CAM International, Nashville, is one of the largest after-market auto parts redistributors in the United States. Because the automotive industry poses special challenges for manufac- turers and distributors seeking ways to cut costs, improve operational efficiencies, and stay ahead of the competition, the company began to investigate possible sources of new business and ways to improve customer service. Because the products CAM buys constantly change, the company decided that the Internet was the perfect vehicle to make those changes in real time. The move from traditional auto parts redistributing to a Web-based service is a natural evolution for CAM, because the electronic distri- bution channel will enable the company to cope with more volume and capacity than the company could through traditional redistributing methods. A Web-based exchange also alleviates the burden of making phone calls to keep inventory databases current. An added bonus: the Web helps automate the process of matching buyers with sellers.
展开▼
