TVS Motors Implements Dealer Management System
By Amit Tripathi
Mumbai, Mar 2, 2004

Are you facing the overwhelming challenge of book keeping every single move that your infinite list of dealers make?

TVS Motors has managed to eliminate the problem completely, by installing a Dealer Management System (DMS).

Speaking to CXOtoday, Raj Shekhar, Assistant Manager-IT, TVS Motors, said, "A typical ‘dealers dilemma" revolves around the sourcing of information and replenishment of spare parts.”

The company has been using a SAP ERP system since two years. However, some mechanism was needed at the dealers end to monitor and meet customer needs. So TVS Motors stepped in to ease it’s dealers’ burden by roping in Mindtree Consulting to customize a DMS for its 450 dealers countrywide, which will be implemented by Wipro. "Each dealer would have to cough up around a lakh and a half towards the project, which will include the charges for the hardware infrastructure, software, and the support”, added Shekhar.

The DMS will have finance management, inventory management, service, and customer analysis modules. Its not just the dealers, but the parent company also stands to benefit in the long run.

Shekhar explained, “We would now be able to carry out effective customer need analysis. At the same time we would be able to control the manufacturing process with elaborate customer preferences." The implementation is expected to be over within one year.

Issues like selection of vendors, hardware, and maintaining network availability for the dealers were typical challenges faced during the implementation.

The company, which spends around Rs. 20-30 crores annually on IT, has put up its level 3 data center recently, which now includes a call center.

Although the concept of implementing a DMS is a new concept in the industry, its inherent advantages are quickly bringing it in the limelight.