Setup and ongoing optimization of a dealership' management system is the single greatest way to produce a healthy parts inventory and keep customers satisfied, said Kaylee Felio, sales and marketing manager at PartsEdge.
When getting started, Felio recommends auditing the department's existing DMS to compare with a physical inventory report. This will expose any discrepancies between what the DMS says is in stock and what's really on the shelf, she said. Some indications of issues are low fill rates, high obsolescence that continues to come back, inventory turn rate issues and low gross profits.
"Dedicate some time weekly to learning the ins and outs of your system," Felio said. "Ongoing, it's important to ensure you have a clear and straightforward way to access reports that inform stocking choices going forward."
