Fixed Ops Magazine - 2021 Vol18 04 - 50

business plan that must be delivered competitively.
In these cases, RIM is a necessary component.
And
these days are coming fast. Many of those vehicles will
be sold by traditional OEM's. Auto dealers could do
well to understand and embrace this future segment
to keep their share of passenger car revenue.
COMMON COMPONENTS
IN THE BEST RIM PROGRAMS:
Here is what to look for...
* Enrollment and utilization incentives enabled by
program effectiveness. These give the retailer confidence
to trust the program from the start.
* Network-wide RIM implementation with integrated
D2D & rebalancing programs. These programs
raise and flatten the performance curve, bringing all
retailer service fill rates up to the low 90's.
D2D
speeds the sale of slow-moving parts to retailers
who are selling them.
* Realtime data from the OEM and DMS in one system
(including Master Price File (MPF)), resulting in
improvements in OEM and retailer purchasing, mistake
proofing, etc.
* Powerful data and reporting tools for Dealer Principal
and Parts Manager, to help them make important
decisions to drive business growth and customer
satisfaction.
* Planner Support to manage campaigns, events
and the " one time " things that happen all the time in
parts networks.
* Lost Business reporting.
This data is just as valuable
as actual sales to an effective RIM system.
* Deep continuous learning from changes in the business
- static systems all become obsolete. The best
learn and adjust to return value to their customers.
RIM will continue to evolve. Digital data sources like
Telematics, online scheduling, and BDC's will put the
power of prediction into these programs.
A QUESTION FOR ILLUSTRATION
AND THOUGHT:
Do you have tires and a battery for the 5-year-old /
40K mile Mazda3 that has a customer scheduled 3
50
days from now? Soon RIM programs will know if you
do not have the parts in stock and suggest it on a daily
stock order before the vehicle is in the service lane.
RIM will help your service scheduling system adjust to
enable you to deliver that service.
Evolving D2D services will allow retailers to order from
network stock to sell down parts numbers in decline
by utilizing a common interface with RIM. The power
of digital data from other (and even heretofore unknown)
sources, will continue to make RIM even more
powerful for retailers and OEM's alike.
PARTS POSTURE SERVICE DEPARTMENTS
FOR GREATNESS
Service Departments function effectively only when
the required parts are available. Retailers have many
ways to make a profit. But happy and satisfied service
customers are still the best way to grow your business
and generate long term profitability.
Embrace RIM
programs offered by your OEM and use the power of
data in your Parts Department.
Bryan Klugh is the VP
of
Inventory Management
at SmartCo an
OEC company.
Bryan
has held various positions
for over 50 years
in many aspects of the
service management
and parts
distribution
chain in the automotive
field. He envisioned the concept that led to the
development of the PartsEye™ parts inventory planning
service. Having held senior level and executive management
positions in automotive OEM, aftermarket
distribution, automotive retail and automotive aftermarket
companies, Bryan is a Fixed Operations Subject
Matter Expert with broad experience in all aspects of
spare parts forecasting, planning, management, marketing,
and service management in fields such as automotive,
small engine, truck and marine. He has direct
experience with wholesale and retail parts marketing,
management, consulting, and training. 508-379-3766 *
bklugh@partseye.com
Fixed Ops Magazine - 2021 Vol18 04

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