So how does Information Technology provide solutions across the value chain?...
To start with the relationship between suppliers and automakers, Supply Chain Management solutions are operative in smoothening operations between automakers and suppliers and constitute an important area of IT solutions for the automotive industry.
Coming to automakers internal processes, Computer-Aided Design, Computer-Aided Engineering and Knowledge-Based Engineering are often needed by automakers during the product design and development stages. Plant Management and Testing and Quality Control solutions are used during the production and testing stages, respectively. Finally, Telematics is used in the product itself.
When it comes to the relationship between automakers, channels and the consumer, Customer Relationship Management is widely used as a solution to manage customer information, derive a single unified picture of the customer and smoothen relationships between automakers, dealers and customers.
Some solutions like Product Data Management, Business Process Outsourcing and Inventory Management are applicable at multiple points in the value chain. Finally, some solutions like Enterprise Resource Planning, are operative throughout the automotive industry.
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