The challenge
A leading agricultural machinery manufacturer faced significant challenges with their product lead time forecasting capabilities. Dealers lacked visibility into upcoming shipments from the manufacturing plant, leading to uncertainty about delivery dates and timelines for receiving machinery products. This lack of information hindered dealers' ability to plan and manage their inventories effectively, resulting in customer dissatisfaction and operational inefficiencies.
The solution
e-Core partnered with the manufacturer to develop a solution focused on improving product lead time visibility. The solution involved the integration of multiple applications that enhanced the manufacturer’s ability to forecast and communicate product lead times to their dealers.
The solution allowed dealers to easily buy products, validate availability, and access special conditions during specific dates. This capability enabled the manufacturer to better plan production and billing cycles. Additionally, critical dealer information, such as parts and product stocks and financial details, was collected and integrated into the system. This data, transmitted directly from the Dealer Management System (DMS) or through specialized applications, provided real-time visibility into the manufacturing pipeline.
By ensuring that dealers had access to accurate and timely information about product lead times, the manufacturer could enhance their dealers' ability to plan and manage their inventories more effectively.
Results
- Improved Dealer Satisfaction: Enhanced visibility into product lead times led to better inventory management and reduced operational inefficiencies.
- Increased On-Time Deliveries: Dealers were able to plan more accurately, resulting in a higher rate of on-time deliveries.
- Reduced Inventory Holding Costs: Better forecasting and planning reduced the need for excess inventory, lowering holding costs.
- Improved Customer Satisfaction: Reliable delivery schedules and better communication improved overall customer satisfaction.
