Inventory Systems; Service Trucks - Tire Review Magazine

Inventory Systems; Service Trucks

Software Solutions for Managing Tire Inventory

It’s an open secret that good inventory software programs have been out there for a long time. What isn’t as clear is how many tire dealers are using these programs to their best advantage. Some are, some aren’t; it’s the latter we’re worried about.

Did you know that with a few clicks of the mouse you can see information about your inventory movement for every item in your inventory?

If that’s too much to swallow in one lesson, try selecting the inventory item you want to track based on inventory type, manufacturer or even the vendor from which you purchase.

Simply choose the date range you wish to track, and the software

does the rest by showing you a spreadsheet with everything you want to know.

Maybe you want to track your vendor history. Software is available that allows you to view all transactions associated with a particular vendor. Once you select the vendor you want to track, you will quickly know the accounts payable balance for this vendor and see receipts, bills, payments, all transactions or just financial transactions.

This software program will sort these items by date, purchase order number, or even reference number. You can also change, void or print any of these transactions directly from the history screen.

Would you like to conduct a “search inventory function?” With today’s software, you can search for an item by any combination of part numbers, tire width, aspect ratio, vendor or inventory subtype. Put in as little or as much information as you want, and you will quickly get a return on your search.

Another click on the mouse will bring up a full inventory history. You can call up a complete history of any inventory item, view all sales, receiving dates and adjustments from the first day the item was in your system.

Because your inventory is your most valuable physical asset, according to software makers, it’s not just what you sell but what you buy that can make the difference in your profitability. Buy too much of one SKU – especially historically slow- or no-movers – and you could be sitting on a dead inventory for months and months.

Your software package can recommend purchases based on historical trends and desired inventory turns. This is must-have knowledge. With some software options, you can even fine tune stocking levels to meet seasonal sales needs, or capture valuable and actionable data about lines and sizes that suddenly become “hot” sellers.

You can “red-line” reports that notify you of slow-moving inventory or review automatic electronic price updates. You can also review real-time stocking levels for each of your locations instantly.

The idea behind every good inventory software program is to allow you to have the information needed to buy the right product at the right time. This maximizes your inventory turns and frees up capital for other investments. 


Service Trucks Built for Better Mileage, Tire Life

No matter what type or size of tire-service truck you buy today, double check to see if it’s made of lightweight aluminum. Not only is an aluminum body rust resistant, its lighter weight means more miles to the gallon, longer drivetrain life and longer tire life.

You will also find service trucks with an aluminum interior construction, with the outside constructed of fiberglass and a solid gel-coat paint job that’s impregnated into the fiberglass. You get the idea. Either type of service truck is virtually corrosion free, and the paint job will last a long time.

Beyond the purchase of any tire-service truck, you can expect the support of a factory-trained account-management team or a certified specialist. These people will provide you with tips on proper operation and lifecycle costing analyses to help you determine proper replacement cycles for vehicles in your fleet.

You will find that the major suppliers of tire-service trucks are increasingly better at what they do. For example, the Back Pac from Stellar is a good solution to those times when a full-blown service truck is too much but a simple pickup truck is just not enough.

The Back Pac is available in both hydraulic or self-contained, gasoline-engine vehicles. Both units provide quick and easy interchangeability from truck to truck.

The hydraulic-driven Back Pac starts with a 28-inch-wide galvanized steel enclosure with dual top-mounted aluminum compartments. Nestled in the bottom of the module are dual 9-gallon air reservoirs. The power source for the reservoirs is a direct coupled hydraulic air compressor. This model includes two air-hose reels that store 50 feet of 1/2-inch hose and 40 feet of 3/8-inch hose.

Versatility is the name of the game in today’s tire business, and service-truck suppliers can provide you with many options.

Shop around, and you’ll find extruded aluminum plank floors for greater strength and longevity, extruded aluminum body liners, stainless-steel hinges with stainless-steel automatic-style slam latches, innovative work lights and direct-drive hydraulic air-compressor systems. No more loose or worn belts. You will also find unique cranes and compressors on a common base. This frees up valuable tool-storage space and eliminates rusted driveshafts and U-joints.

You can also rely on tire-service truck builders to adhere to the highest standards throughout the design, manufacturing and assembly stages. It will also be tested before it is shipped to you.

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