Dexter is a website for Trek dealers (Fisher, LeMond, Klein, Bontrager and T.C.G. Components and Nike clothing) that enables dealers to see in REAL TIME what Trek’s inventory is, where it warehoused, etc.
Additionally, dealers who are enrolled in Dexter (like us, we’re a Fisher/LeMond dealer) can check on line statements, pay invoices and manage their account.
I hate maintaining open accounts and keeping track of invoice numbers, statements, blah, blah. It isn;t what I aspire to do. I have never wanted to be a C.P.A. Dexter makes this so easy it causes Fisher to be a favored vendor.
To the consumer this means more accurate information to the age old “Where’s my bike?” question and fresher inventory on dealer floors since he can turn inventory and stock less stuff.
This is a huge step forward for the bike industry. It really changes the way we interact with vendors. It takes this decrepid, old bike industry into the 20th century.
We’ve been using Dexter for about 6 months and it is the most significant improvement I have seen in business practices in the 11 years I’ve had the store.
I doubt consumer’s understand the significance of this.
If you analyzed 1,000 consumer transactions, did a “Six Sigma” style examination of what the defects in the transactions or intereaction histories are and cataloged them, I think you would discover the greatest source of dissatisfaction would be a lack of coordination in the supply chain between order and fulfillment. That is the great disconnect right now in the industry: When we call a company and ask, “Where is our order?” and they say, “We can’t tell…”
No doubt. Real-time MIS with supply chain information has been a boon to the companies able to use it effectively to maintain just-in-time processes and lower inventory. It’s not only useful to know what the supply chain is doing, but to reduce the investment necessary to keep the inventory chain flowing correctly. Wal-Mart has made a fortune on this.
They might not know how it’s done but knowing when they will get their bike is very important to most buyers. Personally, I bought a new bike this spring. I narrowed it down to several that fit me and my wallet. Admittedly a Trek was my leading candidate all along but one factor that did help close the deal was my LBS consulted their computer and gave me the specific day the following week the exact bike I wanted would be in the shop while for other brands I was considering we were talking in vague terms of weeks or months and even those general dates were not given with any assurance.
People will wait nearly forever for the one bike they want but if there are 2 or 3 candidates, most customers will probably buy the one which they are confident will be available soon and when promised. If Trek dealers can say “tuesday” while everyone else is saying “april or may”, they will sell more bikes.
I think it is probably safe to say that the internet has been the most significant development for all industries in the last 30yrs. Heck, it probably the most significant development by mankind since the printing press (well, that and TiVO).
I enjoy you and other’s insights and understand most of what you are talking about when you post things like this. But the question I (we) really want you to answer, in the shortest, most concise manner possible is…
So What? This all sounds great for you…and understanding business, we can extrapolate that it somehow means good things for us. But just answer the question “So What?” What does this mean for us customers? How is it going to change OUR experience? And don’t break it down shotgun style either…“well, you’re going to know this, we can get you that, its faster…, etc, etc.” All that’s fine and dandy. What is it about this Dexter that EVERY person walking through a bike shop door is going notice has changed? THAT is the “so what” that I want to hear. (Incidently, formulating the answer to this question will probably go along way in helping you REALLY comprehend the significance and best way to leverage the system)
So What?
You callous fool. The “So what?” is that Demerly will have more time to post his sometimes (but not this time) insightful and interesting posts on Slowtwicth.
When you order a bike and want to know when it will arrive and where it is, we can tell you accurately using Dexter.
When you visit the store and say, “Can you get me a Medium X-Caliber by Friday of next week? I need it for an off-road triathlon I am doing…” We can go on Dexter, use the bike finder function, see if it is in stock at Trek (Fisher) and what warehouse it is at. Once ordered, we can track it by seeing the order status and the invoicing.
Stuff will always show up on time since there are no credit issues or delays in Fisher waiting for checks in the mail. We pay our invoices on line. As far as Fisher is concerned, as soon as we click on “Pay Invoice” our account is paid. Zero confusion- money comes right out of our checking account. That means no delays for the consumer.
Think about this: When you order apopular brand tri/road bike from one of the many fine companies out there, where is it? when was it shipped? When will it arrive? Is it in stock?
Right now very few companies can answer those questions and the ones that are answering them are frequently wrong.
Bottom line: Dexter makes buying a bike faster and easier for consumers because it makes it faste and easier for dealers.
Now, the other guys need to adopt a software/online system like this…
Wow. Actually, all sarcasm aside, that makes a huge amount of sense for the manufacturers.
When a big bike builder who makes the brand names makes a bunch of bikes they could just ship direct to their dealer from a central U.S. warehouse that held Brand A, Brand B , Brand C, etc.
Each manufacturer could do this will all their U.S. distributed brands. That would be huge.