Rush Enterprises Works with IBM to Drive Innovation Among 100 Nationwide Trucking Dealerships
IBM DealerWorks Helps Large Dealerships Streamline Efficiency Using Insight
ARMONK, New York - 04 May 2015: IBM (NYSE: IBM) and Rush Enterprises, Inc. (NASDAQ: RUSHA & RUSHB) today announced that the nation’s largest network of commercial vehicle dealerships is delivering real-time insight across more than 100 dealerships in 20 states.
“Consolidating all of our business data onto a single system that allows us to run and manage our entire network using critical metrics is key to enhancing our dealership efficiency,” said W. M. “Rusty” Rush, chairman, chief executive officer and president of Rush Enterprises, Inc. “Now we have sophisticated tools to manage our operation’s performance and a platform to take further advantage of economies of scale and rapidly integrate future locations onto our systems.
Driven by increased competition, dealership consolidation and a shift in the way dealerships are structured, dealerships are undergoing rapid change. Family-owned and local dealerships are becoming less common, while the complexity of massive new dealer networks is creating new pressures to manage more efficiently and reduce operational costs. According to an IBM Institute for Business Value study, 67 percent of automotive executives surveyed stated that substantial changes are ahead for the automotive retail market.
Rush represents industry-leading vehicle brands such as Peterbilt, International, Hino, Isuzu, Ford, Mitsubishi Fuso trucks and IC and Blue Bird buses, providing sales, rental, leasing, parts and service for vehicles purchased or maintained by both large fleet operators and individual owner/operators. Supporting transportation professionals widely dispersed across the country, it is critical for Rush to efficiently meet their needs with as little down time as possible.
IBM DealerWorks provides sophisticated operational and executive reporting tools to help Rush provide personalized customer service with instant access to service records, purchase history, parts and warranty information no matter which dealership is visited.
The ability to quickly check inventory and order parts anywhere also helps Rush deliver a consistent customer experience. When a part is out of stock, this can mean lost time on the road for customers. IBM DealerWorks is also helping Rush improve inventory management on millions of parts from hundreds of suppliers with automated updates on inventory. The system also updates price changes and discounts for millions of parts instantly, directly impacting the bottom line. Centralized warranty administration is dramatically simplified through the ability to electronically pull claims from each dealer location and submit them for reimbursement daily.
The solution is also helping rapidly integrate Rush’s dealerships onto a single system, allowing all locations to be consistently managed, providing unprecedented new insight into business operations so up-to-date financials are available instantly, not just at the end of the month.
“IBM DealerWorks is designed specifically to address the complex business needs of large automotive dealership networks and provide the right information to decision makers,” said Donna Satterfield, vice president Automotive, Aerospace and Defense, IBM. “It can also be tailored to meet the specific needs of each local dealer so they can focus on their customers.”
Built on the SAP ECC framework, IBM DealerWorks enables shared services and streamlines dealership functions including vehicle sales, service, warranty, parts sales, lease/rental, warehouse and inventory management. Data is integrated in real-time across all of these modules providing data integrity and business process best practices.
About Rush Enterprises, Inc.
Rush Enterprises, Inc. is the premier solutions provider to the commercial vehicle industry and owns and operates the largest network of commercial vehicle dealerships in the United States, representing truck and bus manufacturers, including Peterbilt, International, Hino, Isuzu, Ford, IC Bus and Blue Bird. The Company's vehicle centers are strategically located in high traffic areas on or near major highways throughout the United States. These one-stop centers offer an integrated approach to meeting customer needs — from sales of new and used vehicles to aftermarket parts, service and body shop operations plus a wide array of financial services, including financing, insurance, leasing and rental. Rush Enterprises’ operations also provide vehicle up-fitting, chrome accessories and tires. For more information, please visitwww.rushenterprises.com.
About IBM
For more information about IBM, please visit http://www-935.ibm.com/industries/automotive/
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