Inventory management is so complex that it can hamper the functioning of a business if not managed with caution. Having a systematic plan or procedure in order is necessary to get things running smoothly with minimum downtime. Efficient inventory management is crucial for the smooth functioning of the operation of any business.
Modern technology found its way into the automotive industry in the most efficient ways. Efficient inventory management software and parts ordering software solutions have been bridging this gap in the market. Besides solving this problem, technology and AI have also made the possession of inventory management and parts ordering much more efficient.
Through this blog, let us understand the role of inventory management and how it affects the aftermarket and supply chain.
What is Inventory Management?
Inventory management refers to the process of maintaining storage, ordering products, and keeping systematic records to ensure everything runs smoothly on time. Inventory includes managing finished products and raw materials and processing all items on time depending on the needs of the customers.
Efficiently managing inventory helps a company in analyzing its data and keeping a record of sales and demand through a financial year. Several benefits come with efficient inventory management, including lower costs, minimizing storage costs, forecast sales, etc.
Benefits of Spare Parts Management System?
To ease the process of inventory management and placing orders, spare parts management system software was integrated into the workflow of original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and dealers. With the help of this software, businesses or dealers can easily accumulate all their data in one place, which can further be tracked, controlled, and monitored.
With the help of spare parts management software, dealers and businesses can overcome the challenges that came with handling the traditional methods of inventory management. These innovative software do not just help in management but also keep track of your inventory and provide data-driven results for spare parts forecasting.
Here are some of the notable advantages of spare parts management:
Increased Efficiency:
With the help of spare parts management software, businesses are able to manage their inventory without having to spend time on other activities. Having the right parts when in need directly affects the service being provided to a customer. This has positively impacted the flow of work and has significantly reduced downtime during repairs.
Forecasting Accuracy:
The system has helped businesses maintain inventory in real-time to analyze the existing stocks and prevent them from understocking and overstocking. Overstocking results in more inventory space being occupied along with the associated costs.
Whereas understocking involves emergency ordering of parts that come with its charges, which are often higher than usual. Understocking also comes with increased downtime that often affects brand image and the relationship with the customer.
Inventory Optimization:
With the help of automated results and analysis, dealers can manage the stock levels, ensuring that crucial parts are available when they are needed.
Reduced Cost:
With the intervention of stock prediction and spare parts forecasting, the cost associated with overstocking, understocking, emergency orders, and production delays is automatically reduced.
With the presence of spare parts ordering software, dealers and OEMs can identify inefficient and slow-moving parts in the supply chain and aftermarket. By identifying this, they can optimize and take proactive actions to improve their production process.
Data-Driven Decision Making:
With the help of real-time data management and analysis, dealers can keep track of their inventory and make informed decisions based on past patterns. This decreases the chances of running out of spare parts and any mismanagement that could lead to delays.
Streamlined Process:
Advanced software solutions, such as the electronic parts catalog software, can identify patterns in stock and control risk. This provides a streamlined process during repair and maintenance without affecting downtime.
Spare parts and inventory management systems were introduced to solve inefficient methods in the aftermarket. Let us understand the challenges that the market faced with the traditional methods of inventory management.
Challenges Faced in Spare Parts Inventory Management
Here are some of the key challenges that led OEMs and dealers to search for efficient solutions:
No Indication
When a spare part went out of stock, there was no proper indication to denote it. This often led to increased downtime and created a major gap in the spare parts inventory.
Improper Communication
Technicians could not navigate through the inventory and analyze if the part that they need is available in stock.
Human Errors
Human errors in managing the availability of spare parts resulting in unnecessary delays
Unstable Demands
Customer demands are constantly changing and are difficult to keep track of due to little inventory information.
Time Taking
Manual documentation of inventory records was tedious and was an inconvenient option to keep up with different warehouse needs.
Inventory Mismanagement
Overstocking, understocking, and emergency stock prices had consumed the process, resulting in a consistent financial drain that could be invested in other sectors with better ROI.
In Conclusion
With the help of spare parts management software, businesses and dealers can easily optimize their methods of working and improve their productivity. Besides this, it has also improved customer satisfaction and ensured that the downtime on equipment does not depend on the availability of spare parts.
Implementing a spare parts management system can cost a little more in the beginning, but the returns are worth the investment. OEMs and dealers are consistently transitioning from traditional methods of inventory management to software solutions to increase their efficiency and get ahead of others.