View - OEConnection

Volume 16
Spring/Summer
2008
Messenger
OEConnection
A newsletter for professionals in dealership Fixed Operations.
DMS Integration
OEConnection Expands Offerings
to Service Departments
SEE PAGE 4
8
The 8 Great
Selling-Idle Tips!
OEConnection has many solutions to
help reduce idle inventory, including
D2D Plus – Idle & Reporting,
Parts Matching, Advanced Selling,
DiscountPartsHUB and LinkIQ. Follow
these tips to help sell more idle parts
using these products:
4Price your parts to sell.
4Create exclusion rules for parts you don’t want to discount.
4Respond to buyers promptly.
4Enable E-commerce capabilities.
4Set up email alerts for new sales.
4Set up payment and shipping
preferences.
4Keep your dealership and user
information up-to-date.
4Call OEConnection for step-by-step help,
888-776-5792, x1917.
Right part. Right place. Right time.
Great news! It just got faster, easier
and more accurate for dealers to
process OEConnection online sales
orders! DMS Connect integrates
CollisionLink, D2DLink and
D2D Express online sales orders
with ADP Elite/w.e.b.Suite dealermanagement systems. It’s what
you’ve been waiting for! DMS
integration!
On selling crash parts wholesale
to collision shops, Ike Herman,
OEConnection’s
CollisionLink
Implementation Manager said,
“This DMS integration is exactly
what parts managers and counter
people have been waiting for —
integration of two systems to
streamline their business!”
“Using this technology, parts
teams can transform their
business in so many ways. The
most noticeable change is the
elimination of DMS order data
entry, which results in speeding
order fulfillment and improved
order
accuracy,
but
most
importantly, by servicing their
continued on page 3
Letter From the Editor
In this Issue
Page Topic
1
The 8 Great Selling-Idle Tips
1 & 3
DMS Integration
2
Letter From the Editor
4-5
OEConnection Offers
Service Products
6
D2DLink Parts Updating
6
On the Web
7
More Secure Technology for
D2DLink Data Collection
7
Tuesdays with OEConnection
8-9
Dealership Profile
9
NADA 2008 Winner
10
GM Workbench
10
Welcome Hyundai Dealers
11
OEConnection Email Alerts
12
Welcome Suzuki Dealers
2
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}
Janice Schenk
Product Marketing Manager
888-776-5792, x1891
Janice.Schenk@OEConnection.com
Contact Us
4205 Highlander Parkway
Richfield, Ohio 44286
phone: 330-523-1800
fax: 330-523-1700
toll-free: 888-776-5792
OEConnection@OEConnection.com
www.OEConnection.com
In March, I had a car accident. First
let me say – my 9-year old daughter
and I are just fine. Second —
I drive a Chevy Tahoe. We were in the
freeway left lane when a car pulled
in front of us and had piles of snow
blowing off its top. I started slowing
because I couldn’t see and then the
snow in the lane grabbed hold of both
left wheels. I braked — the car spun —
we went head on into the right guard
rail at about 15 miles per hour.
After the usual and customary postaccident activities — 911 call, noambulance-needed retort to the police,
and the stopped traffic so I could turn
my vehicle around, we drove the short
way home.
So back to my Tahoe — there’s
not much damage. But, I started
thinking about what type of
parts to use on the bumper
— aftermarket or original
equipment. Don’t tell my
husband I said that.
There’s no doubt about
it — my SUV is two years
old and I want original
equipment parts.
One thing OEConnection
has taught me — OE parts
are the way to go. Better
quality — faster to install — better
manufacturer warranty assurances.
For comments, feedback, or suggestions on this newsletter’s
content or value, and to submit product feature suggestions,
please contact the newsletter editor:
Janice Schenk, Product Marketing Manager
888-776-5792, x1891 I Janice.Schenk@OEConnection.com
To subscribe to any of OEConnection dealership or distributor
products, contact:
Kyle McChesney, Director, Direct Sales
888-776-5792, x1847 I Kyle.McChesney@OEConnection.com
Not only do I work for a technology
company with a primary goal of
helping dealerships sell more OE
parts and becoming more efficient
and profitable, I’m also a consumer
after all. As we here at OEConnection define,
develop and teach on products that
help dealerships, our newest is the
best yet — integration between
OEConnection online transactions
and ADP’s Elite/w.e.b.Suite DMS.
If I were in business, I’d want this
capability for my team — to create
a quote at the push of a button
from D2D Express, D2DLink and
CollisionLink sales. If you’re reading
this article, then you couldn’t have
missed it on our front cover. And don’t
miss our newest initiative — we now
have Service Department offerings
(page 4). Welcome to Hyundai
dealerships (page 10) and Suzuki
dealerships (page 12). Each automaker
is rolling out OEConnection products
to all of their dealerships.
So while I sit in my office writing
this article, my wonderful husband
is off getting the needed estimate so I
can have my car repaired — with OE
parts of course.
For information about OEConnection products and services for your
auto manufacturer, contact:
James Rose, Jr., VP Sales & Emerging Markets
888-776-5792, x1840 I James.Rose@OEConnection.com
Submit address, email, telephone, fax number and parts and service manager
changes to: Grace.Brinker@OEConnection.com or call 888-776-5792, x1946
For product and technical questions, call Customer Care at 888-776-5792, ext. 2
Lead Writer: Beth Starling
DMS Integration
— continued from page 1
collision repair facilities better
with complete CollisionLink
orders including parts price
increases, delivery dates and
corrected parts. Now that’s what I
call full lifecycle order integration!”
Shop business/
estimating system
CollisionLink
shop
COLLISIONLINK CollisionLink
PARTS
dealer
CollisionLink ORDERING
shop
CYCLE
CollisionLink
dealer
DMS
About filling more D2D
Express orders, Charley Hamlin,
OEConnection’s D2D Express
Product Manager said, “In a
split second, dealers can lose a
{ }
potential D2D
Express
order
while checking
“Dealers can automatically see the
availability! Not
real-time DMS on-hand, right there
anymore using
on the D2D Express awaiting
DMS
Connect.
commitment screen, saving time
Dealers
can
and helping to fill more orders.”
automatically
Charley Hamlin, OEConnection,
D2D Express Product Manager
see the real-time
DMS
on-hand,
right there on the
D2D Express awaiting commitment it automatically creates a DMS
screen, saving time and helping to quote helping dealers avoid the
fill more orders. And of course, no need to recalculate each part line
more order data entry saves order item’s price to the discounted price
completion time and improves in the DMS — because it’s now
all integrated.”
order accuracy.”
Steve Reeling, OEConnection’s For more information, contact
D2D Plus Product Manager said, an OEConnection representative at
“DMS Connect is ideal for 888-776-5792, x3, or enroll online
D2D
Plus
dealers
selling at http://enroll.oeconnection.com.
discounted parts in bulk because
DMS Connect — Features and Benefits
CollisionLink
D2D Express
D2DLink
Automatically create ADP Elite/w.e.b.Suite DMS
quote from online transaction
4
4
4
Send part details, all pricing, customer number and
employee number from online transactions to DMS
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
Eliminate line item pricing adjustments in DMS
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
Shops receive complete order details online – for full-cycle
ordering – so dealers can service shops faster, better and easier
4
4
4
See DMS quote number/confirmation in
OEConnection online transactions
Modify employee number to send to DMS on demand
Part numbers not in DMS are automatically added to DMS quote
Select parts to be sent from online order to DMS (optional)
Ship-to transaction information passes to quote, so automaker
is invoiced for the correct buying dealership
Eliminate DMS order data entry
Improve order accuracy with reduced data entry
Streamline order selling with the integration of two
separate business systems
Save valuable time, improve efficiency, speed order processing
Faster customer invoicing
Reduce switching back and forth between programs Make faster parts selling decisions with real-time part
availability in online transactions
3
OEConnection
now
offers
dealerships two service department
products — both currently
available to GM dealerships. Just
like all OEConnection parts
department products, service
products are available from any
PC with an Internet connection
and can be used by an unlimited
number of workstations under
a dealership’s rooftop. These
products offer service departments
increased sales opportunities, which
of course can directly help increase
parts sales. Enrollments are being
taken for both — one for a fee,
and one at no charge, courtesy of
General Motors.
Does your service manager know
about these new OEConnection
service products? Give them a
heads up that OEConnection will
be calling! Or, have them call us
directly at 888-776-5792, x1871.
OEConnection
Offers Service Products
Electronic Service Maintenance Menus
Key Features:
4
• Interactive vehicle-specific service menus
• Dealer-recommended service packages
• Dealer-specific labor op codes
• Dealer-specific pricing
• Online multi-point vehicle inspection form
• Printable vehicle-specific menus
• Factory-recommended services
• Pricing and profitability analysis
• Productivity reporting
• Increase professionalism
• Identify needed repairs
• Save time
• Increase sales.
Menu Features (for Service
Consultants and Customers):
• On screen interactive consultative sales tool for Service Consultants
• Display and print service menus
with specific make-model-year pricing
• Present dealer-defined
and factory-recommended
maintenance services
• Consistently provide vehicle
owners with accurate and
complete menus in simple
language
• Includes all GM model years
2000 and newer
• Print menus in color or black
and white
• Incorporate dealer labor
op codes.
Program Features
(for Service Directors):
• Ability to manage
dealer-specific parts pricing
• Add dealer-defined services at recommended mileage intervals
• Use built-in pricing and
profitability tools to help analyze and price service packages using profit mark-up, gross margin, and effective labor rate
• Automatically integrates with General Motor’s factory recommended maintenance services, including Simplified Maintenance MI & MII
• Flexibility to easily change prices and add/update service packages as needed
• Customize menus with dealer logo, contact information, and dealer service benefits.
{
}
OEConnection now offers
dealerships two service department
products — both currently
available to GM dealerships.
Service Fleet Vehicles Through GM’s
National Fleet Maintenance Program
Reporting and Multi-Point
Vehicle Inspection (MPVI)
Features
• Review reports on Service
Consultant menu lookups
• Use the online integrated
Multi-Point Vehicle Inspection
Form
• Track additional recommended
services found using the MPVI form
• Measure presentations of
additional and recommended
services by Service Consultant.
OEConnection is now taking dealer enrollments for GM’s
new National Fleet Maintenance Program. This new and
exciting GM program is available to dealerships courtesy of
General Motors to help deliver new fleet-driver customers
to dealerships for increased service and parts sales. In
addition, it helps GM forge stronger relationships with
national managed fleet companies. GM’s National Fleet
Maintenance Program provides a single consolidated billing
for fleet work performed at participating GM dealers. There
are no dealership costs to enroll, use the service, and receive
these fleet driver referrals as part of this preferred network.
To learn more about the program, please contact your GM
Regional Service Representative or enroll now at
http://enroll.OEConnection.com.
5
D2DLink Parts Updating
Easier Parts Updating
Sending parts inventory files to
OEConnection for posting on
D2DLink
just
got
easier!
Dealers who currently send
parts files manually can
now download, install and
configure special software that
automates the sending of
inventory files via FTP or email
to OEConnection. Once the setup
is complete, just click, drag, and
drop the inventory file in the
specified location — and the file is
automatically sent to OEConnection
for posting on D2DLink. For
more information, please contact
OEConnection Customer Care at
888-776-5792, x2.
Ensuring Inventory Updating
6
{
Is your parts inventory posted
daily to D2DLink?
If so,
congratulations ­— you’re getting
the most from your D2DLink
subscription with parts ready to be
sold or automatically replenished.*
Here’s how to check your parts
inventory updating status:
1.
2.
3.
4.
}
Log into D2DLink.
Click on Tools.
Click Inventory Info.
Review dates and part count changes.
If not ­— you’re missing out on
sales opportunities, and everyone
knows you don’t want to miss even
one chance to sell a part when
the opportunity arises.
Be sure to check the inventory
updating status after power
outages, if you switch DMS’s, or if
DMS user names and passwords
have changed.
Call OEConnection Customer
Care at 888-776-5792, x2, or click
Feedback in D2DLink to send us
a message with questions.
*Tire Replenishment for Ford and GM dealers,
Motorcraft replenishment for Ford dealers.
On the Web
Ford and GM dealers —
Buy parts at a discount!
Learn how to set up tire replenishment stocking guides.
Learn how to show your
www.OEConnection.com/TRTSetup
contact info to dealers
whose idle match your
fast-selling parts.
www.OEConnection.com/065
Read OEConnection’s press release on integration
with ADP’s DMS.
www.OEConnection.com/press
More Secure Technology for
D2DLink Data Collection
DMS (Dealer Management System)
technology continues to evolve
away from data collection via the
DMS modem. Digital Motorworks,
Inc, (DMi), has developed a new
technology, InfoIQ
SafeLink,
which replaces modem access.
InfoIQ SafeLink is downloadable
from the Internet and available to
dealerships at no charge.
Ted Fellowes, OEConnection
Vice President said, “SafeLink is a
means to faster and more reliable
D2DLink data collection, has a one
time installation, and is so easy,
anyone can do it. The software
resides on a PC that connects
to both the DMS and the Internet,
so no software resides on the DMS.”
To take advantage of this new
technology visit http://safelink.
dmotorworks.com/. Or, contact
DMi’s InfoIQ SafeLink hotline at
888-364-5969, 7am-6pm Central
Time Monday through Friday, or
by email at safelink_support@
dmotorworks.com.
Tuesdays with OEConnection
On the second Tuesday of every month, OEConnection offers
virtual training. Sit at your computer, listen on your telephone,
and OEConnection will teach you how automotive professionals
across the country are using our products to improve the
efficiency of their business.
May 13
2008
D2DLink Bells and Whistles — Are you using D2DLink just for locating parts? This
session will teach you D2DLink bells and whistles. Set favorite dealers to appear at the top of searches, create an advertising message, search
for parts that are discounted, search for tires by size, get discount parts offers from selling
dealers, and more.
June 10
2008
Reducing Idle Inventory — Find out how July 8
2008
Tire Replenishment Tool — Learn how
7
{
}
Tuesdays 2 pm EST
OEConnection’s online tools can help you reduce idle inventory, increase inventory turns, better control stock levels and parts
assortment, and increase profits!
to choose your tire distributors, select tires, and
set minimum stocking levels so orders are
automatically created every business morning (Ford and GM dealers only).
View past recorded sessions at
www.OEConnection.com/Training
Dealership Profile
People’s Chevrolet
Gerry Lefebvre looks for every opportunity
improve cycle time – we do. Our
to automate, accelerate, streamline and
CollisionLink
expedite his business. If it’s technology, Gerry
to expect the order date and time
digs in at the first chance.
stamp with online orders, and that
shops
have
come
information helps them with planning
and with improving cycle time.
Question: So your team likes technology?
Answer: We’ve added a whole parts
Internet department at our dealerships
with a dedicated resource, Chris, who
uses D2DLink and the D2D Plus
products all day long – buying and
Parts Manager: Gerry Lefebvre
San Diego, California
Question: How’s CollisionLink working
8
for your dealership?
Answer: Great! It’s a huge time-saver
for us, and there are so many reasons
to use it. All our salespeople are on
commission and they don’t make
money if they’re on the phone. When
a CollisionLink order pops up on the
screen, they jump on the sale.
Used with DMS Connect, we enter
the salesperson’s number to create
the DMS quote automatically. Plus,
our paper and fax cartridge costs have
gone down and we’re not killing as
many trees.
We pay Chris a percentage of what he
buys and sells, so the more he saves
the dealership, the more he earns. It’s a
win-win for us both.
selling parts online. He buys and sells
Question: Any challenges with buying
one part at a time for daily special
idle online?
orders, and buys in bulk to reduce
Answer: Dealerships not replying to
parts purchase costs. Our idle is in
offers is a big challenge. They just don’t
{
}
really good control, so we don’t sell
use the technology. After 24 to 48
much in bulk at a discount.
hours of no reply to the online offer,
“We’ve generated a lot of profit buying
parts this way. We pay Chris a percentage
of what he buys and sells, so the more he
saves the dealership, the more he earns.
It’s a win-win for us both.”
Gerry Lefebvre, Parts Manager,
People’s Chevrolet, San Diego, California
Question: You’re active in buying and
Chris will start calling people to make
selling idle online?
these deals, when in fact they just need
Answer: Yes. Chris spends hours
to check their screen. He has dealers
Question: How does CollisionLink
matching our fast selling parts to other
print orders and fax them back. He
affect your service level to shop
dealers’ idle. He checks the D2D Plus –
teaches some how to use the system. He
customers?
Offers Out tab every morning to see
even gives out OEConnection’s phone
Answer: We wholesale parts by fax,
what parts matched overnight. Last
number. All they have to do is check
phone, and are now transitioning
month he bought $50k in parts, at a
the boxes for the parts to sell, and enter
customers to online. Our goal is to
savings of 30 to 65 percent discount.
a PO number. We pay by credit card,
provide excellent customer service,
He’s on track to buy $100k in parts this
so they know they’ll get their money.
and CollisionLink helps us do just
month — all at a discount. This buying
You’d never consider faxing something
that. Shops — as well as our team—
affects our discounts with GM, but the
to Amazon, right — so, why print
know that time is money, and we’ve
savings truly outweighs the benefits
this? These dealers are paying for this
got agreement from our shops that
of our GM discount. We’ve generated
system and they’re just not taking full
anything we can do to help them
a lot of profit buying parts this way.
advantage of the features.
continued on page 9
You Speak...
and OEConnection
listens!
Question: Talk for a minute
Question: How is DMS Connect’s ADP
about D2D Express.
integration working for your team?
Answer: All the guys have
Answer: Our dealership was the
that on their screen all day
first across the country to use this
long – even I do. It’s another
integration, and wow did we see a
tool that dealers can use
difference! First and foremost, we’ve
through the OEConnection
boosted our dealership productivity
site to help sell more parts. We were
for any type of online order because
selling a lot of parts using the old Sprint
we’re eliminating those keystrokes.
systems, but D2D Express has totally
And boy do we fill those online orders.
changed the dynamics. It’s easy — one
The quote transfers over to the DMS
click. We sell about five times more
and all the order information passes
using the online system. We also set
through to create the quote and then
up notifications — so we get Outlook
we just roll it into an invoice. Whether
notifications popping on the screen a
it’s selling idle, or filling D2D Express
split second before the orders come in,
orders, or selling parts to collision
and we jump on them.
shops, this integration has made a
Look for product enhancements
phased in during 2008.
•Automatic replenishment scheduling
(Ford and GM)
•Additional replenishment functionality
to speed stocking guide setup and
editing, along with backorder indicator
•D2DLink buyer-side purchase
enhancements including an expanded
favorites list and tools for easier and
faster buying of idle parts
•D2D Express audible alerts and more!
To suggest a product enhancement use
FEEDBACK from inside the product, contact
us at OEConnection@OEConnection.com
or call 888-776-5792, x1939.
9
huge difference.
NADA 2008 Winner
Thanks to everyone who found their way to OEConnection’s booth at NADA
2008! We’re glad we had the opportunity to meet with many of you at the show.
Congratulations to Freedom Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, in Lexington, Kentucky,
randomly selected from all dealership representatives who saw a demo of our
products in our San Francisco booth! Dealership Principal, Paul Cleaver
and Parts Manager, Dwayne Hurst won OEConnection’s booth prize
of a special appearance in their dealership by World Champion Hall
of Fame Billiards Player Ewa Mataya Laurance.
“Freedom Chrysler is going all out for this event,” said Janice
Schenk, OEConnection Product Marketing Manager. “They’re
taking this special event prize and turning it into a charity
event. They’ll have a pool table in the showroom, do lots of
promotion including 60, 10 and 30 second TV promos with a
live 30 minute TV show on the CBS affiliate. If guests playing
Ewa in a game of 9-ball win, they’ll get $1,000 off a new vehicle
purchase. When Ewa wins, Freedom Chrysler will donate $200 to
the local Cardinal Hill Rehabilitation Hospital.”
Paul Cleaver, Dealer Principal, Freedom Dodge
Ewa Mataya Laurance
GM Workbench
10
{
OEConnection’s part locating functionality is now built in to General
Motors’ Parts Workbench, streamlining the parts procurement
workflow for GM dealers! The OEConnection team is excited to be
the only third-party supplier chosen by GM to be included in its
parts and service Workbench. Part locates in the Workbench return
D2DLink results, and direct access into D2DLink provides advanced
features including buying parts online, key cut
and paint code lookup, and tire replenishment.
Look for D2DLink on the Workbench now,
and rolling out to all GM dealers by
summer 2008. And, for the few remaining
GM dealers not yet enrolled in D2DLink,
now’s the perfect time, so you too can
find needed parts at other dealerships
from within the GM Parts Workbench.
For more information or to subscribe to
D2DLink, call 888-776-5792, x1847.
}
Part locates in the Workbench return
D2DLink results, and direct access
into D2DLink provides advanced
features including buying parts
online, key cut and paint code
lookup, and tire replenishment.
Welcome Hyundai Dealers
Hyundai America is implementing
OEConnection’s D2D Express
technology to help fill dealership
backorder requests and improve
customer satisfaction. Being
rolled out this spring, dealers will
log in to D2D Express through
Hyundai’s corporate parts portal.
For Hyundai dealers already using
OEConnection products for their
other franchises, they’ll notice a
brand new look and feel to the
system. Like what you see? Give
us a call at 888-776-5792, x1939
or send OEConnection an email
to let us know! OEConnection@
OEConnection.com.
OEConnection Products
OEConnection
Email Alerts
Want to get OEConnection email
alerts? Send us your updated email
address, and you’ll be included
when system enhancements begin or
program changes occur. Email us at
OEConnection@OEConnection.com.
We’ll confirm receipt of your email
and add you to our distribution.
Fast, easy, and accurate online
fulfillment of collision shop wholesale
parts orders.
Fast, easy, and accurate online parts
locating and fulfillment to help
dealerships buy and sell more OE
and alternate parts, accessories, and
authorized tires.
• Rapid Parts Search – locates from
within a DMS.
• Automatic or manual replenishment
(TRT/MRT) of tires and Motorcraft
(Ford) parts from authorized
distributors.
Dealerships help fill a manufacturer’s
emergency-needed backordered parts.
Products and services to enhance
D2DLink.
• Idle & Reporting: Online tools to
help reduce idle inventory.
• Parts Matching: Sellers and buyers
find bulk parts at a discount.
• Advanced Selling: Automatic idle
inventory sales offers to potential
shoppers.
• StoreFront: Dealership-customizable
web page showcasing complete parts
inventory to D2DLink dealers.
• Inventory Updating: Mid-day and
Saturday updating.
• Bin Labels: Receive bin labels
monthly for D2DLink parts.
Website available for all makes and
models of auto dealerships to buy
and sell discounted OE parts.
Integration of OEConnection online
sales transactions with a dealership’s
management system.
Internet-based data analysis tools
to help dealerships and auto
manufacturers drive increased sales.
Fast, easy, and accurate online
fulfillment of fleet and repair shop
parts orders.
11
Welcome Suzuki Dealers
American
Suzuki
Motor
Corporation is implementing
OEConnection’s D2DLink and
D2D Plus – Idle & Reporting
technology at its dealerships to
help enhance parts supply chain
performance and improve driver
customer satisfaction.
“We’ve been using D2DLink
for our Suzuki franchise for years.
When a car is down and we need
parts the same day, we contact
dealers on D2DLink because it’s
a sure thing,” said John Wojtczak,
Parts Manager at Sutton Ford/
Suzuki, in Matteson, Illinois. “We
need to provide the best customer
service possible to our customers,
and once all Suzuki dealers are
on board, it’ll be even easier to do
just that.”
Suzuki dealers can now use
D2DLink to locate, buy, and
sell parts more efficiently and
accurately with automated daily
{
and increase profits. Suzuki joins
the thousands of dealers in
North America already using
OEConnection technology to get
}
“When a car is down and we need
parts the same day, we contact dealers
on D2DLink because it’s a sure thing.”
John Wojtczak, Parts Manager
Sutton Ford/Suzuki, Matteson, Illinois
inventory updates. With D2D Plus –
Idle and Reporting, dealers can
reduce idle inventory, increase
inventory turns, better control
stock levels and parts assortment,
the right part, at the right place, at
the right time. For more information
on how OEConnection can help
dealerships improve productivity
and profitability, please call
888-776-5792, x3.
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Richfield, OH 44286
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