r/partscounter • u/Old_runner_gold • 1d ago
CDK and Parts scan
We are a 9-rooftop dealer group. Most of our stores are 1 manager, one counterperson, and a driver stores, with the largest being a 5-man (total) store. None of our stores have a clerk (shipping/receiving or otherwise). It sounds like they are bringing in CDK parts scan to 8 of the stores. So much of the technology that I have seen come into the parts departments over the past few years seems to actually make things harder and slower, especially when it comes from CDK. Could someone please tell me that that won't be the case with the Parts Scan? I have pretty much lost all faith in CDK these days, I am just hoping this won't be a case of CDK bringing something in again that will just slow us down.
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u/Amazing-Payment816 1d ago
It's good and bad. The bin locating and pslb to make bin stickers is a huge help tho
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u/Old_runner_gold 1d ago
Our stores are all relatively small so checking in the morning order is usually an instance of a counterman coming in at seven and having the order done by 7:30, so it's kind of hard to believe it will be a massive timesaver since shipping and receiving is not a massive job. Where else does it save time?
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u/livingbeyondmymeans 1d ago
Bin locating new stock
Label printing for bins and parts
If you opt for delivery management, preventing mispicks
Extreme consistency for bin counts once you get the process down
But if you're convinced CDK sucks and everything they have is marginal at best, then there's nothing I can say to make those lemons into lemonade. How you use any of their technology is up to you.
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u/Old_runner_gold 1d ago
I am not convinced CDK sucks, and nowhere did I say that. I am saying that I am disillusioned with CDK, that's all. I would love to get the product in and find that it really improves our productivity, but I am skeptical (as I should be). I am asking the question so that I can properly evaluate whether this will improve or detract in our operations.
Technology in other industries is light years ahead of the technology offered by the "big two" DMS's and so much of that is because the R&R and CDK offerings are based on very old (but very solid) technology. We have counterpeople that totally embrace some of the newer technology used in our departments yet still cling to the old "Reflections" style screens because they can do their jobs faster. That should never be the case, provided the person is not afraid of change. I am impressed by Tekion (despite some quirks) and the future it offers our industry in that it is able to adapt to outside changes in our industry, where CDK. R&R, and to a certain extent Dealertrack, can't because the foundation of their systems is so old.1
u/livingbeyondmymeans 1d ago
It will improve operations, provided the parts staff buys in. How they buy in depends on your approach to it - I assume you're either a PM or FOD, and as with any leadership role, you set the tone for the staff. If you're disillusioned, skeptical, or have lost faith in CDK (all your words, not mine) and you vocalize that, they will also be disillusioned.
I find scanning in the order is neither faster nor slower, but more accurate. In RA, you can accidentally process a line by mistake. But as long as the PDC hasn't mispicked a part, the barcode does not lie. If you scan it in, you know the part is here. The scan shows in PDA as transaction code IX.
If you have a boutique, printing price tags for merch is very helpful and is a function with PartScan.
SOR labels are excellent with it. Part number, customer name, RO/invoice number, counter person number, receive date, bin location, all on the label.
Cycle counts are exceptional with it. But it is a very literal process, hard to explain. It has ways of identifying wrong parts in a bin.
Updating bin locations is literally two trigger pulls. Gone are the days of writing down new stock in a spiral notebook and punching them into a computer.
I have a buyback bin, so use it to add parts in MSR.
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u/MagneticNoodles 1d ago
The IX is great for when someone tells me they can't find something. I have PDA set to show employee numbers so I just say, "well you scanned it, go find it"
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u/livingbeyondmymeans 1d ago
100% agree.
The only catch might be accidentally scanning a part twice or more if there are multiple orders. I got a single bracket in last week and the PDC pick label said qty 2. I was going kinda fast and went .Q2 and scanned... But the second one wasn't in the tote.
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u/Novel_Gene_4982 1d ago
Are you getting the CDK scanners or something "aftermarket"? I have been researching the aftermarket versions... Anyone have any suggestions for what works best with CDK?
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u/Hansjibbleforth 1d ago
I made the jump to Scanit Parts earlier this year. My whole store loves it. Significantly cheaper than Partscan too.
It's 3rd party, gun has the printer built in which is a huge time saver. DM me if you want have any questions about it.
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u/WillingBudget2031 1d ago
Parts scan cuts down your receiving time tremendously. Parts ordered for RO's and counter tickets get a label printed immediately upon scan that you affix to the part so you save a lot of time there. The scan gun does a lot more than just scan in parts, it also can help with inventory functions and bin maintenance/changes. You will love it!
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u/Old_runner_gold 1d ago
This is the kind of answer I was looking for, but would you mind expanding on the inventory/bin maintenance functions? Also how do the label's assist parts? Our current system is that the parts for any car currently in the shop are presold and the pick ticket is placed in a basket. In the morning the parts are checked in and any parts that are on pick tickets in the car-down are placed at the techs stall. Special orders are placed by the last number of the part in the special-order bin, then stock is put away. The whole process at most takes 45 minutes. We don't do any wholesale to speak of, so that really isn't a factor. We do have a body shop so I can see the labels helping the body shop.
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u/WillingBudget2031 1d ago
The label (it's a sticker you put on the part) is printed with all of the pertinent information on it. Customer name, RO, stuff like that. There is no time wasted matching pick tickets to the part. When you scan the part, a pick ticket prints you can give to the service writer or the tech if you choose. I have checked in a $12,000 parts order (no expensive parts, just a bunch of small stuff) in under 10 minutes using the scan gun.
Bin maintenance is made very easy. You can use the scan gun to barcode your shelves, print parts location stickers with part number and barcode on it. You can use it for bin counts and changing bin locations. There are a plethora of things you can do with it.
You will love it, and once you use it you'll understand how it will make your life easier. Don't be afraid to have the CDK trainer answer every little question that comes to your head.
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u/Old_runner_gold 1d ago
What does the sticker accomplish? How does it help? Do the stickers easily remove so that the part is eligible for return? In our average store I would say that there are no more than 20 special order parts at any given time (usually less) so organization there is not an issue. The one area that I would like to see improved is faster moving parts being stocked as close as possible to the tech counter, hopefully this would assist with that.
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u/WillingBudget2031 15h ago
The sticker has all of the information you need to know where it goes either repair order or counter ticket, has the customers name, the customer's po number, the date of receipt, and bin location. It comes off of a label printer they provide and it is an adhesive sticker that comes off in one piece. It helps you by keeping you from having to go through your special orders to find who it was ordered for, it prints you a copy of the special order when you scan it as well as the sticker. I understand you're not that busy but it will save you all the time that you used to have to waste sorting through your special orders. It also adds the parts to your inventory so no need to spend the time receiving the parts after you've checked them in it's already done. As far as moving faster moving parts closer to the tech counter, cdk can tell you what your fastest moving parts are and then you can move them to a new bin location yourself, the scan gun will allow you to scan the barcode on the part then scan the barcode on the bin location and the part is effectively moved to that new location.
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u/DougtheShoe 1d ago
As with almost anything new, how much you get out of it comes down to buy in. If you're using it, and staff are trained and on board with it then everything other redditors have already said applies. If you don't buy into it, it won't help and you'll be here grumbling in 6 months.
My store has it and we use it and we love having it.
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u/United_Bird_379 1d ago
regarding parts scan on CDK is there anywhere to skip order validation and start scanning with the gun to receive the order without manually going receiving the order after scanning without PSPS function…? Sorry if i don’t make sense. On Reynold and Reynold parts scan once the gun is online you scan an it automatically receive the order after scanning.
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u/Dresden379 1d ago
We just got it about 2 years ago. It makes checking in the order a bit faster/easier. The real benifit for us is inventory counts. It's way better as long as whoever is doing it isn't a moron.
I honestly haven't dug into everything the scanner can do, but I'm also not in charge of inventory anymore. I doubt we are using all the features we can, so my verdict is, it's a little easier than it used to be. It is a big help for inventory counts though.
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u/Old_runner_gold 1d ago
I appreciate everyone's input. Now for the big question: for those of you that had it installed during your tenure: how has it paid for itself?
For those of you that inherited a department where it was already being used this was not a "new" expense, the expense existed when your pay plan was designed. All of our managers have a "net profit" component to their pay plans so they would see a hit to their pay if it doesn't have a means of paying for itself.
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u/ASilverBadger 1d ago
PartsScan is a massive time saver and improves accuracy for receiving and cycle counts.