The Automotive Parts Services Group, a joint venture owned by Federated Auto Parts and National Pronto Association, recently held a four-day Information Technology (IT) conference to review the progress of current technology initiatives and formulate future plans and objectives.
“We are always looking for ways to collaborate and add value for our members, suppliers and customers,” said Larry Pavey, CEO of The Group. “This IT Conference brought together talent from both Pronto and Federated and resulted in a roadmap to address future technology needs and take advantage of the opportunities technology presents.”
In attendance were senior management from The Group, Federated Auto Parts and National Pronto Association, including Federated CEO Rusty Bishop and Pronto CEO Bill Maggs. Several members of Pronto and Federated also participated, including Herb Godschalk, co-president of Fisher Auto Parts and Robert Pesiri, chief technology officer of Parts Authority.
“A primary goal of The Group is to work together to find ways to improve productivity and profitability for all constituents,” said Maggs. “Through collaboration, we can leverage technology to enhance efficiency throughout the supply chain. We are dedicated to being the best in the industry.”
The conference included discussions on a number of key topics, including data management and improved communication with members and suppliers; customer relationship management; electronic catalog enhancements; information integration and enhancement; data warehouse and member support; supplier data analytics; shop connectivity; and other customer support and integration issues.
“Technology has quickly become one of the most important areas of focus for our members and suppliers,” said Bishop. “While we already have many processes in place, our ongoing joint effort continues as we develop new systems and enhance current procedures to address member and customer needs. We look forward to continued success in this area.”
“By combining the strengths of both groups and focusing on how we can work together to improve, we can all benefit from the power of data management and availability,” said Pavey. “As we look to the future, our ability to integrate technical information, catalog data, labor costs and other information into a seamless connectivity model will enhance the value of our members’ services and our suppliers’ parts.”
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