During the recent fall shareholder meeting on Sept. 24-26 in Scottsdale, Arizona, the Automotive Distribution Network announced an initiative to increase adoption of the auto care industry standard for online special orders with its GoIPO campaign.
“The Internet Parts Ordering (IPO) standard is not new; however, it is underutilized,” said Tom Frey, vice president of IT for The Network. “IPO offers a real-time solution for distributors to check price and availability with suppliers, and place orders all in one online interaction. Our Network Connect web portal provides a single site where distributors can manage special orders with many suppliers, which is much more practical than managing individual websites with many suppliers. The real answer to adoption is bypassing websites altogether, and integrating with point-of-sale. We have published an API and are working with our preferred system providers – Epicor, MAM Software, DMS and Autologue – to make special ordering from suppliers available at every point of sale workstation possible. That is what has been needed to drive adoption of this tremendous cost-savings and customer service improvement opportunity.”
In addition, the Network’s GoIPO initiative was presented via a sponsorship and booth during AASA’s technology conference in Clearwater, Florida, where the group’s information and technology team shared the value of IPO with industry suppliers.
