Vehicle lifecycle tracking

MDS Vehicles can track every vehicle over the complete lifecycle: from order, through pre-production, production, shipment, landing, customs clearance, bond release, build-up, repair, compliance checking, dispatch, transportation, dealer stock, retail, warranty, recalls, change of ownership and servicing, to final destruction.

Vehicle identification

Vehicles can be identified by VIN, serial number, chassis number, registration number, customer order number, production order number, stock number and in many other ways.

Vehicle supply chain definition

Configure individual supply chains by model, factory and port, or globally by factory and port. This is done by defining each activity in the chain, and then by providing expected lead-times against each. Activities are automatically up-dated and progressed by trigger events such as order confirmation and vehicle dispatch. Users can quickly check vehicle order progress: pre-order, in production, configuration cut-off date passed, at sea, at wharf, ready for allocation, pre-delivery inspection, dealer stock, and other statuses. The expected delivery date is calculated automatically depending on the actual and expected lead-times of each activity on each vehicle.

Vehicle financial status

Every vehicle’s financial status is visible throughout its lifecycle, so you can see if duty is paid, whether the dealer has paid or whether it is still financed, and so on.

Vehicle history log

Every transaction and action that occurs to each vehicle is recorded and tracked in the vehicle’s history log. Activities and statuses can be automatically updated by events, dealers and other third parties.

Varied business model support

Support locate-to-order, low-volume build-to-order, and high-volume build-to-order business models at the same time.

High volume build-to-order

Minimise age and the quantity of stock that needs to be held when manufacturers expect production to be confirmed according to predefined cut-off times in the order cycle. Generate dealer targets, with incentives, and set monthly dealer allocations.

Low volume build-to-order

Manage custom-built, luxury and one-off vehicle orders against customer requirements and timeframes. Support changes to vehicle configuration according to customer requests and factory requirements.

Flexible order creation

Support changes to vehicle production orders up to defined modification cut-off points. A unique order reference number is assigned and stays with the vehicle throughout its life.

Vehicle configuration

Support configuration definition, management, rules and pricing from the simple requirements of a motorcycle order to the complexities of a heavy commercial vehicle order.
Define and manage different model, colour, trim, and option configurations for different markets, based on both the models and options available from the factory and from local suppliers. Create rules so that only valid combinations of options, colours and trims can be defined. Translate codes between suppliers and distributors.

Specification and type codes

Record codes for each vehicle to indicate specifications like horsepower, performance, fuel consumption, dimensions and statutory information that can be communicated to government, industry bodies and business partners.

Cost and pricing structures

Create and maintain standard cost and price structures by model and by option, using cells to calculate key values like landed cost, wholesale value and tax. Define and record as many cost and price elements as needed. A business typically defines a standard cost and price structure that will be applied to all models, with start and end dates to manage changes. Any activity that changes the cost of the vehicle, such as fitting an option, will be recorded automatically by the system as it occurs and posted to the correct General Ledger account.

Vehicle allocation and sales

Provides full visibility of all vehicles in the supply chain, regardless of their current location, from pre-production through to retail and end-of-life. On receipt of a customer order, or indeed during a vehicle configuration, the most appropriate unit is allocated automatically from within the entire supply chain, from pre-production through to dealer stock. The most appropriate match is selected, taking into account availability and the desired delivery date. Define rules governing how dealers can swap allocations and alter vehicle configurations depending on their location in the supply chain.

Owner details

Records owner and sales information at time of retail, including the owner’s contact and demographic details, personal and business information. Sales information includes reasons for purchase, finance options, trade in brand, and so on. Multiple vehicles can be recorded per owner, and subsequent owners of vehicles are updated by dealers. Owners can be classified, for example: private, business, government or fleet.

Dealer Connect portal

Dealers only need a web browser to access the secured online web portal that gives full visibility, management and tracking of all their allocations, the ability to configure and order vehicles, and the ability to record retail sales, owner details and demographics.