Visit of Rahal (09/25/98)

Interview with the general manager

General comments about PAID:

It is interesting because there sometimes is a 6 month delay after they receive a new model before they get information about it.

The aim should be to integrate everything. There should be only one computer on someone's desktop that could be used to do everything. Not two, as it is the case here. (1 Windows PC and 1 terminal. A new system called arrow enables them to use the PC as a terminal, too.)

They are waiting for information about NetStar (next week) before changing anything in the IT infrastructure.

Could you give us a brief description of your role and responsibilities

to oversee the different departments
is actively involved in the service (car delivery, closing deals, discussing finance options with the client, reviewing trades, orders, specifications, information about models) and sales.

What system do you use on a daily basis?

Every manager gets a VISTA report every morning. (see the VISTA form : it details what cars have been ordered, if they are available, when they will be manufactured, how far away from their destination they are)

Information from the MBNet is often printed in the morning and distributed to everyone in the dealership.

What other material do you use?

the web site (at home)
paper information/forms/notes
the Rahal system

What access to the Internet have you got?

Access to the Mercedes-Benz website (one dedicated line used by one computer) and 1 e-mail address for everyone.

Could you show us the Rahal system (terminals).

General impression

The Rahal system is only used at this dealership and other Rahal dealership. It is not Mercedes-specific and is not supported by them.

It consists of a local network that links a computer (here, two SGI) to several text-based color terminals. The interface uses only key commands and displaying the online help hides the information they are working on.

We are shown a terminal application running on windows (the arrow system), but it cannot use the mouse or open several windows at the same time.

Who use it?

Mostly the managers. Not everyone has a terminal on their desk. For example, the salespersons do not and have to go through a sales manager. If every salesperson had such a terminal, the manager would feel they are loosing control over them.

What is useful?

(See the video for a demonstration of the system.)

For :

accounting
FI (leasing ! purchase)
Parts inventory (in the dealership)
Sales (vehicle model, option inventory, name of the salesperson who made the deal) and accounting information. It can be used for the whole sales process and contains every detail about the way the car was paid. There are links to the client information.
Used cars inventory that could be used to find a used car based on several criteria, such as price range.

Both deal number and stock numbers are used to locate a car or a deal. The stock numbers correspond to the last 5 digits of the VISTA PO numbers.

How did you learn how to use it?

It took about two weeks. There was no formal training. He learnt by trying to use it and using the tutorial.

Comments about the system

They often need to fill in forms by hand, even if all the information comes from the computer (some forms are printed using this system of VISTA, but not all)
Information going from this system to VISTA need to be typed again.

The salesperson need to tell someone that a car is sold. Often, people forget it. (The information may not always be up-to-date and they may be conflicts.) Since even the normal updates are daily, a car can very well be sold twice the same day.)

Cars arriving at the dealership need to be entered too, but this process goes much better. They often use invoice from Mercedes and enter the information when it is received.

What do you like or dislike about the whole system?

There should be several computer linked to VISTA. It may very well be already possible, but they don't know how to do it.
The VISTA and the Rahal system need to be integrated.

(Note: The VISTA PC has another application installed called MBCC (credit system))

What else would you need?

(Not everything here relates to the PAID system. There is another project that aims to be able to present information to the client - it is not a part of PAID.)

Statistical information about the client
Inventory control
Information for the client about leasing/costs
Better demonstration about cars (not necessarily personalized printed documentation, but personalized specs)
Technical multimedia demonstration (for the client)