e-commerce Archives - Page 36 of 37 - Tyrepress

e-commerce and online tyre business news

Posts

Goodyear Makes InformationWeek 500

In the USA, Goodyear has been ranked number 118 in the InformationWeek top 500 list. This list ranks US companies with turnovers of more than $1 billion according to patterns of technical, operational and organisational innovation. The listing pleased Eric Berg, Goodyear vice president for e-commerce and chief information officer, who pointed out that the list is compiled on the basis of an organisation’s innovative use of information technology, rather than merely who spends the most on IT.

19th November 2002/by Tyrepress Editors

Internet Sales By Delticom Now In Great Britain

German e-commerce company Delticom AG (Hanover) is expanding to other European countries and is now starting to sell tyres and wheels via the Internet (www.mytyres.co.uk) in Great Britain. A subsidiary company, Delticom Ltd., has been founded in Oxford, with Lennart Pluim as Managing Director.

30th November 2001/by Tyrepress Editors

Internationalisation of SupplyOn

SupplyOn, an internet market platform for the automotive supplier industry, located near Munich, wants to enhance its international presence. Recently the company opened a bureau in Paris. Due to the great interest in a business-specific E-commerce platform, the company intends to establish a presence in the USA by the end of the year. To date, 25 international automotive suppliers are registered with SupplyOn, whose offer contains integrated solutions for buying, distribution, logistics and development.

30th November 2001/by Tyrepress Editors

European E-Commerce Director For Goodyear

Goodyear Tire & Rubber has appointed George Rietbergen (37) as its European director of e-commerce. He comes to the tyre manufacturer from KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, where his most recent post was director, e-commerce and commercial development.

30th November 2001/by Tyrepress Editors

More And More E-Commerce In The Tyre Business

Late – at least compared with other businesses – but not too late, the tyre industry and trade have realised the importance and the possibilities of e-commerce and for today’s business. But this late “discovery” is not really a surprise because automotive and related companies are naturally not so closely related to the topic as, for example, the electronics or the communications businesses. It is therefore perhaps not surprising that a study by Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), carried out in co-operation with KPMG Consulting, reveals a lower interest among companies in the automotive sector – again only in comparison with other businesses – to expand their e-business activities, although in the meantime the internet is becoming more and more accepted in the tyre business. Two or three years ago there were only a few investing in this “new” media. But since last year, the number of tyre and wheel related online shops or portal sites is constantly growing. And even the tyre manufacturers themselves are investing more and more in internet facilities. Details can be found in NEUE REIFENZEITUNG’s e-commerce feature in January.

30th November 2001/by Tyrepress Editors

Global E-Commerce Director For Goodyear

Goodyear has appointed Nathaniel E. Leonard as global director of e-commerce. His previous post was as president of Weldersmall.com. In his new position, Leonard will lead Goodyear’s efforts to develop and implement e-commerce strategies, both global and individually-tailored for Goodyear’s strategic business units.

30th November 2001/by Tyrepress Editors

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.

30th November 2001/by Tyrepress Editors

New E-Commerce Products From Continental

The tyre industry is faced with a new method of doing business: e-commerce. Continental has developed a new product that enables smaller customers to check stock availability and order product at a time to suit him. Called ContiContact, it is essentially an electronic catalogue giving information on product and prices in real time and is available to any dealer who has a PC and a modem. ContiContact is designed to complement, not replace, traditional methods of ordering and Continental will continue with its EDI and call centre operations; the new service is part of Continental’s desire to be known as “a company that is easy to do business with”. It has been on trial with selected customers for a year and is now ready to roll out to a wider customer base. Continental has also introduced e-billing, which allows customers with internet access to log on to a website where they can view or download their invoices. The advantages are space and time saving (Continental can archive invoices for customers if required) and less chance of mistakes, lost invoices etc. The system is totally secure and records are stored electronically at two separate locations, in case of accidents.

30th November 2001/by Tyrepress Editors

Car Parts and Accessories – 3rd BBE Conference in Cologne

On 5th April the consultant company had invited more than 150 experts from the car parts and accessories sectors for its third conference concerning the car component aftermarket. As tyres are counted as part this segment as well, trends from this part of the business were presented and discussed as well. In times where sales of new cars begin to drop, the importance of the aftermarket business begins to grow again. But on the other hand the competition in this field is fiercer than ever -due also to the internet and e-commerce. This was the reason why the event was subtitled “The good times are over – means for success in hard times”. And the topics of the internet and e-commerce were at least mentioned by almost every speaker, sometimes being even the main topic. These new media enable the industry to provide products directly to the end consumer, leaving behind the old traditions of trade via wholesaler and retailers.

30th November 2001/by Tyrepress Editors

E-Commerce – Confused? Who Wouldn’t Be?

The tyre industry is being swamped by companies trying to grab a piece of the e-commerce cake. Whether individuals like it or not, surviving in the tyre market in the future will depend upon access to technology, and the ability to buy and sell stock on-line. Who do you turn to? ContiContact? Tyreman? Cam Systems, Team Systems, who? Do you need Internet, or EDI? What are the legalities? The whole concept is confusing to the layman and the trader alike and the pace of change can be frightening to those who are not e-literate as they feel they may be left behind by increasingly-sophisticated customers. This series of articles looks at the potential, the hazards, the products, and throws in a healthy pinch of salt but still concludes that the future is electronic.

30th November 2001/by Tyrepress Editors

CEO for Covisint Announced

Covisint, the motor manufacturer led on-line marketplace, has announced the appointment of Kevin English as its first Chief Executive Officer. English comes from Credit Suisse First Boston, where he held the post of managing director and CEO of e-commerce. The appointment should give Covisint the impetus and direction to attain its potential as the leading on-line marketplace for the automotive trade, in particular for the supply of OE equipment and services.

30th November 2001/by Tyrepress Editors

Philip J. Ringo To Head New Global E-Commerce Marketplace

RubberNetwork.com, LLC, a global electronic purchasing and procurement marketplace created by nine leading companies in the tire and rubber industry, has named Philip J. Ringo Chief Executive Officer and a Member of the company’s Board of Managers.

30th November 2001/by Tyrepress Editors

NTDA Conference 2000

The National Tyre Distributors Association held its millennium conference in Portugal. Before the conference got under way, delegates were given the news that RapidFit had applied to join the association. The 300-strong chain of Ford dealers is the first of the vehicle dealerships to enter into membership. The keynote speaker at the conference was Sir Tom Farmer, one of whose points was that the association should consider becoming more commercial and explore the possibility of setting up a buying group for members. Other speakers explored the themes of the impact of e-commerce and the internet on tyre retailing and what tyre dealers can do to take advantage of the opportunities which are liable to arise in the future. The impact of legislation – existing and forthcoming – was another topic, including the implications of the proposed End of Life Vehicle Directive. There was a different format for the second day, when delegates broke into groups to discuss the three subjects of scrap tyre disposal, e-commerce and the changing face of tyre retailing, reflecting the previous day’s subjects. The group chairmen then reported back to the meeting and the conclusions were presented to the NTDA in order to guide the association as to its future strategic direction in these areas. Debate was lively and everyone agreed that the new format had been a resounding success.

7th December 2000/by Tyrepress Editors

Another E-Commerce Platform

Leading companies in the field of car components are to build up a new e-business solution for dealers and independent workshops. Like Bosch, Delphi, Mannesmann, VDO Sachs Tenneco and some others, Continental wants to use the new platform (for the Teves brand ATE and the ContiTech division), too.

7th December 2000/by Tyrepress Editors

Gibara Explains Goodyear’s 2000 Strategy

At a dealer conference in Las Vegas, Goodyear Chief Gibara explained to an audience of 4,500 tyre people the need for consolidation in 2000, following the recent aggressive expansion strategy. Gibara pointed out the importance of the personal touch despite the fast growth of e-commerce and the Internet. The fill-rate problem will be improved through shipments from Latin America, Eastern Europe and Turkey for the US replacement market.

7th December 2000/by Tyrepress Editors