OEConnection Launches RepairLink - Online Parts Ordering for Fleets and Repair Shops


General Motors Selects RepairLink for Nationwide Dealership Initiative

RICHFIELD, Ohio, April 18 -- OEConnection LLC announces the launch of their newest Internet-based application, RepairLink, offering original equipment (OE) replacement mechanical parts buyers -- fleets and repair shops -- the utmost in parts ordering and fulfillment speed, accuracy and customer service relationship strengthening with dealership suppliers. RepairLink builds on OEConnection's success with their other online applications for auto manufacturers, auto dealerships and collision shops.

Charles Rotuno, OEConnection President and CEO, said "The automotive OE replacement parts industry faces increasingly tougher competition with aftermarket parts. RepairLink can truly help auto manufacturers and dealerships grow their fleet and repair installer parts businesses as well as provide enhanced customer service to their customers. With RepairLink, OEConnection now provides parts ecommerce solutions to the complete spectrum of wholesale buyers of original equipment parts."

OEConnection developed RepairLink so dealerships could receive online orders from both fleets and repair shops. General Motors has selected RepairLink to support their key strategic initiative for GM and their dealers to better compete for fleet business and grow fleet parts sales. GM collaborated with OEConnection during development, and is deploying the RepairLink solution through all of its regions focusing on wholesale parts dealers who service key fleet accounts.

"Thanks to this online technology, our dealerships can process parts orders faster and easier, and build stronger relationships with their fleet customers," said Eileen Healy, Executive Director, Business Line Development, General Motors Service Parts Organization (GMSPO). "We view the fleet segment as a key growth opportunity for GM and are committed to bringing tools to market to help dealers compete more effectively."

Once a fleet or repair installer has established a RepairLink buy-sell relationship with its auto dealership, parts orders can be processed in under a minute. RepairLink provides:

-- Faster order processing for improved order cycle time and vehicle up-time
-- Ordering for repair and stock parts
-- Automatically and instantly-verified part numbers against VINs for improved order accuracy and reduced part returns
-- One-screen, paperless audit tracking of orders
-- Internet-based availability for 24x7 off-hours parts ordering.

Eric Hylen, Manager, General Motors Service Parts Organization (GMSPO), said, "There are great synergies between OEConnection's tool and GM's go-to- market strategy for added fleet business. Most GM dealers use OEConnection's other Internet-based parts sourcing and selling systems, and RepairLink complements that assortment of tools to improve customer service and speed the movement of parts to customers. Our dealers are transitioning from traditionally labor-intensive and error-prone methods of phone and fax order fulfillment to the increased accuracy and productivity of Internet-based commerce."

RepairLink is OEConnection's fifth Internet-based core service for online parts sourcing, buying and selling, as well as dealership idle inventory reduction and parts movement analysis. All OEConnection dealer programs are integrated on one screen with up-to-the-minute order status, order confirmations, one-screen navigation, buyer-seller instant messaging, and audible PC, text pager or cell phone order alerts for when parts department sales staff step away from their computers for other dealership activities. Dealerships can accept online parts orders from other dealerships, collision shops, and now fleets and repair shop installers.

OEConnection Contact information:
Fleet and repair shop information: Contact OEConnection at 1-330-523-1881.
Dealerships: Contact OEConnection at 1-330-523-1847.
Auto manufacturers: Contact OEConnection at 1-330-523-1840.

About OEConnection LLC

OEConnection is a provider of web-based technology solutions for automakers, their affiliated dealers, and others in the automotive parts business. Serving over 15,000 dealerships, collision repairers, fleets and repair shops, OEConnection provides the industry's largest ecommerce parts exchange and analysis tools enabling users to better market, manage, move and purchase original equipment parts. Depended on for over 4.5 million parts decisions monthly, OEConnection solutions facilitate an estimated $8 billion in annual parts trade. OEConnection is a joint venture created by DaimlerChrysler, Ford Motor Company, General Motors, and Snap-on Business Solutions. The company is headquartered in the greater Cleveland area at 4150 Highlander Parkway, Richfield, OH, 44286. For more information, email Janice.Schenk@OEConnection.com, visit www.OEConnection.com or call 1-330-523-1891.

CONTACT: Janice Schenk, +1-330-523-1891, of OEConnection LLC

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