Epicor Software Corp. is celebrating the 30th anniversary of electronic cataloging for the automotive aftermarket. The company introduced the industry’s first electronic catalog in August 1984.
The first-generation Epicor eCatalog of the mid-1980s was limited only to the supplier lines and catalogs carried by each auto parts store. Even so, many replacement parts distributors and jobbers quickly realized that their counterpeople were often twice as productive and far more accurate when they relied on the eCatalog rather than print volumes, according to Epicor.
The company says accelerating growth of vehicle platforms and corresponding part number proliferation also fueled early adoption. The eCatalog also helped users eliminate pricing mistakes, reduce returns and improve inventory control and buying practices.
"Our first eCatalog opened the door to countless opportunities to improve efficiency and accuracy at the parts counter, which remains the nexus of virtually every vehicle repair,” says Scott Thompson, vice president, automotive, retail distribution solutions for Epicor.
"Epicor eCatalog products are even more important and prevalent today, connecting tens of thousands of wholesalers with service providers, and driving an ever growing number of business-to-consumer eCommerce websites.”
The company says its PartExpert eCatalog suite includes more than 10 million parts, 7,800 manufacturer product lines, and 27 million interchanges and covers virtually every vehicle make and model marketed within North America over the past 40 years.