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Aftermarket Auto Parts Alliance has begun implementation of new supply chain technology that will get special order items into the hands of service dealers faster, more reliably, and with far less hassle. Called the “Virtual Inventory Cloud" (VIC) solution, it automates the special order process all the way from the parts counter to the manufacturer and back. Developed by GCommerce, the VIC will integrate with MyPlaceForParts.com, Alliance’s eCommerce portal. Dale Hopkins, vice president of information technology, remarked, “We are streamlining the special order process between technicians, jobbers, Alliance distributors, and manufacturers. And we’re doing it with a centralized solution that makes our MyPlaceForParts.com the best single-source for online commerce.”
“We have over two million SKUs in our Data Warehouse,” said John R. Washbish, Alliance president and CEO. “Each of our members typically stocks 350,000 to 400,000 of those, putting over 1.5M parts into special order status. We’re seeing a rise in special orders so we’re taking steps to make sure we keep our customers ahead of the curve. Today’s phone calls and waiting will be replaced with a few key strokes. With VIC we’re reducing costs and lost sales for our channel partners and our members. At the same time we’re improving service to our customers.”
According to Hopkins, “VIC will interface with all Alliance distributors’ business systems and work in conjunction with the Alliance Total EDI Solution. Additionally, the VIC supports industry standards such as Internet Parts Ordering (IPO) and Super Spec, enabling Alliance members to further capitalize on existing aftermarket technologies.”