service to parts communication

service to parts communication

Postby Dean@CT » Tue Nov 21, 2017 3:21 pm

I posted this in Dealers & General Managers but may get more responses here...

What methods is everyone using for techs to request parts quotes and order parts? Communicate with other employees in the dealership?

Our service dept has a parts bay window, however there is quite a bottleneck at times. We are looking for a way for the tech to send a message from they bay to the parts counter, and have the ability to converse back and forth. At the same time having visibility to all in the event another tech jumps in, or the writer needs to verify where we stand on parts pricing/ETA.

Hoping someone has an iOS/Android app based idea, or another system that doesn't require adding on thousands to our overhead.
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Re: service to parts communication

Postby Gregg Atwood » Tue Dec 05, 2017 9:12 pm

Unfortunately not an easy solution with out costing. We recently went on X-time and it is actually helping with the very problem you are describing. All service requests come in to the parts dept through the application from the technician. We build estimates in the system and release them to the service adviser for presentation to the customer. Now when a technician must come to the parts window there is no waiting. Service adviser gets the approval and sends us back the sold picking order request , we fill request and deliver the parts to a technician assigned parts bin outside the parts window. ready for their pick-up if car is not in shop. If vehicle is still in shop, parts are delivered to technician. It takes a while to get every one on board but once techs and parts guys get over the fear factor it works pretty well. Toughest thing we have encountered is at the service desk. Response time can be excessive. But more than anything it keeps the technicians in their stall making hours $$$$.
Hope that helps
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Re: service to parts communication

Postby Dean@CT » Wed Dec 06, 2017 2:21 pm

Yes that sounds like what we are looking for. However, only the communication aspect. Our OEM's are working on systems that do similar to what you have while keeping in constant communication with the customer, dealer, and OEM. They are just not talking about intercompany communication...yet. We are toying with Slack. An app that can be used on a PC or phone. It may work for what we need in the interim. We can set up different chat groups for individual RO's or other topics and anybody enrolled can hop in a conversation. Its not perfect, but its free and it appears to keep our techs from standing around the parts desk waiting around when they have jobs pending. Also, it allows back and forth if there's questions, or if there is uncertainty the tech snap's a picture and forwards it to the parts desk without leaving their stall.
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Re: service to parts communication

Postby SYSTEMBOB » Tue Dec 26, 2017 7:10 pm

DOWNLOAD AIM (AOL INSTANT MESSENGER) FOR FREE. RUNS IN BACKGROUND
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Re: service to parts communication

Postby Richard » Tue Jan 02, 2018 11:59 pm

SYSTEMBOB wrote:DOWNLOAD AIM (AOL INSTANT MESSENGER) FOR FREE. RUNS IN BACKGROUND


Verizon terminated AOL Instant Messenger service on 12/15/17. I think Yahoo IM service is still around.
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Re: service to parts communication

Postby vtecmanager » Wed Jan 03, 2018 8:02 pm

Skype for Business is what I use at my company, but I do not know what the requirements/costs are.
20 years in the biz...and still learning.
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Re: service to parts communication

Postby Stevenspeaking » Fri Jan 05, 2018 7:57 pm

What about using something like this message board. Each writer/tech can have their own section. and a new topic can be created for each ro using the ro number for the title. Users can add notes comments and price and availability job sold etc. Thus all have access and there is a history of the conversation.

link for the free message board is at the bottom of the page.
sbrittain@mcgovernauto dot com
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