Honda Launches New Inventory-Ordering System

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Car dealers are often faced with a frustrating limitation concerning their inventory-ordering system: "what the dealer wants and what the factory is able to build often are miles apart leading to frustration when the wrong car shows up on the lot."

Honda is about to remedy that for their dealers thanks to the APEX (Allocation Preferencing and Exchange) inventory system. The system, "result of five years of software coding and deliberations among dealers, the factory and Honda's field staff" will allow dealers to change car specs before the vehicles are built. Before they cars into transit, dealers can also exchange them with other retailers.

Of course, there will be some constraints on what dealers can change. But if they can't be assured their first choice, they can pick the second or third best option. Still, one thing is certain: inventory planning will improve.

APEX is about to replace Honda's previous inventory management system, called MOVE (Market Oriented Vehicle Environment), because it could no longer accommodate dealer's needs.

Read the full article in Automotive News.