We are a GM dealership that uses ADP, with DCS etc. Internet utilization is becoming more predominant (required). Dealerworld, Global Tire Warranty, training, VIS 2000, SI 2000, etc. You get the picture.
Frankly, Im glad. Things should be a lot quicker, especially with a cable connection.
I look forward to the D2D link. Depending on other dealers to upload their inventories is not effective or accurate enough.
As far as One-Touch, Parts Voice, and the like arent nearly as accurate. Why would anyone pay an extra fee for something they already have anyway? Getting a disc from One-Touch thats already two weeks old doesnt seem too logical. As for the WD suppliers being on One-Touch, most experienced (GM) parts countermen can usually tell what type of parts the WD is most likely going to stock, or possibly going to have anyway, thus a quick phone call would determine availability from them.
Enough about the locator stuff.
Our parts department has recently become Connected to the Internet due to necessity. I am sure we are far behind many others. However, our department is one of the only ones, aside from the Principal to access DWD and another terminal for the techs to access SI 2000 & VIS, to have an Internet connection. The rest of the computer terminals are CRTs for ADP purposes only. Service writers, primarily.
Does anyone have any success or nightmare stories in regards to full integration between the Parts & Service Departments & The Internet? Networking seems like the most likely answer. I can see some upsides to upgrading the whole system to PCs and catching up to the times. Parts or Service e-mailing customers to notify customers that their parts are in, scheduling appointments, service reminders, etc. Parts e-mailing service, Service e-mailing Parts. In house e-mail seems too much with ADP & it does nothing in regards to e-mailing anyone else.
We need more PCs, less CRTs. Bell & Howell (ProQuest) owns the Parts PCs, ADP the CRTs in Service. Does ADP offer PCs for Service? I would certainly think so.
Is the answer affordable? Better yet, can I sell it to the Principal? Is it effective?
Thanks ahead of time.
jdpetey