We’ve been working with dealers of lift trucks and other material handling equipment for years, and we’ve noticed that some are a bit hesitant about digital transformation. Taking operations digital—using online platforms, software, mobile apps, and other tools—can seem daunting. If that sounds like you, don’t worry! This article will make the process less intimidating by highlighting the top three features you should look for when selecting the right Lift Truck Dealer Software for your dealership.
Inventory Management and Tracking Features
When it comes to running a successful lift truck dealership, Inventory Management and Tracking is absolutely crucial. After all, you need to know which stock is moving and at what pace to keep operations smooth and customers happy.
Real-Time Inventory Visibility
Real-time inventory tracking allows you to see the immediate increase or usage of parts and equipment, updating by the minute. Here are some benefits:
Accurate inventory levels for timely restocking.
This means you’ll always have accurate inventory levels, enabling timely restocking. Picture this: you’re about to contact vendors for a specific part. You check your inventory and see you have enough to last about a month, so you decide not to reorder. Later, you discover you’re actually out of stock because your system didn’t update as parts were used. Frustrating, right?
A modern, up-to-date Lift Truck Dealer Software prevents these mishaps. As soon as a part is sold or a technician checks out a part for repairs, the inventory automatically adjusts. This way, you always know exactly what you have on hand.
Improved order fulfillment and customer satisfaction.
Accurate inventory tracking directly impacts customer satisfaction. Imagine this scenario: you have one crucial repair part in stock. A sales rep sells it to a customer on Monday but forgets to update the inventory. Another customer comes in later requesting the same part. A different sales rep sees it in the system, says, “Yes, we have one,” and completes the sale, only to realize it’s out of stock and will take almost a month to restock. That second customer leaves disappointed, and your reputation takes a hit.
Real-time inventory tracking avoids these situations. It ensures you never sell what you don’t have, leading to better order fulfillment and happier customers. With real-time updates, your team can confidently manage stock, ensuring that every customer leaves satisfied.
Mobile Accessibility and Field Service Tools
Mobile accessibility and field service tools are vital for dealerships because they improve communication and teamwork. These tools enable your team to access important information like inventory and customer data from anywhere, helping them make quick decisions.
Mobile App for Sales and Service Teams
A mobile app that integrates seamlessly with your Lift Truck Dealer Software is essential if your team spends time on the road. This feature is a game-changer for both your sales team and service technicians.
Sales team can access inventory and customer data during client visits
Your sales team needs to access inventory and customer data during client visits. Having this information at their fingertips promotes effective collaboration. With a mobile app, they can easily access job details, customer information, and inventory data, enabling field technicians and office staff to communicate and quickly resolve issues.
For example, imagine a sales rep visiting a client who urgently needs a specific lift truck part. With a mobile app, the rep can immediately check inventory levels, confirm availability, and place an order on the spot.
Service technicians can update work orders and documentation in real time
For service technicians, the benefits are even greater. They should be able to update work orders and documentation in real-time. An inventory search feature on the app allows techs to quickly identify and include the required parts, even assigning parts to specific sections on the work order. This keeps operations running smoothly and reduces the risk of errors.
Technicians being able to add images directly to work orders, access unit repair history, and generate and send comprehensive inspection reports is certainly a plus feature. This level of functionality ensures that your team can provide detailed, accurate updates and maintain high standards of service, no matter where they are.
Optimized scheduling for efficient service calls
Field managers need to be able to monitor the work done by their techs, right? To achieve this, you’ll need a Lift Truck Dealer Software that automates tasks like scheduling, dispatching, and routing. This reduces the time and effort required for field teams to manage their work. A system that assigns jobs based on location, skill set, availability, and workload ensures that the right person is sent to the right job at the right time.
Supervise service operations with smart time tracking
Labor tracking is also vital for managing any team, especially when it comes to measuring productivity and handling payroll. Look for a Lift Truck Dealer Software with a digital clock-in station that allows your team to start and stop time easily. This way, you can monitor labor hours and productivity, ensuring everything runs smoothly.
Analytics and Reporting Capabilities
Reports and analytics bring together past data and help you uncover patterns, ask questions, and get answers in real-time. All with the goal of making data-driven decisions to improve future performance in your dealership.
Customizable Reporting Dashboards
You’ll need a Lift Truck Dealer Software that has the ability to generate reports that vary based on which metrics your dealership values most, how the data is displayed and the specific time period you would like to report on. Why?
Visualized data for sales trends, inventory performance, and customer behavior.
By accessing real-time data on inventory status, sales representatives can identify which products are readily available for sale and which may require restocking. This insight allows them to capitalize on existing stock levels, proactively engaging with customers who are seeking immediate solutions or replacements for their material handling equipment needs.
And, by tracking customer interactions in real-time, sales teams gain a deeper understanding of customer preferences and buying patterns.
Predictive Maintenance Insights
Planned or proactive maintenance involves making repairs and updates before problems arise. It’s the best way for dealerships to ensure they provide customers with reliable lift trucks and other material handling equipment that won’t break down during duty. A robust Lift Truck Dealer Software equipped with predictive maintenance features like maintenance tracking and automated scheduling can help keep maintenance on track.
Reduced downtime with proactive maintenance scheduling
With this feature in your Lift Truck Dealer Software, the system automatically sends alerts and notifications for upcoming maintenance tasks, service intervals, and inspection deadlines. This proactive approach ensures that every maintenance task is completed on time, helping dealerships stay organized and ahead of schedule.
Lower maintenance costs through early detection of potential issues
Predictive Maintenance features help dealers keep their lift trucks in optimal condition, extending their lifespan and maximizing the value of their equipment investment. This approach reduces the need for costly replacements and leads to significant long-term savings.
