DUBLIN, Calif. – Epicor Software Corp. has announced that A & Jay Automotive, an aftermarket auto parts distributor based in the Detroit area, has switched to the Epicor Vision business management software. The company, which operates a central warehouse and three branch locations that together serve approximately 1,600 accounts, made the change to the Epicor Vision solution 17 months after implementing software from another provider.
“We quickly realized how expensive the wrong system can be for your business,” said Tom Van Cleave, president of A & Jay Automotive. “Investing in any new solution is expensive, but in hindsight the acquisition cost of the Epicor Vision solution is minimal when you consider what it can do for you. The day we went live [with Vision], there was a huge sigh of relief throughout the building.”
According to Epicor, its Vision software is a highly flexible solution for aftermarket business owners who want to control costs and increase sales through extremely efficient inventory management, and differentiate their businesses by delivering a superior customer experience. The software includes world-class customer relationship management (CRM) tools, a centralized database, powerful price management capabilities, comprehensive “central services” functionality, integrated accounting and other features that help drive sales, operational efficiency and customer satisfaction, the company states.
A & Jay had run its business on the same software platform for more than 20 years before converting to a new solution in 2012. According to Van Cleave, the company experienced chronic stability, speed and accuracy issues with the replacement system, prompting the investment and move to Epicor Vision software.
A & Jay receives 800 to 900 calls each day at its central order desk in Redford, Mich. With the implementation of Epicor Vision, average on-hold time has dropped from 55 seconds to 20 seconds and call duration has been reduced by more than 60 percent, according to Epicor. The company plans to further improve call center efficiency by integrating its phone lines into the Epicor Vision system. Call center employees also are now using the Epicor LaserCat 3 electronic catalog interface and Epicor PartExpert replacement parts database, which includes more than 8 million parts and more than 7,500 manufacturer lines.
The move to Epicor Vision software also enabled Van Cleave and his team to implement the Epicor Vista for the Automotive Aftermarket category intelligence solution, which helps users improve sales, margins and service levels through fact-based stocking decisions. “We’re now comparing our inventory against the Epicor Vista recommendations to determine where we have coverage holes or can reduce inventory across certain product categories and SKUs,” Van Cleave said.
To learn more about Epicor Vision software, contact your Epicor representative, call Epicor toll-free at (888) 463-4700, email [email protected], or visit Epicor at the 2013 AAPEX Show in Las Vegas, Nov. 4-7, Booth No. 2238.
