Software enables automatic stock replenishment.
Press Release Summary:
Providing supply chain optimization and inventory management, Motorcraft® Replenishment Tool connects auto dealerships with Ford Warehouse Distributors, enabling next day or same day automatic restocking of fast-moving and other Motorcraft parts. Proactive parts stocking tool anticipates and eliminates stock-out situations before they occur. Using MRT's tailored stocking guide, parts managers can set and control minimum stocking levels.
Original Press Release:
OEConnection Introduces Managed Inventory Tool for Automatic Replenishment of Ford Motorcraft® Parts
RICHFIELD, Ohio, Oct. 31 /-- OEConnection LLC, a recognized technology leader in the online procurement and analysis of original equipment parts, announced today the introduction of its Motorcraft(R) Replenishment Tool (MRT), the company's latest efficiency tool for enhanced supply chain optimization and inventory management. Designed in cooperation with Ford Motor Company, the Motorcraft(R) Replenishment Tool connects auto dealerships with their Ford Warehouse Distributors for next day, or same day, automatic restocking of fast-moving and other Motorcraft(R) parts.
As a proactive parts stocking tool designed to anticipate and eliminate costly, time-consuming stock-out situations before they occur, MRT offers both buyers and sellers the added ability to increase parts sales and enhance customer satisfaction. With MRT, Ford Warehouse Distributors can reduce the number of hot-shot deliveries and realize savings in transportation and order processing costs. They can also better serve and solidify their dealership relationships as a preferred Motorcraft(R) supplier. With MRT's automatic order generation, busy dealership parts professionals can save time, prevent lost sales, and optimize off-the-shelf fill rates. Using MRT's tailored stocking guide, parts managers can set and control minimum stocking levels freeing them to spend more selling time with customers versus administrative time to manage parts orders.
"OEConnection's Motorcraft(R) Replenishment Tool is simple in concept, yet powerful in execution," commented David Arne, Channel Marketing Manager, Ford Customer Service Division. "MRT's potential to increase sales while still stripping cost and time out of the parts distribution process can be significant for both our authorized distributors and our franchised dealerships."
Added Ted Fellowes, OEConnection Vice President, Supply Chain Solutions, "MRT was a natural evolution for OEConnection based on the fact that over 95% of all North American Ford and Lincoln Mercury dealerships use our D2DLink(R) solution. This kind of parts footprint has afforded us insight into the types of additional inventory management tools the market may want and need. We think MRT will hit the sweet spot for both buyers and sellers."
MRT is the second OEConnection product to offer automatic stock replenishment. Introduced in 2006, the Tire Replenishment Tool (TRT) has successfully connected tire distributors with their dealership partners resulting in increased tire fill rates and as much as a 20% increase in tire sales for participating dealerships.
OEConnection's suite of tools provide subscribers comprehensive parts procurement solutions of near real-time visibility of parts availability and movement, ecommerce parts ordering, and automatic order replenishment. Other OEConnection authorized distributor tools for enhanced managed inventory include D2DLink(R), the industry's largest online original equipment parts sourcing, buying and selling exchange, D2D Plus(R) - StoreFront, a web store to offer all of a location's parts, and LinkIQ, an inventory analysis and in- circulation original equipment parts reporting tool.
The Motorcraft(R) Replenishment Tool was piloted by select Ford Authorized Distributors and Ford dealerships in September and October 2007, and introduced at AAPEX 2007 in Las Vegas. It is presently in general release and available to all Ford Authorized Distributors nationwide. MRT is included as a value-add to all current Ford D2DLink auto dealership subscribers.
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, 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 4205 Highlander Parkway, Richfield, OH 44286. For more information, email Janice.Schenk@OEConnection.com, visit www.OEConnection.com or call 888- 776-5792, x1891.
CONTACT: Janice Schenk of OEConnection LLC, 1-888-776-5792 x1891
Web site: http://www.oeconnection.com/
