For distributors and retailers in the automotive aftermarket and the heavy duty industry, the days of contacting multiple manufacturers by phone for special orders are over. A new solution, Direct-Connect, is being released this summer
by the Management Information Systems Group Inc. (MISG) to enable Internet parts ordering with multiple trading partners over a single connection for special orders. Direct-Connect facilitates part inquiries, quotes, orders, order acknowledgements and shipment status. The IPO solution simplifies the procurement process for distributors by eliminating multiple phone calls or manufacturer Web site visits for sourcing special orders.
Previously, distributors and retailers contacted manufacturers either through a manufacturer’s extranet application or customer support call center to place special orders. This process often meant multiple Internet connections or several phone calls to place a special order.
The Direct-Connect application uses a Web-based interface to link a distributor or retailer with multiple manufacturers for inquiries and quotes and to facilitate Internet order processing. The application provides distributors and retailers access to multiple suppliers’ inventory and ordering systems 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
For manufacturers, the solution provides client software to link their ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) systems with multiple distributors, including those using the Direct-Connect application and those employing custom applications. This helps manufacturers automate their customer support processes, reduce inefficiencies and improve accuracy through elimination of manual steps.
“Although Internet parts ordering is becoming more mainstream, a significant number of companies are still unable to access the IPO community,” said Al Jones, president of MISG. “Direct-Connect provides these companies with a gateway to the aftermarket IPO community as well as applications to access business partners utilizing Internet parts ordering.”
Headquartered in Research Triangle Park, N.C., MISG provides electronic commerce and EDI (Electronic Data Interchange) solutions, managed network systems, trading community management and web services to the automotive, heavy duty, industrial supply, battery, electrical, plumbing, heating, cooling, piping, ventilating and publishing industries.
For more information, go to www.misg.com.