Losing business because a part takes too long to arrive when it’s not in stock is a common problem that should have an easy solution. Marathon Warehouse Distribution believes it has the answer in the shape of its Empower business trading platform.
The seemingly endless increase in the amount of vehicle makes and models on the UK’s roads is making life ever more difficult for motor factors. It is next to impossible to stock every part that they may need so that they can say yes to their customers. The result is that a factor has to invest an excessive amount of time tracking down, pricing up and ordering non-stock items.
It would be much easier if the motor factor had a fast, reliable parts look-up solution running alongside its own system, giving it the ability to secure a sale whilst on the phone to the customer, even for parts that it does not have in stock.
Step forward Empower
Empower is Marathon’s exclusive business-to-business trading platform for motor factors. It provides instant access to the company’s vast product database and shows real time availability information along with pricing and accurate delivery information, as well as providing a suite of handy business management tools.
What can Empower do for business?
The trading platform has been specifically designed to enable factors to look up and order a part while the customer is on the phone or counter. Empower’s instant pricing and availability information gives factors the ability to seamlessly secure sales even for ultra-slow moving components that are not in stock.
Registration look-up
Enter the registration number, click look-up or hit enter, and Empower will display, by product group, all of the components in the Marathon catalogue for that specific vehicle.
To make identifying parts easier, results can be ‘filtered’ to narrow down options. For example: brake pads for 2010 Volkswagen Golf 1.6.
The online tool initially shows 10 different sets of pads that are available to suit this vehicle. By filtering using the ‘Position’ drop down and selecting ‘Front’, the results are reduced to four sets. Then by using the additional ‘Brand’ filter drop down, this can be reduced further to two sets with a choice of 280 or 288mm discs.
Manual vehicle look-up
If the registration number isn’t known then a manual look-up can be used by simply entering make, model, engine type etc., at which point all catalogued parts are returned in exactly the same way as above.
Part number look-up
If the part number is already known, simply search for any Marathon part number using the ‘Part No. Search’ tool. Alternatively Empower allows the factor to search using other leading aftermarket brand part numbers. The company is proud of its cross referencing as all cross references are claimed to be completely accurate and have been individually verified – crucial for the peace of mind of both factors and their customers.
Empower also provides customers with accurate and detailed images of components which can be expanded for a close-up view. Images can even be compared side-by-side with other part numbers in the event of a choice, by using the ‘Compare’ tool.
“Empower’s instant pricing and availability information gives factors the ability to seamlessly secure sales even for ultra-slow moving components that are not in stock.”
Order processing
Once the correct part has been identified, Empower makes the order process very simple. With one click, the required part can be added to the basket, where the order number and delivery instructions can be added or, if preferred, can be collected from the local Marathon Warehouse.
For ultra-slow moving parts or parts which may be unavailable from the local Marathon Warehouse, Empower offers a next day ordering facility. No need to switch accounts, Empower does all the work automatically and the part is shipped overnight to the factor’s local Marathon Warehouse for delivery in the first van of the day.
Additional features
Empower is not just about distress purchases, there are numerous additional features to enable factors to manage existing stocks and even add new stock lines.
- Hot offers – there is an ever changing selection of items priced to impress, exclusively available from the platform.
- Consumables – bulbs, latex and nitrile gloves, oils, chemicals and many more workshop essentials.
- Ordering tools – a suite of tools on offer.
- Quick add – allows factors to add a known part number straight into the basket, ideal if stock needs replenishing or if a specific part number is wanted.
- Orders today – keeps a track of all orders placed via Empower on that day, which are then easily searchable by part number, order number or customer reference.
- Invoices and credits – an archive of all invoices and credit notes is available. Price files – easy to download price files, enabling factors to keep fully updated at all times.
- Bulk order – simply drop an excel spreadsheet in here to place a multi-line order.
- Buyers guide – in case a factor has a Marathon component in its warehouse and is unsure as to what vehicle the part fits, it is possible to enter the part number into the ‘Buyers Guide’ tool. Buyers Guide instantly returns a comprehensive list of every vehicle variant to which it can be fitted.
Marathon is always looking to improve Empower and currently has a number of new features in development including a chat function, live tracking of deliveries and creating bespoke offers for customers based on purchase history.
Getting connected
It’s very simple:
Go to www.mwd.uk.com and click on the ‘Get Connected’ button, then click on ‘Install Empower Launcher’ or go to www.empowermwd.org.uk and click on ‘Install Empower Launcher’.
After clicking on the launcher, make a note of the code that is sent through, call Marathon on 01986 875503, quoting the code and it will all be up and running in minutes.
