| Written by Mark Buzinkay
Global Finished Vehicle Logistics
We are currently experiencing one of the most significant periods of change in the automotive industry in generations. Disruption is pervasive, often unpredictable, and affects every aspect of the industry, particularly the vehicle supply chain. Decision-making is influenced by numerous variable factors, and vehicle logistics present complexities not commonly found in other supply chains.
OEMs and LLPs face the challenge of keeping up with a rapidly evolving landscape. The rise in online ordering and direct consumer deliveries is a notable consequence of this shift. This trend will necessitate substantial logistical and management changes. As the dealer network diminishes, or as dealer-less OEMs emerge, many traditional functions performed by dealers—such as finance, accessories, tax, insurance, PDI, warranty, service, and repair—will likely be reintegrated into the supply chain. Transportation may see a shift from large car transporters, which carry up to twelve vehicles, to single delivery vehicles capable of navigating residential areas. Direct consumer interaction will also introduce new customer service and training challenges. Given that many OEMs struggle to provide supply chain visibility to dealers, adapting to this new, more complex, and cyclic logistics landscape will be a significant challenge.
A highly flexible and configurable solution tailored to the automotive industry is essential to address these global, multi-modal challenges and provide true end-to-end visibility. Even today, achieving true factory-to-dealer visibility and control is rare, and progress remains slow.
Without advanced vehicle logistics software, achieving end-to-end control and offering consumers visibility and reliability is impossible. While digitalisation is often touted as a universal solution, it is ultimately a means of extracting, collecting, and utilising data from real-world sources. Without technology to make sense of this data both in isolation and within the broader context, the data is of limited value (see also: Vehicle yard management).
So, what is vehicle Logistics Software?
Vehicle logistics software is a specialised logistics software designed exclusively for the automotive sector. It streamlines processes such as inventory management, order tracking, and delivery, ensuring that vehicles—the core of the automotive industry—are delivered promptly and safely to dealerships, service centres, ports, or end-users.
Inventory Management enables real-time stock tracking, maintaining market equilibrium. Order Management simplifies the entire order lifecycle, boosting delivery efficiency and customer satisfaction. Supply Chain Management provides a comprehensive view of product flow, enhancing operational efficiency. Fleet Management leverages IoT for effective vehicle monitoring. Routing and Scheduling improve delivery routes and schedules. Logistics Planning uses predictive analytics to foresee future logistics needs. Finally, the Transportation Management System (TMS) oversees end-to-end transportation, ensuring deliveries are timely and secure. These elements collectively create a robust logistics software solution designed specifically for the automotive industry.
Automotive Logistics Software provides numerous benefits, enhancing operational efficiency, cost savings, customer service, and real-time visibility.
Increased Efficiency: Automation eliminates human errors and accelerates processes, ensuring tasks like inventory management and order processing are performed consistently. This uniformity reduces error rates and streamlines workflows.
Cost Savings: The software optimises delivery routes to save fuel and reduce vehicle wear and tear. It intelligently allocates resources to avoid overstocking or understaffing, minimising waste and redundancy.
Enhanced Customer Service: Timely deliveries and real-time order tracking improve the customer experience, while built-in feedback mechanisms allow for continuous service quality improvements.
Real-time Visibility: Real-time data enables informed decision-making, predictive analytics for anticipating trends, and synchronised operations across departments, avoiding bottlenecks and enhancing overall efficiency.
How to Select the Right vehicle Logistics Software?
In the dynamic automotive industry, utilising logistics software solutions has become essential. The right software ensures that businesses not only keep up but also lead the way.
When choosing the best software, businesses should consider the following factors:
1. Tailored Solutions: The software should offer features specifically designed for the automotive industry.
2. Scalability: The software must be able to grow with the business without incurring prohibitive costs.
3. Usability: User-friendliness is crucial; overly complex solutions can hinder efficiency.
4. Data Security: Protecting data is vital in today's digital landscape.
5. Feedback: User reviews provide valuable insights into the software's real-world performance.
By selecting the proper logistics platforms and software solutions and partnering with skilled service providers, automotive businesses can achieve remarkable efficiency, success, and customer satisfaction.
Vehicle Processing Centres and Logistics Software
One part of the automotive supply chain is vehicle processing centres, where finished cars are customised, checked, washed, fueled, and prepared for final delivery to the customer. As vehicle processing centres handle tens and hundreds of thousands of cars per year, logistics software provides the information and data backbone of these operations.
One example of VPC management software is the Pomen Platform, which is designed for car workshop owners, OEM service centres, and automotive workshops. It streamlines operations and provides real-time data in cooperation with Asset Agent. The Pomen Platform features a booking process, creates and manages work orders electronically, eliminates paper-based processes, and automatically generates detailed records and invoices for services rendered, parts used, and labour costs. A centralised calendar efficiently manages and schedules appointments, tasks, and events. The Pomen Platform also monitors inventory levels, tracks parts usage, and generates reports on inventory turnover. A centralised dashboard overviews the VPC's key metrics, activities, and performance indicators.
Asset Agent makes vehicles in the VPC visible, independently of technology and location. Vehicles can be parked indoors or outdoors, inside or outside of a premise. Asset Agent is a modular solution that offers technologies for individual business cases like gate monitoring, zone check, vehicle identification and asset location.
Both solutions, the Pomen Platform and Asset Agent, handle huge VPCs together, minimising search times, car handling, vehicle processing, intra-yard transport, and customer delivery.
FAQs: vehicle Logistics Software
What are the primary benefits of using vehicle logistics software?
Vehicle logistics software offers several key benefits, including:
- Increased Efficiency: Automation reduces human errors and accelerates processes, ensuring consistent and accurate task performance in areas like inventory management and order processing.
- Cost Savings: The software optimises delivery routes, saving fuel and reducing vehicle wear and tear. It also intelligently allocates resources to avoid overstocking or understaffing, minimising waste and redundancy.
- Enhanced Customer Service: Timely deliveries and real-time order tracking improve the customer experience, while built-in feedback mechanisms allow for continuous service quality improvements.
- Real-time Visibility: Real-time data enables informed decision-making, predictive analytics for anticipating trends, and synchronised operations across departments, avoiding bottlenecks and enhancing overall efficiency.
How do vehicle logistics software solutions help with vehicle processing centres (VPCs)?
Vehicle logistics software solutions play a crucial role in the efficient operation of vehicle processing centres (VPCs). These centres handle large volumes of finished cars, preparing them for final delivery (see also: Finished vehicle logistics). For instance:
- Pomen Platform: Designed for car workshop owners, OEM service centers, and automotive workshops, this platform streamlines operations by providing real-time data, managing bookings, creating electronic work orders, and generating detailed records and invoices. It also monitors inventory levels and tracks parts usage, enhancing overall efficiency.
- Asset Agent: This solution makes vehicles in VPCs visible, regardless of their location. It offers modular technologies for gate monitoring, zone checks, vehicle identification, and asset location, thereby minimising search times and improving car handling, vehicle processing, intra-yard transport, and customer delivery.
What factors should businesses consider when selecting vehicle logistics software?
When choosing the right vehicle logistics software, businesses should consider the following factors:
- Tailored Solutions: The software should offer features specifically designed for the automotive industry to meet its unique demands.
- Scalability: The software must be able to grow with the business without incurring prohibitive costs, ensuring long-term usability.
- Usability: User-friendliness is crucial; overly complex solutions can hinder efficiency and slow down operations.
- Data Security: Protecting data is vital in today's digital landscape, so the software must have robust security measures.
- Feedback: User reviews and testimonials provide valuable insights into the software's real-world performance, helping businesses make informed decisions.
Takeaway
Vehicle logistics software, including solutions like Asset Agent and the Pomen Platform, offers numerous advantages. These platforms significantly enhance operational efficiency by automating tasks and providing real-time data, which reduces human errors and ensures consistent performance. This streamlining of processes leads to substantial cost savings through optimised delivery routes and intelligent resource allocation, minimising waste and reducing vehicle wear and tear.
If you want to learn more about Asset Agent and Pomen, get in touch with us.
Delve deeper into one of our core topics: Car logistics
Sources:
(1) POMEN
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