Solution
After careful evaluation of each software, Arnold Motor Supply selected Autopart, the SQL based business management solution from KCS. The store operators, inventory management personnel, finance team and counter professionals preferred the Autopart solution due to its ease of use, integration capabilities, and rich features.
The Accounting department saw the possibility of having a fully native, real-time ledgers package within their business management solution, and the distribution center was excited by the possibilities of operating a seamless Warehouse Management Solution (WMS) in lieu of an integration to a third-party solution. In order to meet the growing need, Autopart provided each department with the strength and adaptability they were looking for as well as ease of use and dependability.
Beyond the business reasons behind the decision, Arnold Motor Supply also valued the technology that drives the business functionality. Autopart being built on Microsoft SQL, would give Arnold Motor Supply a level of access to data not found on systems built on legacy database solutions.
By July 2018, Arnold Motor Supply had fully implemented the Autopart solution into 72 profit centers with over 400 active users.
Arnold Motor Supply uses Autopart to manage day-to-day business operations, including order entry, reporting, accounts payable, accounts receivable, general ledgers, purchasing, and inventory management. They have access to their information with customizable reports and integration with Phocas, a robust business intelligence (BI) solution.
Also, Arnold Motor Supply can provide access for their key people to retrieve information through Microsoft Excel and SQL views, enabling them to see and drill into data as desired. Store managers have access to daily metrics through Arnold Motor Supply’s company portal and purchasing managers can drill into the data to assist them in their purchase and stocking decisions.
The integrated WMS solution provides Arnold Motor Supply with features like receiving, picking, packing, inventory counting and performance reporting. Using WMS in conjunction with Autopart means that everything in the system is in real-time. They now have better trackability of where they are sourcing product which simplifies the process of returns and helps buyers make more informed purchasing decisions.
We’re able to empower users to access data that they used to have to request from the IT Department. Whether a standard report, a custom query, or a data feed to our intranet, we’re making strides toward ensuring our people have the information they need to perform their jobs well.
Being tightly integrated with the core business system has allowed Arnold Motor Supply to see improvements in picking accuracy and gives them visibility to metrics that allows them to improve their processes within their distribution centers.
We have better visibility to the inventory management logic, which helps us have a better handle on what products are stocked at various branches as we work toward improving inventory turn.
Following implementation, Arnold Motor Supply converted their point-of-sale eCatalog to Autocat, the newest eCatalog solution in the automotive aftermarket. Their goal was to get faster catalog data updates for their parts counter which means access to the newest part releases and up-to-date manufacturer corrections on errors and omissions.
Autocat provides Arnold Motor Supply with the most up-to-date catalog data available, ensuring that their counter professionals are not losing sales or wasting significant time searching manufacturer sites for information. Also, because the catalog is configurable, Arnold Motor Supply can modify the setup of categories and groups to ensure maximum productivity in the look-up process.
Manufacturers and suppliers can submit data through Autocat using both ACES and PIES delivery specifications, which is then verified and standardized before being published to the cloud. Counter staff access the data via the internet from Autocat’s user-friendly desktop interface. Users can intuitively select year make and model information or use the VIN lookup to identify and sell the parts the customer is looking for.
The Interchange and Buyers Guide provide additional tools for counter professionals to find the correct parts and service their customers. Personalized notes and customizable product categories allow the catalog to be tailored to individual requirements.
Autocat provides us with access to the latest data updates from manufacturers and includes features that help us to streamline our point of sale process.
Benefits
Using Autopart, Arnold Motor Supply has better access to system data and business metrics. This allows them to measure their performance and identify challenges and opportunities faster than before. The tighter integration with accounting gives them better drill down capability and increased efficiency. And with stronger inventory management and warehouse management, they are improving inventory turns and have seen an increase in picking accuracy.
Autopart and WMS have taken our inventory management capability to a higher level. We now benefit from a solid, transparent logic and tight integration between store operations, inventory management, warehouse management and accounting.
Arnold Motor Supply is well equipped to sell parts quickly and accurately with Autocat eCatalog integrated in point-of-sale. The efficient flow of the look-up and the quality of the data ensure that there are minimal lost sales and less time wasted finding the right part.
Changing software is a massive and difficult task for any organization. KCS has a strong team of competent support and training staff to make that process as smooth as possible. Their attention to detail and flexibility working with us enabled our conversion to succeed and made a challenging implementation possible. While we still have work to do one year in, our decision to select Autopart has been a good one.
