Tips & Tricks: Managing Inventory for Tire Dealers

How do you determine which tires to keep in stock? How do you manage storing them in your warehouse? With the new year providing an opportunity for a fresh start, here are some tips to consider when ordering inventory and organizing your tire inventory warehouse.

Some may think that measuring tires sales are the most important, which they are - for hindsight purposes. However, according to a survey among tire dealers given by Rolling with the Numbers, the most effective way to manage tire inventory is by concentrating on stocking the highest selling sizes and segments. Rolling with the Numbers goes on to say that 67% of tire dealers focus on All-Season Tires, and many shops offer free lifetime air, tire rotation, and even free flat repairs and oil changes.

Stocking the most popular sizes, brands, and segments allow for an increased turnover rate and a more fluid workflow when servicing customers. The faster you complete a tire sale and install, the more customers you can serve. You can never overlook the quality customer service that is needed to make repeat customers and get referrals. 

Of course, the less inventory you have, the less overstock you will build up. To sell unstocked tires, use real time ordering systems like AutoFluent®’s Tire Module & TireConnect. AutoFluent®’s Tire Module allows you to order directly from ATD, NTW, Max Finklestein, and dozens of our AutoFluent® TireVault vendors*. TireConnect links you to over 40 US and Canadian suppliers. Offset a smaller inventory stock by taking in multiple daily shipments.

When organizing your inventory with AutoFluent®, consider using Bins to track your inventory. Bins in AutoFluent® keep track of where tires are located in your warehouse, how many are there, and tell the technicians where to pull the tire from for that particular workorder. Interested in using Bins in AutoFluent® to track your inventory? Contact AutoFluent® Support today to learn more!