Top NYC automotive dealership group and Fortune 500 OEM

By Sid Green  

PNL Consulting – EXOTRAC Real- Time YMS Solution for a NYC Automotive Dealership and FORTUNE 500 OEM
White Paper
EXOTRAC Real- Time Yard Management System

“Innovative” Solution for a Major NYC Automotive Dealership and FORTUNE 500 OEM

“Understanding how a ‘cloud- based’ Yard Management System provided a major automotive dealership and OEM an innovative solution delivering high- level efficiency, lower cost per unit and improved profit margin”

Table of Contents

1. Solution Overview – Plan- o- gram and staging space at a cost premium illuminates the need for “storage hub and retrieval” solution

2. The Exotrac Team – Solution Process – Cloud- based software combined with leading edge wireless technology creates impactfulsolution

3. Implementation Approach – Analytics of current system and ‘local- terminology’ streamlines conversion process allowing continuous operation

4. Exotrac’s Solution – Creates real- time data visibility seamlessly connecting the corporate legacy systems with the ‘outside’ warehouse (WMS)

5. Improved Supply Chain Efficiency – Exotrac significantly improved vehicle margin by providing reduced storage and handling costs

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FAX

WEB

Exotrac, LLC., P.O. Box 114, New York, New York 10011

(212) 989- 0171

Exotrac.com

Exotrac Real- Time Yard Management System

(YMS) “Innovative” Solution for a Major NYC Automotive Dealership and FORTUNE 500

OEM

Solution Overview – Plan- o- gram and staging space at a cost premium illuminates the need for “storage hub and retrieval” solution

The Automotive dealerships and OEMs require just- in time arrival of vehicles into the selling plan- o- gram ensuring “in- stock” position allowing them to capture sales in an extremely competitive environment. Dealerships located in high- density metropolitan areas like those in New York City, Los Angeles and Miamihave special needs for vehicle storage. Because of the scarcity of floor/staging space and exorbitant retail cost per square foot, dealerships and OEM’s require staging lots or storage hubs in multiple locations. These hubs are essentially outside warehouses where vehicles are staged and processed in advance of arrival into dealership site. These hubs reduce the operating costs of dealerships that are already operating with razor thin margins. OEMs also benefit from this approach because they are able to place vehicles into a fast moving marketplace with proximity to the dealership supporting increased sales at reduced operating costs. The storage hubs become an extension of the dealership (or OEM) requiring real- time data visibility of all vehicles, tracking the various stages of movement and processing prior to their arrival into the dealership plan- o- gram.

The Exotrac Team was contracted to provide a solution that streamlined processes and ensured visibility of vehicles throughout the process. The Exotrac Real- Time Storage Hub and Retrieval Solution (SHRS) provides both dealers and OEMs the ability to warehouse vehicles in multiple locations equipping them with critical information in real- time. Exotrac’s cloud- based system becomes a repository of real- time data documenting the movement and status of each vehicle within the “outside” warehouse environment in much the same manner as a warehouse management system (WMS) manages efficiency within the traditionalfour- wall warehouse environment. The storage hub environment may include multiple physical locations necessitating Exotrac to provide a virtual warehouse in the cloud with real – time visibility over vast physical lot geography.

EXOTRAC “Innovative” Solution for Major Automotive Dealership and FORTUNE 500 OEM

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Exotrac Real- Time Yard Management System

(YMS) “Innovative” Solution for a Major NYC Automotive Dealership and FORTUNE 500

OEM

The Exotrac Team – Solution Process – Cloud- based software combined with leading edge wireless technology creates impactful solution

Exotrac provided a solution that follows the movement of the vehicle from the seaport or railroad yard through the various stages within the process fr om stock- in (vin decoding and damage inspection), to bin location, to customization lanes (where vehicles are cleaned and kitted with add- on’s) and the final processing into the trucks. The truck drivers scan the vehicle onto the truck allowing the dealership to use the same android scanner for signature capture upon arrival. Dealerships and OEMs must be adaptable allowing them to partake of high- level technological advancement to visualize product in multiple locations with status reports on which they can depend. Exotrac allows them to forge positive relationships and compete effectively in this volatile fast paced environment all at an economical price.

Exotrac does not simply emulate current processes they re – engineer the processes improving them with best practices and real- time visibility. They analyze the current processes and local terminology employing cloud- based software and leading edge wireless technology creating a seamlessly integrated solution with holistic benefits.

“Exotrac provided us with the ability to store vehicles in multiple low cost locations with the control and security that we needed. Our dealerships were able to see the vehicles at every point in the process allowing the sales team to update their customers in real- time enhancing the experience in support of improved sales and increased margin.”

EXOTRAC “Innovative” Solution for Major Automotive Dealership and FORTUNE 500 OEM

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Exotrac Real- Time Yard Management System

(YMS) “Innovative” Solution for a Major NYC Automotive Dealership and FORTUNE 500

OEM

Implementation Approach – Analytics of current system and ‘local- terminology’ streamlines conversion process allowing continuous operation

The Exotrac Team uses analytics to understand “What is happening now?”. They focus on retaining as much as possible of the current local terminology as well as other points of familiarity while at the same time improving the processes by employing leading edge cloud- based software and wireless hardware combined with best practices. In this manner they are able to streamline the installation process as well as obtain buy – in from the local team ensuring collaboration.

As part of the preparation for installation, the dealership and OEM management team completed an operational task list documenting the current tasks being performed in the operation. The Exotrac team ensures that the local staff understands the solution process by reviewing with them, step by step the intricate tasks necessary to achieve the efficiency and control desired.

Subsequently, Exotrac engineers configured the ‘mapping’ to accumulate the information required for the web portal setup as dictated by the customer. This entails capture of pertinent information about the OEM, carriers,and storage hub location geography. Tests are completed to validate that all functions work correctly.

The Exotrac team then arrives on the ground to perform on – site execution of the cloud- based software system and activate the android scanners to “golive”. They conduct classroom, hands on and on the job training sessions to ensure that all users have a firm grasp of both the overall process and their specific task. Nothing is taken for granted in the pursuit of operational excellence. All the while the operation keeps moving with any and all open issues closed. Exotrac’s system architecture requires little, if any IT resources from the dealerships or OEMs. The flexibility gained from the ‘cloud’ hosted solution keeps storage hub operations independent from enterprise IT, which expedites both the installation process and operations in general

EXOTRAC “Innovative” Solution for Major Automotive Dealership and FORTUNE 500 OEM

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Exotrac Real- Time Yard Management System

(YMS) “Innovative” Solution for a Major NYC Automotive Dealership and FORTUNE 500

OEM

Exotrac’s Solution – Creates real- time data visibility seamlessly connecting the corporate legacy systems with the ‘outside’ warehouse (WMS)

The android tablet scan captures critical vehicle formation: decoding vin (year, make and model), stock number, off lease, new, mileage, used, on- truck as well as signature capture at points of delivery and pickup. Truck drivers are equipped with on demand dispatch move functionality informing them of what vehicles are needed and where they are located within each storage hub. Vehicles are tracked through every step in the process including while they are on the transport vehicles. Exotrac provides real- time visibility to all constituent team members ensuring that they know when and at what stage vehicles are processed improving selling space efficiency and inventory management.

Exotrac’s flexible software design attributes allow optimization of a single or multiple- site operation. The interoperability of the cloud- based system provides seamless integration with the dealership and OEM legacy systems. The system connects all facets of the supply chain into a network providing real- time visibility of all assets, locations and transactions, 24 hours per day, seven days per week, 365 days per year.

The android graphics allow management to visualize storage hub activity and vehicle placement within the outside warehouse. Additionally, understanding what vehicles are in the transport trailer, when the vehicles will arrive and what to do with the vehicles when they arrive gives the dealership and OEM team the optimum efficiency and improves overall operational effectiveness. Exotrac provides a reporting mechanism including analytics of Key Performance Indicators ensuring that the dealership and OEM have what they need to drive continuous process improvement. The end result is a control system performing at high efficiency enhancing the optimization and utility of vehicle inventory for the dealership and OEM creating improved sales and increased margin.

EXOTRAC “Innovative” Solution for Major Automotive Dealership and FORTUNE 500 OEM

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Exotrac Real- Time Yard Management System

(YMS) “Innovative” Solution for a Major NYC Automotive Dealership and FORTUNE 500

OEM

Improved Supply Chain Efficiency – Exotrac significantly improved vehicle margin by providing reduced storage and handling costs

Our automotive dealership and OEM customer realized numerous benefits delivered by the Exotrac Real- Time Storage Hub and Retrieval Solution (SHRS), as follows:

• Mutually beneficial operating relationships resulting from enhanced communication and real- time data visibility.

• A storage hub and retrieval system that performs as anenabler of higher efficiency and reduced costs.

• The ability to optimize scheduling, proactive planning and exception feedback.

• A system that facilitates the decision- making process regarding vehicles that are coming off lease or those having excessive miles allowing them to move directly to either the auto auction or preparation for resale.

• Optimization of dealership square footage and plan- o- gram positively impacting sales and profit margin.

• Visibility, status and condition of all vehicles within the multiple storage hub geography.

• Return on investment delivered in months rather than years supporting improved profit margin.

• No impact to the capital budget as Exotrac is fee basedrather than capital.

EXOTRAC “Innovative” Solution for Major Automotive Dealership and FORTUNE 500 OEM

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Exotrac Real- Time Yard Management System

(YMS) “Innovative” Solution for a Major NYC Automotive Dealership and FORTUNE 500

OEM

• Better utilization of storage hub and dealership personnel driving down labor expense.

• Cloud- based technology that provides the ultimate in flexibility requiring little or no dealer or OEM corporate IT involvement.

• Reduced error rates as data is immediately uploaded from the android scan rather than key entry.

• Greater flexibility to adjust to changes in vehicle availability as well asend- of- yearmodel seasonality.

• Better space and attendant cost utilization within the storage hub and dealership site increasing the longevity of the plan- o- gram and dealership physical plant.

• A Web dashboard that provides instant access to data via computer, smart phone, tablet or any wireless device allowing instant reaction to exception situations.

• Improved visibility, transparency, accountability and communication throughout the dealership and OEM network resulting from real- time data visibility.

EXOTRAC “Innovative” Solution for Major Automotive Dealership and FORTUNE 500 OEM

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