Software For The Tyre Trade

Despite all the joint-ventures, take-overs and mergers within the tyre industry, the number of tyre brands, types and dimensions offered by tyre trade is continually rising. As customers’ demands are increasing too, it is no longer an easy task to sell black round rubber tyres. Additional services, covering car service as well, are required more than ever before.

Where the tyre trade could easily lose track, simple computer software could solve the problem. However, we have realised several times, especially within our series of visits to tyre trade sites – and recently at a shop in Dortmund – that there are still some “dinosaurs” among the dealers who prefer file-card boxes, lists, card indices and similar things to computer files, not only for placing an order for a potential customer but for stocktaking. This is not automatically a disadvantage, but it raises the question if it is an exception or, if on principle EDP is not as accepted in the tyre business as in other business sectors.

“Within the tyre trade EDP goes without question” so say the software producers, while developing new challenges such as integrating internet and e-commerce into their programmes. In interviews with some suppliers, NEUE REIFENZEITUNG has been looking into this and other trends concerning EDP and the tyre trade..