Three of the big names in the auto and collision industries launched ChoiceParts LLC, a new company that
will provide auto retailers and collision repair facilities access to a
virtual warehouse of auto parts.
When it launches later this summer, ChoiceParts, to be based in Denver, will
serve as an electronic auto parts marketplace linking more than 24,000 North
American franchised auto retailers, other parts suppliers and more than
50,000 collision repair facilities.
The parent companies are Reynolds and Reynolds Co., CCC Information Services Inc. and the Dealer
Services and Claims Solutions Groups of Automatic Data Processing Inc.
By integrating workstations that are already in place inside auto retailers
and collision repair facilities, ChoiceParts will enable buyers and sellers
in the parts supply chain to instantly locate and order the parts they need,
the companies said.
An interim management team from the founding companies will direct the
building of the new company and development of the new service. The interim
team will be led by Peter Largen, senior vice president of product
development from CCC, Bill Ihrie, senior vice president of technology from
ADP Claims Solutions Group and Tom Baird, vice president, corporate strategy
and development from Reynolds and Reynolds. A search is under way for a
permanent chief executive officer.
“By moving aggressively to launch the service late this summer, we’re
confident that ChoiceParts will lead the online parts exchange industry,”
said Largen.
“Auto retailers, collision repair facilities, vehicle manufacturers and
insurance companies as well as their customers are the ultimate benefactors,
as the instances of repairs being delayed because the unavailability of parts
can be dramatically reduced,” he added.
“Our first solution will allow auto retailer parts personnel to quickly find
and order parts needed for customer service right from their existing
workstations, even if those workstations are not PC-based,” said Baird.
“Later this year we’ll bring that same, point-of-need functionality to
collision repair facilities.”
