Introduction
Spare parts sales are a major contributor to an OEMs profitability which calls for an efficient mechanism for streamlining the parts ordering and tracking. Irrespective of the domain of manufacturing, spare parts availability directly impacts an organization’s productivity. An OEM sells all their spare parts and components through a dealer network. An electronic parts catalog software is a digital system that helps in the identification of right parts and acts as a centralized storage of all parts catalog.
Challenges When Using a Traditional Spare Part Catalog Management System
Traditional spare part management systems do not offer the flexibility and the technology that optimizes the spare parts ordering and tracking. Traditional methods of managing the spare parts catalogs required OEMs to maintain hard copies of the catalog which had challenges when it came to updates, distribution among the dealers, etc.
Let us see how an electronic parts catalog software optimizes the ordering and tracking of spare parts:
Centralized System Where All the Catalogs Can Be Stored and Managed
A spare part catalog management system acts as a centralized system which is a storage for all the spare part catalogs. This means OEMs no longer need to distribute catalogs to every dealer in their network. This information also has the correct part numbers, description and specifications of the parts with up-to-date information. In case of any updates, the OEM can upload the updated illustration of the spare part catalog and it will replace the old part.
Ordering is Streamlined and Incorporated in the Catalog Software
Dealers can check the entire assembly and also check the parts which make up the assembly. This provides the right information and ordering is extremely easy from the detailed diagram. Once the part is highlighted, it can directly be ordered. Ordering is made easy as it helps the dealers identify the right parts. The challenge in the traditional set up was the correct part identification to order them. It often caused mismatches and delays in the identification of parts.
Inventory Information in the Spare Part Catalog Software
The spare part catalog software not just provides the detailed information of spare parts but also gives an insight on the inventory items. As the parts are manufactured by the OEMs, they have greater control over the visibility of the inventory items. Dealers can get this information about the spare part catalog and ensure they maintain their stock accordingly. In case of a part not being available or sold out, the part catalog software is intelligent enough to show the parts that would act as a replacement of the out of stock part. This ensures dealers have a seamless experience while ordering parts. When ordering parts, dealers also get the relevant call tags for the tracking of the orders in the system itself.
Analytics are the Most Important
Electronic parts catalog software is embedded with tools that analyze the usage of the spare parts, the cost and also gives more information on the trends in spare parts ordering, etc. This gives an opportunity to OEMs to identify areas of improvement and how they can further support the dealer network to enhance the sales of the spare parts.
Conclusion
A part catalog software improves the efficiency of not just the dealers but also the OEMs. This centralized management of spare parts catalog proves to be efficient while ordering parts. Right parts identification, streamlined ordering system and tracking of the orders from order generation to delivery is what makes these software’s the go to solution for OEMs.
