Reducing the amount of time a car spends on a ramp is one of the primary concerns for the garages and aftermarket industry. Especially with regard to exhausts, catalytic converters (CATs) and diesel particulate filters (DPFs) – not only do most customers demand high quality replacements, but also reduced lead times to ensure a vehicle is back on the road as quickly as possible. Klarius Products has long been a champion of providing premium type-approved emissions products, but how does the company tackle the challenge of ensuring distributors and garages have the correct product, at the right time for a customer?
A number of factors guarantee that replacing an emissions component is achieved as quickly as possible. Firstly, high quality products designed for specific models ensure reduced fitment times, protect original equipment (OE) levels of emissions and performance while extending the operational lifetime of the system. Producing a wide range of these components allows greater choice to customers while also reducing lead times on less popular replacement parts. Dynamic assessment of these parts and their popularity in the market allows support for distributors with regards to stocking the right product at the perfect time – while also allowing in-house space efficiency for greater choice across the rest of the range. For more uncommon vehicle applications such as classic cars, next day delivery on items from manufacturer stock facilitates similar lead times for distributors and garages across a wide product range.
Producing a wide range of quality products is the first step in the process for any manufacturer. Klarius manufactures all exhausts, CATs and DPFs to type-approval standards – the EU directive on the quality and performance of emissions products. Each applicable part is independently tested at the company test track in Cheadle, Staffordshire on real world vehicles. Passing this rigorous testing ensures customers can expect at least OE levels of performance for their replacement part.
Furthermore, real world testing guarantees a replacement will fit a vehicle first time, which reduces the time taken to fit at the garage. Offering a wide range is also important to cater for all types of motorists – which is why Klarius produces components for popular models, commercial vehicles, SUVs, sports cars and specialty applications. This versatility allows distributors and garages to provide drivers with the correct solution from the Klarius range, no matter the specification or vehicle.
Dynamic stocking is also vital to ensure that quality products are delivered to garages in a timely and cost effective fashion. Emissions products generally consume a large amount of physical space in a warehouse, so gaining the right balance between fast moving items and less popular items is key not only to satisfying demand effectively, but also profitability for distributors. Achieving this space efficiency is possible through frequent stock profiling – gauging the demand for particular products and amending stock as necessary. Klarius supports distributors by providing stock profiling for their products, replacing slower moving items with more popular options free of charge. This enables orders from garages to be met for products that are popular – while improving the efficiency and profitability of supply.
Speedy delivery also supplements dynamic stocking procedures, as it is impossible for a distributor or garage to have instant access to all emissions products a customer may require. In such a situation, it is rare that a customer will be prepared to wait for long periods while their vehicle is unusable. Klarius mitigates these concerns with high speed delivery – typically a part ordered in the afternoon will be delivered to a garage by the next morning, ensuring motorists spend as little time on the ramp as possible. With the entirety of the Klarius range available, distributors and garages can offer shorter lead times and a higher level of customer service.
Employing these methods benefit customers in a multitude of ways. Quality products ensure motorists will require replacement parts less frequently, while tested parts designed for particular models greatly reduces the time taken for garages to fit a replacement, reducing time on the ramp. A mix of dynamic stock procedures and fast delivery increases customer satisfaction via decreased lead times, ensuring work can be completed efficiently. By reducing the time a vehicle spends on a ramp, garages also benefit from increased customer loyalty, as efficient service and quality products along the supply chain ensure that customers appreciate that their vehicle will be out of action for the shortest possible time.
