The right business system software can make a company more efficient, productive and profitable. Getting the one that’s right for your business requires careful evaluation and a commitment from the owner on down.
A company equipped with the right business system software can improve in nearly every aspect of its operation.
Business systems generally support all areas of an aftermarket company – accounting, billing, parts inventory, service, payroll, etc. “Basically everything the distributor needs to run his business,” says John Lebel, chief technology officer for Karmak, Inc.
Only one-third to half of heavy-duty parts distributors are using a company-wide business system, according to estimates from business system providers. Those who are not range in their level of sophistication and automation. Kenny Nau, director of sales for PLUSS Corporation, says he recently talked to a $5-million company that was hand writing everything.
Duff Bell, software applications specialist for Karmak, Inc., says, “There are a lot of people out there running QuickBooks or trying to run off an old system [from a company] that might even be out of business. Every single day I come across a little in-house system, and it doesn’t even have to be at a small company. Just yesterday I was talking with an eight location parts house that does almost $10 million a year in parts sales and they use a homegrown little system. A local guy wrote the software and a local guy still supports it.”
Considering the importance of a business system – if it goes down, the company can literally shut down – it can be a risky proposition to rely on a single person or a smaller supplier to support it.
