond inventories available on D2DLink in the near future. PDC status can help Ford and Lincoln Mercury dealers to make smarter, faster and more-profitable parts buying decisions.” Over 4,250 Ford dealerships are currently enrolled in D2DLink, performing over 38,000 part searches each day. John added, “D2DLink is subscribed to by over 90% of Ford dealerships. For the few that have not yet subscribed, there’s even more reason to do so now.” Nissan and Isuzu Dealers Are On-board and Online Locating Parts Hundreds of Nissan and Isuzu dealerships are finding out what thousands of GM, Ford, Land Rover and Jaguar dealerships nationwide already know — that D2DLink can help boost productivity and help maximize efficiency. Currently, Nissan and Isuzu dealers are performing tens of thousands of locates a month and the number keeps growing every day. Parts Manager Russell Zaralban, Jr. of Russell Isuzu uses D2DLink every day for all their parts locating needs and to increase inventory turns. “I’m locating parts from dealers I never would have had contact with before. D2DLink also helps me move more parts,” says Zaralban. The online buying and selling features also help Russell Isuzu reduce time wasted and costly long distance charges so they can concentrate on other areas of their business. “D2DLink is extremely easy to use and I am able to locate parts locally or nationally without having to spend hours on the phone,” says Zaralban. In addition to D2DLink, D2D Plus is now available to Nissan and Isuzu dealers. (See D2D Plus features on page 2.) Nissan and Isuzu dealers can enroll in D2DLink and D2D Plus by calling 888.776.5792 x3. D2D Plus now available to Nissan and Isuzu Dealers. Call 888.776.5792, x3 3 Online Order Notification Online parts orders can launch an email using this notification feature. How to: Buy and Sell Parts Online One of the most frequently asked questions by OEConnection customers is, “Why don’t more people use D2DLink’s e-commerce functions?” Perhaps the answer is resistance to change. For the past several decades, counter people have picked up the telephone to locate needed parts. They’ve relied on locators to do exactly what the name implies — locate. D2DLink provides that, and more! D2DLink provides the ability to buy and sell parts online. Simply check the box for the desired selling dealer the next time you do a part locate, and your order has been placed. (See Six Tips for Success on page 5.) In today’s world — no matter what your business — being competitive is vital. D2DLink’s online parts buying and selling feature can help a dealership charge into the 21st century. OEConnection customers who regularly use the online ordering have indicated the feature helps them to increase staff productivity with reduced telephone on-hold time and reduced telephone time when confirming part availability. They also indicate it helps reduce telephone toll charges and can help increase accuracy using the e-commerce order audit trail. D2DLink’s online ordering capabilities just might become a regular activity for your dealership. Call OEConnection customer service at 888-776-5792, x 2, with any questions. At South Point Pontiac GMC in Austin, Texas, e-commerce orders are the norm. The parts department has expanded upon D2DLink’s email notification by adding an automatic email print notification. Scott Bennett, Parts Manager, explained, “So we don’t miss any e-commerce part orders on D2DLink, we bought a program that prints out our emails. With email notifications set up in D2DLink, and this PC program set up for one minute interval checks of our email, we now get both an email and a paper copy of orders in the center of our department. No more missed sales because that piece of paper is right in front of us when we return to the parts counter.” Steps to E-Commerce Ordering 1 Buying Dealer: Locate Parts, Check Box 2 Buying Dealer: Verify Order Specifics • • • • • Once part is located, check the box for the dealership you’d like to order from. Click “Next” 4 Check box to request order confirmation from seller. Shipping info Add notes Purchase order # Modify quantity Parts requested by Click “Next” 3 Buying Dealer: Order Confirmation 1 Selling Dealer: Processes the Order Salesperson double-clicks on the order. Your order has been sent and appears on the selling dealer’s screen as a purchase request. The Buying Dealer Sees… 2 Selling Dealer: Order Response and Completion Click on Respond to Buyer Click “Next” Six Tips for D2DLink E-commerce Success 1. Buyers – Take the lead! Call a selling dealer, set up an e-commerce test. 2. Sellers – Respond quickly. Click on orders, fill them and ship promptly. 3. Buyers – Set up ‘Favorite’ trading partners so e-commerce trading partners’ inventory appears at the top of part locates. Modify Order Specifics if Desired • • • • Shipping info Add notes and invoice # Modify quantity and price Parts requested by 4. Sellers – Uncheck the e-commerce acceptance box in the Locator Seller setup configuration. 5. Buyers and Sellers – Use D2DLink ‘notifications’ to launch emails that signal incoming electronic orders and a status change for electronic purchases. Click on “Save and Respond” 6. Buyers and Sellers – Practice! Build good trading relationships with your trading partners. Practice together to migrate your trading relationships to e-commerce! To help speed the process of regularly doing e-commerce orders, in SETUP APPLICATION SETTINGS LOCATE SETTING, select “Locate Wizard” to be the default when you press the “Enter” key after entering a part number to search. If no part number is entered, D2DLink will launch the multi-part locate screen for two or more part numbers. Click “Respond” to Complete Order 5 Customer Profile E-commerce Helps Improve Efficiency at Red River Chevrolet “An online part order is easier on everybody. There’s no phone tag or being put on hold. There’s a paper trail with a confirmation of the order and a delivery date – an archive of the entire order,” states Matt Nycum, Fixed Operations Manager, at Red River Chevrolet, Bossier, Louisiana. Is this some new parts technology he’s talking about? No. “It’s as simple as clicking on a box next to a part you locate using D2DLink instead of picking up the phone,” says Matt. E-commerce parts ordering. It’s not rocket science. It’s not difficult. In fact, Matt says it’s easier and better for the buyer and seller. “Our four parts specifiers had been using the D2DLink locator since August 2002. It was more accurate, current and up-to-date than any other locator we’d used up to that point. So we were real happy with it,” tells Matt. But part of Matt’s job as fixed ops manager with 75 people working for him, is to Red River Chevrolet Bossier, Louisiana look at maximizing every area of the back-of-the-house business. They had given every tech a laptop, installed a wireless network throughout the dealership, and integrated technology into their operation. “So one day I looked at D2DLink and said, ‘Hey, you’re supposed to be able to order right off of the locate screen.’ So I asked my guys to try it,” recalls Matt. “Right off the bat, it was better for us and our trading partners.” Now, about 50% of Red River’s part orders are placed online. Matt has even located and ordered parts from his PDA*, though this isn’t common. What’s it all mean? Reduce phone tag or putting one customer on hold to help another. Cut down on follow-up calls for order confirmation. A complete record for buyer Matt Nycum, Fixed Operations Manager Red River Chevrolet, Bossier, Louisiana and seller of when a part was ordered, confirmation, delivery date, pricing, notes and more. “This is totally changing the way part orders are handled – for the better. It saves time, is more accurate, and there’s a paper record. I see it redefining how specifiers locate and fill parts orders. They’ll get a lot more done,” concludes Matt. Red River Chevrolet has been in business since 1931, selling about 4,000 vehicles a year. Matt Nycum has been with the dealership since 1979. He is a prior member of General Motors’ Fixed Operations Advisory Board. (* Personal Digital Assistant) NADA Exposition 2004 Viva Las Vegas! 6 Las Vegas once again proved the perfect locale to host NADA, the automotive industry’s largest and most-encompassing trade show. Thousands of dealership personnel attended the four-day exposition held January 31 — February 3. As always, the NADA convention was filled with new product introductions and late-breaking news about emerging industry trends. OEConnection was no exception as we launched D2D Plus, our latest productivity addition, to our already well-established D2DLink family of products. D2D Plus is ideal for dealerships interested in enhanced marketing of idle inventory. D2D Plus can help subscribing dealers reduce carrying costs, increase inventory turns, and better control stock levels and parts assortment. Chuck Rotuno, OEConnection President and CEO, and Ewa Laurance pose during a pool game. Hall of Fame billiard player, Ewa Laurance, demonstrates a trick shot. Over 2,500 dealerships have already enrolled in D2D Plus since January! Helping generate additional excitement in the OEConnection booth was Ewa Laurance, a world-class billiards player recently inducted into the Billiard Congress Hall of Fame. Ewa demonstrated “trick shots” and entertained show attendees with true “Las Vegas”-style championship play. One lucky winner also walked away with the Brunswick Pool Table featured in this photo. Congratulations to Mark Rountree of Rountree Ford-Mercury of Brattleboro, Vermont who won the Brunswick 8’ table valued at $7,500. See you next year at NADA 2005 — New Orleans (or N’awlins as the locals would say)! Ford FAD Update Ford FADs (Ford Authorized Distributors) continue to enroll in D2DLink, making their parts available for purchase by the over 4,250 Ford D2DLink subscribers. According to Scott Shriber, Ford Liaison to OEConnection, “Parts managers have told us they want their FAD inventory to appear on D2DLink, so when doing part searches, they can look in one place to see all their part sources. Ford dealers are doing over 850,000 part searches each month, and over 130,000 of those parts are Motorcraft parts, so that can provide quite a bit of visibility for a FAD’s inventory to help them sell more parts.” To have your FAD’s inventory posted on D2DLink, ask them to call OEConnection at 888-776-5792, x2. Current D2DLink FAD Subscribers ACI Parts Warehousing, Inc., Wyoming, MI • Arnold Oil Company, Corpus Christi, TX Asco Distribution Center, Charlotte, NC • Auto Electric & Carburetor, Birmingham, AL Automotive Distributor Co. Inc., Perrysburg, OH • Automotive Distributors Warehouse, Dayton, OH Automotive Distributors Warehouse, Indianapolis, IN • Automotive Distributors Warehouse, Columbus, OH Automotive Distributors Warehouse, Akron, OH • Automotive Distributors Warehouse, Brooklyn Hts., OH • B&I Auto Supply, Fort Washington, PA • Bill's Battery Co. Inc., Cincinnati, OH • Cal-State Auto Parts, Inc., San Diego, CA • Chicago Parts and Sound LLC, Wooddale, IL • Concho Parts Warehouse, Grand Prairie, TX • Connecticut Warehouse Distribution, Inc., North Haven, CT Dealer Auto Parts Sales Inc., Redford, MI • Dealer Service Warehouse, Houston, TX • Dixie Automotive, Charlotte, NC • Factory Motor Parts, Eagan, MN • Factory Motor Parts, Kansas City, MO • Factory Motor Parts, Carson, CA • Factory Motor Parts, Omaha, NE Factory Motor Parts, Eau Claire, WI • Factory Motor Parts, Kent, WA • Factory Motor Parts, Spokane, WA • Factory Motor Parts, Portland, OR • Factory Motor Parts, Sacramento, CA • Factory Motor Parts, Colorado Springs, CO • Factory Motor Parts, Appleton, WI Factory Motor Parts, Denver, CO • Factory Motor Parts, Vista, CA • Factory Motor Parts, Madison, WI • Factory Motor Parts, Topeka, KS Factory Motor Parts, Des Moines, IA • Factory Motor Parts, Chicago, IL • Fred Jones Enterprises, Atlanta, GA • Fred Jones Enterprises, Oklahoma City, OK • Genuine Parts Distributors, Whittier, CA • George Electric Auto Parts, Saginaw, MI • GHI Automotive, Inc., Grand Rapids, MI • H&H Automotive Parts Warehouse, Baileys Crossroads, VA • Heathwood Oil Company, Inc., Kansas City, KS Highland Auto Parts, Somerville, MA • Ken Smith Auto Parts #6, Nashville, TN • Kirk's Automotive, Detroit, MI • Midway Warehouse, Kansas City, MO • Multi-Part Inc., Columbia, SC • Original Equipment Mktg., Marietta, GA • P-A Distributors, Rockville, MD Parts Depot, Inc., Raleigh, NC • Parts Mart Automotive, Glendale, AZ • Parts Mart of Tucson, Tucson, AZ • Parts Midwest, Inc., Minneapolis, MN • Precision Service and Parts, Inc., Wheeling, IL • Precision Service and Parts, Inc., Brookfield, WI • Prevatte Auto Supply, Lumberton, NC • Rowerdink Inc., Kalamazoo, MI • Rowerdink Inc., Lincoln Park, MI • Southern Automotive Warehouse, Louisville, KY SP Auto Parts, Moorestown, NJ • Sumner Automotive, Burlington, NC • Syracuse Motor Parts, Utica, NY • The AE Group, Louisville, KY The AE Group, Charleston, WV • The AE Group, Charleston, WV • The AE Group, Lexington, KY • The Parts House, Orlando, FL The Parts House, St. Petersburg, FL • T-K Distributors, Commerce City, CO • Tri City Auto Warehouse, Fort Wayne, IN Vintage Parts, Inc., Beaver Dam, WI • Warren Distributing Inc., Santa Fe Springs, CA • Warren Distributing Inc., Ventura, CA Warren Distributing Inc., Santa Monica, CA • Wilcox Auto Parts Inc, Cincinnati, OH • Wilcox Lima, Lima, OH OEConnection Employee Profile Fran Tramonte Customer Care Representative At OEConnection since: January 2002 — when there were just two of us in Customer Care — now there's 10. Job responsibilities: Speaking with customers and teaching them how to use our products. Favorite part of the job: Talking to dealers who are fun, who like their jobs, and who like our products — because they’re fun to talk to, they’re appreciative and they ask a lot of questions. Drive time to work each day: 15 minutes. A moment I'd rather forget: When the water went out during the blackout last summer. Passionate about: Working out. Two words that describe me: Energetic and easy to get along with. People are surprised to learn: My age. The most perfect day: Sunny blue skies and 80 degrees. Personal accomplishment of which I'm most proud: My three children. My brush with a famous person: Had drinks with Steven Seagal in the Caribbean. Would like to tell OEConnection customers: How wonderful OEConnection really is. About the Customer Care Department: Customer Care takes calls from and makes calls to customers: Monday – Friday, 8am-8pm EST Saturdays, 8am-5pm EST Customer Care is closed on New Year’s Day, Easter, Independence Day/July 4th, Thanksgiving and Christmas. Contact a Customer Care Representative at 888-776-5792, ext. 2, for questions on how to use OEConnection products. Or email a Customer Care Representative at [email protected]. 7 D2D Products Fast, easy, and accurate online parts locating and fulfillment to help dealerships buy and sell more original equipment parts. Dealership inventories help fill a manufacturer’s emergency-needed backordered parts. Online tools to help parts departments reduce idle inventory and make better parts buying decisions. D2DLink Customers CHEVROLET Tell Us How to Help You! For the past several years, OEConnection has been writing and emailing to parts managers informing you about our products, new features, and how our products work to help you become more efficient and profitable in your parts departments. Over 11,000 dealerships subscribe to D2DLink and over 2,500 subscribe to D2D Plus. For every dealership, there may be a fixed operations director, parts manager and assistant parts manager who have an interest in keeping up to date on how OEConnection products can help increase productivity. And, for each dealership, perhaps another two to 20 parts employees regularly search for parts. 4150 Highlander Parkway Richfield, Ohio 44286 It’s a challenge thinking of ways to best communicate new features to our over 50,000 estimated users. We’d like your opinion on how to best inform you and your staff about how to use our products. Please email me with what communication method suits you and your staff best: email, fax, this newsletter, and monthly pop-up windows. Thanks for your help. Looking forward to receiving your emails! — Janice Schenk, Marketing Manager — D2D Products [email protected] PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID CLEVELAND, OH PERMIT NO. 2385