question to ask yourself. The shortage of vehicles might be good for profits ... but a great local parts inventory is the key to the success of the rest of your operation. Real quick, can you answer these questions? a great local parts inventory is the key to the success of the rest of your operation * What is your fill rate for parts in service, wholesale, and ecommerce? * What is your parts inventory turn rate? * Are you responding to D2D requests in 10 minutes or less? * What were your lost sales last month... and why? * Have you connected your special order process to the CRM to ensure those parts are sold (and, if not, returned?) * Are brakes and tires available for upselling to the 40K service customer coming in tomorrow? Modern parts operations know the answers to these questions. Advanced systems ... which tend to be OEM led and integrated across the network ... have to be successful to ensure operational service and customer success. The workflow shift from DMS to these systems is necessary and the data value and transparency are more than worth the trip. Here are some of the tools & systems that enable dealership and parts department profitability: RETAILER INVENTORY MANAGEMENT (RIM) RIM uses network-wide data to automate the daily parts stock order. Adopted by leading OEMs over the last 20 years, RIM automates daily stock orders and usually gives terms and conditions benefits. The best systems are partnerships between OEMs and retailers and significantly improve fill rates and sales opportuniNOVEMBER DECEMBER 2022 || FIXED OPS MAGAZINE 41http://fixedopsroundtable.com