Sydney, Australia — March 27, 2014 — Global automotive industry solution developer, Infomedia Ltd (ASX:IFM) announced that it has launched its innovative Microcat Auto PartsBridge (APB) solution to KIA Canada dealerships and their associated collision repair customers. The introduction of APB supports KIA’s certified wholesale parts program which is designed to make KIA dealerships more competitive against aftermarket parts suppliers. With the launch now taking place across Canada, excellent results from early adopters are encouraging, showing dealerships selling more genuine parts when using the APB program.
Infomedia says Auto PartsBridge is the most comprehensive online parts ordering system available today, connecting genuine parts departments with their collision repair customers. Powered by Infomedia’s Microcat Electronic Parts Catalogue (EPC), the company says APB is an B2B solution that combines a deep understanding of parts selling processes with best-in-class IT expertise and systems integration. APB is successfully helping KIA dealerships and their customers drive business efficiency and improve profit margins by increasing genuine parts sales. Collision repairers can also submit lists of aftermarket parts that would normally come from non-OEM sources. By using APB’s pricing system, dealers can calculate competitive offers to gain OEM parts business and convert non-OEM intentions to OEM parts sales.
Infomedia CEO Andrew Pattinson said APB has been developed to respond to the evolving operational and competitive challenges faced by franchised dealerships. We have leveraged our industry knowledge to convert complex multi-step ordering processes into fast, single click transactions, said Pattinson. APB increases genuine parts sales, improves productivity and reduces cycle times for body shop customers.â€
In addition to benefits for dealerships and body shops, there is also a direct benefit for KIA vehicle owners. They’re now more likely to have original KIA parts fitted to their vehicle in the event of damage, which helps protect the residual value of their asset, added Pattinson.
Karen Blunden, CEO of Infomedia Americas said: The success of Auto PartsBridge for KIA Canada in just a few short months has been a real source of pride for our organisation. We’re honoured to be part of a program that supports a higher level of collision repair, improves customer satisfaction, and provides greater efficiencies. KIA Canada is a valued partner who, once again, demonstrates their progressive and industry leading approach in working with their dealers to ensure their customers experience the value of genuine parts as a result of repair.
Our technology offers OEMs unrivalled accuracy, transaction speed and the flexibility to implement their wholesale parts programs. We’re helping transform core parts ordering processes to make dealership and body shop operations faster, smarter and more competitive, said Blunden.
