MAM solutions help Automotive Supplies deal with upswing in sales

Automotive Supplies, a single-site motor factor based in Derry, has experienced an increase in business over the past year - and MAM Software solutions have helped facilitate this growth.

Since implementing Autopart Online, MAM's cloud-based business management software and Autocat back in April 2020, the company has been able to handle a greater volume of sales more efficiently and effectively. Owner Liam Mullan explained that Automotive Supplies has been trading since 1978, and used a disk-operated system to run its business for the past 30 years.

"The market was changing too much and we needed something more up to date. MAM products are the go-to for most motor factors, so it seemed like the logical choice for us," Liam acknowledged.

MAM carried out the training and implementation needed for Autopart Online and Autocat remotely, as national lockdown restrictions meant it was not possible for a professional services consultant to travel to the premises in person.

"Not being able to have someone on site talking us through everything was a bit of a concern initially, but it needn't have been. We've all found it very easy to learn how to use the system" Liam said. "MAM were fantastic; I was the only person working at one point and the support I received was excellent. They could log into the system remotely and were more than willing to help out with any questions or queries I had."

Autocat is MAM's comprehensive electronic parts catalogue, which allows motor factors such as Automotive Supplies to gather component data from multiple suppliers. The web-based system has proved invaluable to the business and is "constantly being used" on all of the trade counters.

"We were given a test version of Autocat so we could get our bearings with it ahead of go-live," Liam noted.

"If we didn't have Autocat, we might as well close our shutters. All our orders are pulled through in a matter of seconds; we're able to see stock levels and carry out pricing and block changes in a much more efficient manner. There's less room for error now we're using MAM solutions," Liam highlighted.

Automotive Supplies has also benefited from a greater insight into transactions that simply was not possible before moving over to the new software.

"Autopart Online has given me a greater visibility of my business, as there's a lot of reports I can run. With the system we were using previously, we had to wait until the end of the day to find out how well we were doing.  Now I can just run a report to see how busy we are, what is our busiest time, who's selling the most on the counter, who's making the most profit."

The company opted for the cloud-based version of Autopart for the flexibility and convenience it offers. "Having on-site servers simply wouldn't have been practical for us," Liam noted. "Being on the cloud means MAM takes charge of all this on our behalf - and it will be more affordable for us in the long run."

As a growing business, Automotive Supplies also needed a software solution that would continue to support its operations for years to come - and Liam is confident he has invested in a platform that will enable the company to do just that.

"Since moving over to Autopart and Autocat, we've already expanded into the unit next door. In the future, we hope to get more vans on the road and maybe go further afield with deliveries. We're a family business so hope to be around for a lot longer yet - and MAM Software will help ensure this is the case," Liam concluded.