Enigma to develop new Web-based parts information system for Ford dealer network in the United States
Burlington, MA—Nov. 14, 2005—Enigma Inc. today announced that under a development agreement with Ford Motor Co. and outsourced services provider Clifford Thames to build a browser-based electronic parts catalog (EPC), it has successfully moved to the final phase of product development and testing.
Initial dealer testing began in June of this year and has been well received by a group of dealers selected to pilot the product, Enigma said. Final product development and dealer testing of this EPC, which provides up-to-date parts information for all Ford and Lincoln Mercury vehicles via the Web, LAN and DVD, with full print-on-demand capability, will run through the fourth quarter of this year.
Ford said it will offer more than 4,500 Ford and Lincoln Mercury dealerships in the United States access to this new interactive EPC in the first half of 2006. Dealer personnel will enter a vehicle identification number (VIN), or other key identifier such as model, model-year and trim package, to generate a fully customized parts catalog for the specific vehicle being serviced. Drawing from more than 20GB of VIN and parts information, the catalog will have a consistent user interface whether delivered via the Web or by DVD and will be updated online.
The EPC will be linked with existing FCSD (Ford Customer Service Division) applications that are currently in use by parts managers, allowing them to track the latest part requirements and to check inventory availability in their region.
In addition, full dealer management system (DMS) integration will be available to all dealers who subscribe to Reynolds & Reynolds and may integrate with additional management systems in the future to ensure a seamless flow of information, which is a key functionality request from the dealers. Enigma designed a similar product for Ford of Europe to sell to its dealers in 2004, and more than 65 percent of European Ford dealerships are currently using this EPC.
"The Ford Motor Co. understands the global dimension of vehicle maintenance and the business benefits of making sure its dealers have access to up-to-date parts information," said Jonathan Yaron, chairman and CEO of Enigma. "Enigma already helped Ford introduce a state-of-the-art EPC to the European market, where it was well received by dealers. Now, Ford is working with Enigma and Clifford Thames for a new parts catalog that will help improve dealer support, customer experience and overall brand perception here in North America."
Additional Articles of Interest
Hard data and sophisticated planning are key when goods and materials start flowing upstream through the reverse supply chain. Read more in "Meeting the Reverse Logistics Challenge" in the June/July 2005 issue of Supply & Demand Chain Executive.
For more information on solutions for the service and support chain, see the articles "In the Field and All Grown Up," the Net Best Thing column in the June/July 2002 issue of iSource Business (now Supply & Demand Chain Executive), and "Time to Prove It," the Net Best Thing column in the April/May 2003 issue of the magazine.
For best practices in service parts management, see the SDCExec.com article "Three Keys to Successful Service Parts Management."
