BodyShop Direct boosts profitability for Toyota's Farmer & Carlisle

Farmer & Carlisle, the Toyota dealership based in Loughborough, is improving its bodyshop operation by over 40 per cent following the installation of BodyShop Direct, the only bodyshop-oriented, totally integrated, computerised business management system from Brown Brothers, part of the Unipart Group of Companies.

As a pilot dealership on the new Toyota Body and Paint programme, Farmer and Carlisle were the first to introduce the system as part of the five year solus supply agreement signed between Toyota (GB) PLC and Partco Group earlier this year. The programme has enabled Farmer & Carlisle to appoint four new bodyshop staff, and for the first time, provide a totally integrated measurement and management tool, enabling the dealership to grow its business more effectively. Farmer & Carlisle is also introducing Shop Floor Data Capture from Brown Brothers.

This IT bodyshop tool uses barcode technology to enable the dealership's body and paint technicians to clock onto specific tasks, and their managers to measure their labour and materials costs and efficiencies with increased accuracy. BodyShop Direct has also been developed to provide a fully integrated link with the Toyota DBS Automarketing Dealer Management System (DBS). This package allows data to be shared between the two systems gaining immediate access to all customer records, parts information, invoicing and updating the accounting data held on DBS Automarketing seamlessly without the need for double entry.

Gerry O'Hara, commercial and business development director, Partco Group says: "Our cutting-edge bodyshop technology, tailored specifically to this area of the business ensures that motor manufacturers like Toyota can improve their and their dealerships businesses more efficiently, boosting profitability. BodyShop Direct's 'E Com' solution puts dealerships such as Farmer & Carlisle in a strong position to embrace these business management tools and to take advantage of the technological revolution taking place within the industry from influencers to consumers."

A spokesperson for Toyota (GB) PLC comments: "Brown Brothers' IT estimating and total management solution has provided us with cost predictability, enabling us to generate a model for repair costs and manage our bodyshops more cost-effectively in the long term." "BodyShop Direct means customers can be handled at our showroom efficiently and professionally, meeting one of our Toyota franchise objectives of achieving customer delight," adds John Carlisle, managing director of Farmer & Carlisle. "We have welcomed this programme with open arms as it now provides us with the opportunity to develop and become more profitable."

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