Increase in productivity with integrated automation solutions

Under the motto “Increase your productivity”, Siemens is showcasing automation and drive technology solutions for machine manufacturers, plant constructors and end users at this year’s Hannover Fair.

The focus of the Siemens exhibition is a live demonstration from the world of automobile production – from the processing of the raw materials, plant layout, product and factory simulation to the automation of machining centers and material handling systems.

With regard to the digital factory and PLM (Product Lifecycle Management), the visitor can see solutions for CAD, production simulation or digital product development. Topics such as energy efficiency and safety technology round off the exhibit. Siemens is promoting the training of students for technical professions by demonstrating the complete range of training careers in industry for the first time at its own booth in the TectoYou hall.

Added value through increased productivity, energy efficiency and solutions for the digital factory. These are the catchwords that describe the trade fair presence of Siemens at this year’s Hannover Fair. With their automation solutions, products and systems, the Siemens Drive Technologies and Industry Automation divisions are exhibiting innovations for the complete value-added chain. This encompasses product development solutions, automation solutions, as well as the networking of production and logistics systems, material management systems and production systems. To this end, Siemens offers an integrated range of products and solutions based on Totally Integrated Automation (TIA), which also embraces MES (Manufacturing Execution Systems) and PLM.

At the center of the Siemens presence in hall 9 is the live demonstration from the automotive industry, a branch of industry which is facing extremely high pressure from competition, costs and innovation. The sector is tackling these challenges by standardizing production processes and making them more flexible. Automation as the key to increasing productivity plays a central role with manufacturers, first-tier suppliers and machine manufacturers. Siemens is demonstrating how productivity can be increased in all production sectors using solutions for the automotive industry as an example. From the processing of raw materials, plant configuration and simulation all the way to real production and services.

The central components of the live model are the systems dealing with all aspects of PLM and the digital factory. From CAD and production simulation to digital product development. In addition to the presentation at the main booth, Siemens is dedicating a separate booth in hall 17 to the digital factory/PLM. Additional value-added aspects for production can be seen in the live automobile manufacturing application. The topics range from industrial communication and safety solutions to innovations for integrated solutions for the complete drive train.

For the focal topic of energy efficiency, Siemens is showing practicable solutions ranging from software and energy management and regeneration-capable converters to energy-efficient motors of the NEMA and 1LE1 series at the main booth in hall 9 and in hall 6. These technologies and innovative approaches for the entire life cycle of a plant will help to achieve considerable cost efficiency and environmental protection in production plants through energy savings.

The Hannover Fair is the only platform in the world where Siemens can present its extensive range of products, systems, solutions and services in their entirety. Siemens is the largest exhibitor at the Hannover Fair, with around 4,500 square meters of booth space. In addition to the technical innovations, Siemens is also involved in recruiting young people for technical professions, courses of study and training. For the second time, Siemens is the main sponsor in support of the TectoYou activities. At a separate booth in hall 26, Siemens is showing the complete range of training options and advanced programs for students and people entering a profession. In all, 2,000 students from Siemens partner schools and contact schools are coming with their teachers to Hanover from all over Germany in order to get information about career opportunities in the technical environment. for more information click here…………..

GLOBALISATION

Global automation majors see exciting opportunities in automotive sector

When Tata Motors established partially automated production lines for its Pune facility for passenger cars around a decade ago, few would have expected it to be a manufacturing trend. But if the suppliers of these automation equipments and solutions are to be believed, this is likely to be a norm rather than exception as Indian automotive OEMs aspire a global stature and the country to be a low cost manufacturing base.

It would seem a bit ironical to mention automation and low cost manufacturing in the same breadth. But most OEMs agree that automation is required when OEMs undertake to manufacture large volumes with consistent quality. Apart form Tata Motors, Korean auto major Hyundai’s Chennai facility for manufacturing its small car Santro and Maruti Suzuki’s Manesar facility, both geared for large production volumes, already have automated production lines. With an estimated 500,000 to 600,000 new passenger cars likely to be manufactured in and around Pune alone over the next five years, more OEMs are bracing up for challenges in terms of efficiency and manpower shortage.

This is playing out as an ideal scenario for automation equipment and solution companies to thrive with most setting up their respective base here or fortifying their existing presence. Precision Automation & Robotics India (PARI) an established player is enhancing its presence and so is Comau India, a wholly owned subsidiary of Italy’s Fiat Spa. Automotive companies, Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) and auto component companies also have another global vendor Kuka Roboter as a potential vendor. Swedish automation major ABB has had a presence in the country for decades and mainly serves industrial customers.

Productivity gains

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CRM Tool

Automotive CRM Tool

http://www.esalestrack.com/CRM_Article/Automotive-CRM-tool.html

For an effective customer relationship management (CRM) in the automotive industry, there must be coordination between automakers and their dealers. Lack of coordination is the major reason for the poor customer service of the automakers. A standardized automotive CRM tool is essential for the automakers to build a proper management in the customer relationship; they can manage all customer interactions practices including marketing, sales and service.

Essentials for an Automotive CRM Tool

There are many automotive CRM software systems developed by various concerns that meet the needs of car companies, auto repair shops, parts shops, distributors, used car dealers, and retailers. Automotive CRM tools have to be made in such a way that it serves both big business demands of automakers as well as dealers’ small business setups.

They must have standard CRM features to help companies/automakers to collect information regarding records of communications, listings of key personnel, and customer anecdotes. Besides, automotive CRM tools must fulfill specific tasks such as gathering information about a product, obtaining quotes, placing and tracking orders, solving product related problems and scheduling appointments. When using an automotive CRM software package, make sure that it is created by automotive industry experts so that it meets all your needs.

Types of Automotive CRM Tools

Automotive CRM software tools can be online one as well as offline. An online or On-Demand automotive CRM software system helps the dealership employees in managing their daily work, journal entries, email, and contacts in just a single web based interface. Using the online solution means you can easily share files, bookmarks, and email with your dealer, colleagues or customers. The offline tools are quite favorable for CRM practices within the company setup with a central database, typically for large-sized companies.

Benefits from Automotive CRM Tools

• A perfect automotive CRM tool can easily manage the leads and prospects, can synchronize and coordinate all customer touch points.
• These software tools help in organizing, communicating, and tracking your online and offline efforts.
• They are capable of creating and capturing sales leads from different sources.
• Search vehicle inventory, allocation of a selected vehicle to a quote.
• Creation of daily management file and giving a better management insight into sales opportunities.
• Multi channel communications capabilities.
• Detailed history of the customer’s service interactions.
• Improvement in product and data quality and customer satisfaction.
• Automatic generation of preventive maintenance service reminders and capturing of updated customer and vehicle information.
• Increased customer loyalty by offering the flexibility in preserving the ongoing contact through personal, phone, mail, or email facilities.

Losing Customer Confidence? A Feature-rich CRM Tool may be the Right Solution

If your business-customer relationships are not on the right note then it is time you checked and invested in the right kind of CRM tool. There is little doubt that in current day business scenario customer remains the king. Losing customer confidence means a fall in customer satisfaction and business customer-relationships, and therefore poor customer retention. This drastically pulls down business profits and you eventually lose grounds to your competitor.

CRM tools help you to establish a customer-focused business strategy to fine-tune business-customer relationships. CRM tools enable you to focus on the right kind of customers to maximize loyalty and also to make customers more useful to your business.

Select the Right CRM Tool

Installing and using an automotive CRM tool involves purchasing the base CRM platform and then customizing it to suit your company sales, marketing and customer support processes, of course, if you have a hosted CRM in mind then the process may be just slightly different.

A good CRM tool is one that aligns with your company goals perfectly and integrates different organization functions to establish a customer-centric business strategy. Look for a CRM tools which is affordable, secure, scalable, simple to install, quickly customizable, user-friendly, easy to maintain and upgrade.

Your Unique Business Nature will determine the Best Automotive CRM Tool

Yes, the type of customer relationship management tool to buy will vary based on your business requirements. Look for an automated CRM tool which enables knowledge sharing and workflow automation. A basic CRM contains comprehensive tools to integrate and manage company sales, marketing and customer service functions. Any other add-ons, like customer billing, etc., may or may not exist and might mean additional payments for each requested facility.

Selecting the right kind of CRM tool is not easy, especially considering the numerous options to pick from. You can choose between on-premise software, hosted CRM or even desktop solutions. Of course the best approach is to study your individual business needs and then choose the CRM tool that best meets your requirements.

How Car Dealerships and Car Salesmen Can Use CRM to Improve Sales?

Although less than half of car dealerships use an automotive CRM TOOLS that number is gradually turning the other way. As more and more car dealerships are having success with some kind of CRM tool, it is becoming the hot way to increase customers and sales. And there is plenty of evidence to back up the success that dealerships are having with CRM tools.

One man that proved how beneficial an automotive CRM tool can be is Joe Girard. Joe Girard was noted as the “World’s Greatest Retail Salesman” in the Guinness Book of World Records for 12 consecutive years at one time. Over the course of his selling career, he averaged selling 6 cars a day adding up to a grand total of 13,001 sold.

While there were a number of things Girard did to better himself and his selling techniques, building and maintaining relationships was his secret. The automotive CRM tool that he used was sending out cards to all of his prospects and clients every year. He would send out a total of 13 cards every year, one per month as well as one for Christmas. It was this kind of dedication and generosity that allowed Girard to prosper like he did.

There are different kinds of software and automotive CRM tools to choose from online, but all have their benefits and ways to increase customers. Research is vital prior to making any rash decisions because of the impact it can have on your car dealership. By taking the time to research the various options, you can find the perfect CRM tool for your company at a reasonable price.

Joe Girard proved how you can increase sells simply by improving your customer service and building relationships. By keeping in touch with customers regularly you become much more than their car salesman. You can begin to get inside your customer’s minds and truly become a friend. There are too many salesmen that act as salesman, which customers can see right through.

If you truly want to have success, show your customers that you care about their needs. You can do this by sending them news and information that will be beneficial to them. It is vital that after every sell or visit you have with a customer, you take the time to send them a thank you letter. This will go a long way with customers.

Having some kind of automotive CRM tool can change the way you do business forever, as Joe Girard has proven. Just by simply sending out a greetings card once a month, Girard was able to build personal relationships and conquer the automotive retail world. You too can do so by coming up with your own automotive CRM tool to keep in touch with customers and build relationships.

Which CRM Tools Are Right For Your Business?

When it comes down to CRM Tools, the choices available can be a daunting task. On the one hand, it’s the tendency of management to have a robust; more reporting you could ever need, grow into CRM Software program with all the bells and whistles. The problem with these systems is that the more difficult you make it for the salespeople to use, the more trouble you are asking for when it’s time to buy into using the software. The last thing you want is to invest serious money into a system like Siebel on Demand and have your salespeople not use the darn thing.

The most important thing is to make sure that you involve the line in the decision making in the early stages. Have a meeting and ask them what features would make their jobs easier in their next CRM Software. This doesn’t have to be a long drawn out meeting, but you need to convey to the people that will be using the software on a day to day basis that you are going to pick a software program that fits their needs, but also the needs of management. In other words, it’s going to be a win/win for the whole group.

But, as far as making the decision, it really depends on what the primary needs of your salespeople are. I don’t care what anyone says, the real value of CRM Software is for the salespeople, and too often they are left out of the process. If your salespeople are pure business developers and they hand leads off to account managers to close, then you need to equip them with solid lead management software without too many bells and whistles. If you are using the software for customer service reps, you want to give them a solution that is easy to understand and encourage the actions that you want them to take after they speak with customers. Let’s face it, it’s a nice thought to have a customer service rep use all the features in a CRM Software but don’t overwhelm them. Have your programmer give them limited screens to work through and then add more as they progress. The last thing you want to do is overwhelm them with a robust contact management solution, run them through a 4 hour training session, and then have them lost in the software program. Start slow, add more, and then tweak as needed.

So, hopefully that will help you finding the right CRM Tools for your business. The most important thing to remember is that the buy in for the salespeople is huge and should not be overlooked when picking the solution that’s right for your business. for more information click here…………..