Today, his shops are consistently receiving the parts before the vehicle even arrives. “Shops are beginning repairs faster,” says Luna. “Due dates are met or accelerated. And my idle percentage stay slow.”
Better Tools to Manage Shop Accountability
The Hertz Corporation has also adopted CollisionLink electronic parts ordering as a part of its damage repair facilities’ standard estimating procedure. Currently in use by 88 Hertz airport locations nationwide, CollisionLink has replaced its traditional collision parts ordering methods of phone and fax.
With CollisionLink, Hertz estimators now have instant access to a time-stamped electronic audit trail complete with parts ordering detail, dealership confirmation and order delivery dates. Shops can no longer use parts availability, or delayed shipments, as an excuse for missed due dates. Instead, shop communication is streamlined and better controlled at a time when the rental car industry is increasingly challenged to handle the same volume of vehicles and accident rate with fewer personnel.
From Independents to the Major RACs
“Regardless of whether you’re a nationally franchised organization with hundreds of locations or a single, independent location, the dynamics of the rental car operation are the same,” says Mark Tomasetti, vice president and general manager, Collision Solutions at OEConnection. “To maximize vehicle revenue, you must maximize vehicle uptime.”
Dealership suppliers also welcome electronic parts ordering as a means of saving time and speeding fulfillment, according to Tomasetti. Electronic orders are automatically validated against the VIN, which flags incorrect or incomplete parts and allows counter personnel to more quickly and accurately process the order.
“Given these time savings, it is the dealership supplier who funds the cost of electronic parts ordering,” adds Tomasetti. “So rental car operations incur no additional cost, only savings.”
One Day of Downtime: $100
While it differs by rental car concern, on average, a day of downtime is $100 in lost revenue potential. Given the growing pressure on greater operating efficiencies, why would you tolerate an additional day of repair downtime if you didn’t have to?
The good news, according to those who use online software for parts ordering, is that you no longer have to.
In his 20-year automotive career, Bill Lopez has held positions within the insurance, collision estimating and auto refinish sector. Lopez currently serves as OEConnection’s business and product development manager for the collision industry.
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