Optimizing your inventory for the click-and-collect era

The click-and-collect era means a dealership needs to control its inventory on a new level compared to the past, when sales were more involved and time-consuming. Maintaining an efficient inventory system is essential for successful dealerships to remain ahead of their rivals when market competition is increasingly fierce. How can a dealership optimize its inventory to maintain and grow profitability while keeping its customers happy and promptly catered to?

Why strong inventory management is essential

Inventory management systems, whether for extensive franchises or smaller dealerships, are the lifeblood of the automotive sales industry. These days, more than ever before, a dealership without a firm knowledge of its customer base and its in-stock vehicles will invariably lose sales to the competition. 

Dealership principals must incorporate an inventory management system worthy of their establishment, streamlining operations from beginning to end to ensure the positioning of dealership teams to take necessary and immediate action. Such a system also means improving customer experiences with the dealership. Integrating an inventory system with other tools like the DMS, POS, VIN tracking, dealer websites, CRM platforms and accounting platforms fine-tunes the inventory process to deliver optimal performance and results.   

Integrating inventory processes results in improved cash flow through better resource allocation. Knowing the stock movement of specific car brands and models eliminates over-buying and under-ordering from the dealership equation. When a dealership knows which makes and models move, it reduces the chances of tying up funds in slow-movers — investing in cars with quick turnaround times instead. A sound inventory management system will also mark any long-standing stock on the lot for depreciation, liquidation, wholesale and auction sales. 

A solid inventory management system means that if a customer urgently orders a particular car, the dealership representative can seal the sale without any delays. Click-and-collect services are more of a norm than an exception due to their flexibility and convenience for buyers. In 2024, customers spent over $132 billion on click-and-collect orders. An excellent inventory system undoubtedly enhances customer satisfaction — it ensures quicker sales while encouraging potential repeat business and positive reviews. 

Ultimately, a car dealership’s primary objective is to grow profitability. Successful inventory management allows dealerships to stock vehicles that seamlessly flow through the system until sold. Quick sales are profitable ones, increasing turnover ratios and margins. Reputable management software combined with VIN tracking means a dealership can optimize its pricing to compete with and better the competition while exceeding client expectations and still maximizing profits.    

Improve your inventory management system for efficient stockholding and sales 

Prioritizing a dealership’s inventory management system means smoother system functionality, more control, better ordering and less idle stock through faster turnarounds. In turn, the dealership will enjoy a satisfied customer base, greater market share, controlled cash flow and higher turnover, resulting in better profit. The crux is how to achieve these results. Some key strategies include:

Train staff efficiently

Any inventory system is only as effective as those capturing and maintaining the data. Training staff to be proficient in the incorporated systems and using system training experts will provide them with the knowledge and understanding to handle the inventory efficiently, reduce input errors and enhance the overall customer experience. Incorporating inventory controls like barcode tracking for used vehicles or parts, VIN scanning, demand forecasting and reorder point settings can provide greater control and simplify staff responsibilities. 

Use barcode tracking

Barcode tracking enables a dealership to successfully sell used cars and parts online or in a physical store. The tracking system connects to the inventory software to allow greater stock control. Barcode tracking systems with UPCs broaden the scope as they’re universally recognized and enhance accuracy in product recalls and inventory management in most retail and manufacturing situations.

Set up reorder points

Setting up reorder points in an inventory management system can keep a dealership ahead of its competitors by identifying nuances others may not consider. Car dealerships offer contracts, finance arrangements and commissions, so a system that suggests demand and sales-related reorders based on these specifics can take a dealership to the next level in profitability and service.

Include demand forecasting

Dealerships that accurately forecast vehicle demand based on industry trends, local markets, and other related economic factors can place earlier orders to ensure the continued stock of high-demand cars on their lots, while others struggle for supply. Optimize an inventory system for predictive analytics and real-time data analysis solutions to target click-and-collect customers and beat any last-minute supply problems. 

Employ category settings

Including inventory categories allows dealerships to more quickly track the cars’ makes, models, condition and price range on their lots. When analyzing inventory figures, dealership leadership can more easily track sales and order trends, simplify existing stock management processes and identify areas that require more targeted attention. Isolating target areas and identifying patterns with cross-category analysis affords a more accurate assessment, so an inventory system with category customization will benefit a dealership by tailoring analysis to suit specific needs.

Carry out inventory audits regularly 

Using an automated inventory management system considerably reduces the need for manual audits, but mistakes can still happen. Regular audits ensure current and accurate dealership records and help spot errors early before they result in expensive problems. Audits also help with peace of mind. Dealership leadership will always know exactly what cars are on the lot and be able to gauge the organization’s financial position at any time.

Optimizing your inventory for click-and-collect is essential 

When optimizing inventory in a car dealership for the click-and-collect era, consider what benefits a dealership’s profitability and growth the most. Is it a vehicle’s availability, the need to meet customer expectations, improving the shop’s overall operational efficiency or all of these and more? Accurate inventory management caters to all of them, also preventing unnecessary costs associated with over- or understocking. Ultimately, it enhances customer satisfaction and loyalty with the dealership’s brand — a surefire way to improve profits.