Leading Trailer Manufacturer Increases Parts Sales with New Solution

A leading trailer manufacturer in North America needed a comprehensive, flexible and customer-friendly solution to help their customers order after-market parts through an online system.

This OEM needed a new system that would automate the parts ordering process for them and achieve the above goals. They wanted a solution that would be intuitive for their customers, have multiple search options for flexibility, integrate with their internal ERP and would continue to adapt and grow with them.

After analyzing various options, the company chose to implement Optimum Info’s Parts Ordering Management Solution. The Optimum Parts solution automated and gave them more control over many of the parts ordering processes. The system was seamlessly integrated with the ERP system to import master records such as parts prices, supplier details, VIN numbers, and Bill of Material (BOM) and export back confirmed Parts Orders. Optimum Info also implemented a near real-time integration of parts inventory to provide accurate inventory information to customers when ordering parts.

As system usage continues to grow Optimum Info works with the OEM business stakeholders to add several new features and enhancements.

One of the key features that attracted the company to Optimum Info was the system’s comprehensive search capabilities. Customers are able to search for parts not just by product number, but also by VIN number, assembly and part type, BOM and more.

The trailer manufacturer also made a special request for automatic BOM mapping, which Optimum Info delivered. With this feature users can search for assemblies via images and choose which parts of the assembly they need.

This flexible feature along with the other search options made the parts purchasing process a much easier and straightforward experience.

Optimum Info implemented the system in two phases to ease the OEM’s users into the new system. The core features were implemented in Phase One, while special enhancements such as the inventory management and automated BOM features were implemented in Phase Two.

Training was carried out to all admin users and end users of the system. After just two live-training sessions, core users were ready to go to train their own dealers and customers. Optimum Info ensured the OEM was equipped with everything they needed to train their users by providing detailed training documentation, training presentations and a user manual as part of the solution package.

The OEM’s customers often mention the ease and friendliness of the new system and how effortless it is to place an order due to the many automation features.

Just after phase one implementation, the OEM received over two hundred orders. Today, approximately 90% of parts sales come from their parts ordering system.

With their new parts ordering system, the leading trailer manufacturer now has: