You can’t find buried treasure without a map.
But what if you’re given multiple maps, simultaneously, without any clue as to which is the right one or which direction is the right way?
How can you tell which route will lead to your success?
That’s the problem facing OEM After sales Teams when it comes to the wealth of data you’re given. It’s impossible to see the wood for the trees.
Getting data on your side
Is there such a thing as “too much data”? We don’t believe so. We believe it’s about how you manage it.
Too many companies - especially those in after sales - use far too many formats to collect their data.
Whether that’s CAD software, Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems, Customer Relationship Manager (CRM) tools, or even outdated, legacy systems, you're giving your after sales team too much to sift through.
(Don’t even get us started on the various versions of each system and the multitude of formats within each version).
The key then… is integration.
But integration can be a challenge. How can your team harmonize this diversity and get everything running seamlessly?
This becomes even more of a stumbling block when you consider the interoperability issues some systems seem to be born with.
But what about data synchronization? Can your current system track each individual part that goes into your product at every stage of the product life cycle? Can it cope with naming conventions that differ between products?
If the answer is no (and word of warning… it usually is), keep reading.
Data Synchronisation, Governance, Management
Because when it comes to making sure your data is telling you the same thing in real-time across your systems, accuracy is crucial.
The impact on your after sales systems from delays and discrepancies can be huge.
When outdated and disjointed processes try to support modern data requirements, they fall short. Trying to use the manufacturing team’s Bill of Materials can lead to confusion. Not every part is for sale and often distinct parts aren’t clearly separated.
Some companies may look for an internal phased transition to remedy this problem, while others look for a company with a proven track record of great data management to get themselves up to date.
Whatever the choice, without clarity and accuracy in your data, the bottom line is… your bottom line will suffer.
Moving on to Data Governance, one of the key problems we’ve witnessed is how different teams have different practices.
Look at it this way, if the chef in a restaurant is reading from Recipe A and his sous is using ingredients from Recipe B, it’s pretty unlikely they’re going to be serving up a compatible meal.
It’s the same when it comes to manufacturing. If your CAD Engineer is using a completely different part-naming scheme to after sales, even identifying the part that the customer wants to buy can be a massive challenge.
It’s a straightforward path to inconsistency, incompatibility, and confusion for your customer.
Time for the good news
There is a way out.
We’re here to hand you a torch and show you the light. OEMs have several routes to choose from.
- Integration Platforms: Employ middleware or integration platforms that facilitate the smooth exchange of data between disparate systems.
- Standardize: Implement industry-standard formats and protocols for data exchange.
- APIs and Web Services: Utilize Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) and web services to enable different systems to communicate and share data.
- Data Mapping and Transformation Tools: Use software that helps in mapping, transforming, and normalizing data to ensure compatibility and consistency.
- Master Data Management (MDM): Implementing MDM strategies to establish a 'single source of truth' and maintain consistency across different data sources.
After all, effectively managing data integration and compatibility is fundamental to making your after sales operation work as hard as it can
That’s the key to improving customer service, and overall operational efficiency.
A single source of truth
But how do you find the single source of truth? And how can Partful help?
We can offer a 3D catalog that gives your after sales team exactly the level of clarity over data that we’ve just discussed.
We can offer you a parts catalog that doesn’t just have the CAD engineer in mind or just the after sales team, but one that works for everyone, and crucially for every customer.
Partful will help you maintain accurate, up-to-date, and consistent data across different systems and platforms.
There’s no need for discrepancies or errors in data leading to inefficiencies or operational issues.
We’re on a mission to clear up data mismanagement and eliminate the parts misidentification poor data can cause.
At Partful, we make life easier. We’re removing legacy systems with outdated data formats. We’re showcasing modern systems without compromising data integrity.
Our truly interactive 3D platform is easy to use and designed in a way that makes customers happy and satisfied.
We’ve also kept protecting sensitive information in CAD files and BOMs absolutely top of mind in our approach, by using stringent security measures.
We can stop any access from outside, with stakeholders having the say of who gets to see what and when. That way OEMs know their data is being looked after.
This focus on security doesn’t affect the communication of data, which we see as key to the seamless flow of information required for after sales services.
In short, Partful can give you the right map AND point you in the right direction at the same time. Then, all you’ve got to do is collect the gold.
If you want to know how to overcome the challenge of data management in after sales, you can find out much more here:
Take a look today at how Partful’s 3D Explosion Parts Catalog can offer you the right solution.
Hear more from Parris about turning data management into an advantage on our upcoming podcast episode releasing early December!
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