Enhancements to ACDelco's e-Business Solutions Help Maintain Its Aftermarket e-Business Leadership

GRAND BLANC, MICH. — ACDelco has established itself as a leader by providing e-Business solutions to the automotive aftermarket with e-tools that comprehensively support customers' product offerings. By expanding its Web Integrated Service Environment (WISE) and WISE Internet Parts (WIP) offerings, and continuing to add to its e-Business solutions for shop owners and Independent Service Centers (ISCs), ACDelco is helping to maintain its leadership position.

A Web-based application that lets ACDelco customers check inventory and order parts online anytime from WISE-enabled ACDelco Warehouse Distributors (WDs), WIP provides a stand-alone service option dedicated to comprehensive cataloging, faster parts access and easier online ordering while simplifying administration for WDs.

As an incentive for ISCs to add WIP to their e-Business toolbox, ACDelco is running an ongoing promotion for subscribers. WIP users who purchase $3,000 in ACDelco products within a calendar month will receive GM Electronic Service Information (eSi) the following month at no additional charge. All ACDelco customers have the ability to access GM eSi, which is available in daily, weekly, monthly and annual subscriptions.

Earlier this year, ACDelco announced the expansion of its WIP program to include a trilingual version — available in both Spanish and French, in addition to English — and a version specifically designed for the Collision segment of the marketplace.

“We're trying to target our customers with specific Web parts-ordering solutions,” said Stephen Sigg, ACDelco e-Business manager. “ACDelco provides a comprehensive suite of e-tools designed to help improve customer relationships and retention, and ultimately increase the bottom line of our customers' businesses. These initiatives are just one more way to get our customer base involved.”

Trilingual WIP offers greater efficiencies, saving Spanish- and French-speaking technicians and counter people time translating information and helping reduce potential errors due to language barriers. The Collision version of WIP provides an online ordering tool offering the same features and benefits of traditional WIP. The collision repair industry is estimated to be a $3.2 billion annual business, and Collision WIP is geared toward body shops to make finding and ordering the right repair parts simple.

According to Tom Hoffman, e-Business product manager, while these offerings have been in place less than a year, currently all of ACDelco's Warehouse Distributor partners are taking advantage of the trilingual WIP program, nearly 40 percent are using the Collision WIP and more than 30 percent are taking part in the GM eSi promotion.

In addition to WISE and WIP, ACDelco's e-Business landscape includes several other tools. The Electronic Parts Information Center (EPIC) offers ACDelco WDs a complete visibility system detailing their order status, and the MechanicNet Customer Retention System (CRS) provides ISCs with everything they need to help remind, thank and communicate regularly with their customers.

Furthermore, ACDelco's consumer Web site (acdelco.com) helps build brand awareness and drives consumers to a local TSS facility for ACDelco parts, while ACDelco's TechConnect Web site (acdelcotechconnect.com) provides technicians with a broad range of tools and resources. To learn more about ACDelco's WISE and WIP programs, call 1-800-825-5886, prompt #3, or visit acdelcotechconnect.com.

ACDelco markets high-quality replacement parts for Ford, Chrysler, Toyota, Nissan, Honda, GM and most vehicles on the road today. To find an ACDelco parts retailer near you, log on to acdelco.com or call 1-800-ACDelco.