Hino optimizes its supply chain with new automotive software solution

IDS, part of the IBS Group, has signed an agreement with Hino Motors Sales USA Inc. (Hino Trucks) for a new ERP-solution tailored for the Automotive industry. The new solution will give Hino greater control over truck sales and distribution, warranty claims, spare parts and accessory stock and supply. The order value amounts to USD 1.3 m.

Hino Trucks is the U.S. distribution company for Hino Motors Limited of Tokyo, Japan. Based in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, Hino Trucks sells and services medium sized commercial trucks. In order to facilitate the extremely high growth and expansion of the business in the important US market, Hino Trucks wanted to replace its present legacy application with a modern ERP solution tailored for the automotive industry. Hino is now in the process of building a nationwide sales and service network that will offer a new line of conventional medium-duty trucks incorporating leading-edge Hino Diesel engines and American produced driveline components. A new spare parts distribution center in Memphis and a new management team is also part of the investment made in the US, the largest automotive market in the world. The agreement covers the migration of existing (legacy) applications for Hino Trucks to a highly functional and flexible system that will provide the basis for the company to substantially and quickly grow its business and market share in America towards 30,000 units per annum and beyond. The IDS solution will provide greater control over truck sales and distribution, warranty claims, spare parts and accessory stock and supply. With the new highly automated system, Hino will also be able to significantly enhance productivity of staff. Most of the transactions volumes will be done by the dealers themselves, such as placing orders and entering warranty claims. Hino Trucks will also enjoy the benefits of improved reporting, increased visibility and strong integration with the head office in Japan. The new system (IDSe42), will include parts, warranty, vehicles, BI, WMS, dealer connect and account modules and is planned to go live on October 31, 2005. “We started evaluating a number of vendors but quickly concluded that the IDS solution was clearly ahead with advanced functionality for the automotive industry and a very good fit to our business requirements. The automotive industry is highly competitive and we needed an efficient, scalable and flexible solution in order to be able to adapt to new business demands and fast growth,” says Derek Kaufman, Senior Vice President of Hino Trucks. Gordon Towell, CEO of IDS Enterprise Systems commented on the importance of the agreement with Hino in the important US market."This new contract with Hino Trucks further strengthens the relationship between our two companies which began over 10 years ago with Hino in Australia. Since then, IDS has installed new ERP software systems in Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia on behalf of the Hino Group globally. The recent acquisition of IDS by IBS will considerably enhance our ability to deploy software around the world through the large network of IBS subsidiaries. I fully expect that our expansion into the North American market place will be greatly assisted through the additional infrastructure and resources provided by our parent company.” IDS has a 22 year history of providing world class solutions to many of the largest Automotive companies including Porsche, Daimler Chrysler, General Motors, Toyota, and Volkswagen. For more information, please contact: Magnus Wastenson, CEO IBS AB Telephone: +46 (0)8 627 2515 Mobile: +46 70 627 2515 magnus.wastenson@ibs.net Ralf Moller, General Manager IDS Enterprise Systems Ltd Telephone: +44 (0) 1491 413383 Mobile: +44 (0)7733 318861 rmoller@idses.com John Womack, Director Corporate Communications IBS AB Telephone: +46 (0)8 627 2499 Mobile: +46 70 678 2499 john.womack@ibs.net