Electronic trading between motor factors and component suppliers has reached an all-time high, as PACT, the joint venture between eparts and TecCom, celebrates its 10-year partnership in the automotive aftermarket.

Millions of messages – including stock enquiries and ordering, order acknowledgements, dispatch notes and invoices – are transacted every month, saving the distribution aftermarket valuable time and resource.

PACT electronic trading ‘sits’ on a parts distributor’s business management system such as MAM Software and connects with its supplier base, offering seamless trading efficiencies.

Today, more than 2000 motor factor locations are connected to 90-plus leading UK automotive component suppliers including Apec Braking, Delphi, First Line, Mann & Hummel, NGK, Tetrosyl, TMD Friction and ZF.

Peter Hollowood of PACT said: “We’ve seen a growing trend in the number of messages passed between a motor factor and its supply base. Factors are ordering more frequently, thanks to suppliers’ strong availability, service and delivery. Add to this the ease in which users can check a supplier’s stock and place orders, it’s clear that electronic trading is not only the norm but also the most popular method of trading in our sector.”

Further growth for the electronic trading solution has come from the appointment of new suppliers, along with establishing PACT in the commercial vehicle parts aftermarket.

Mark Rudge of PACT added: “PACT was created in response to market demand for a single electronic trading solution. Ten years on, the decision to join forces has proven to be correct and the growth in usage underlines this.

“Moreover, against the backdrop of an ever-changing trading landscape, PACT remains the single best way to reach all of your trading partners. Put simply, to trade electronically in the automotive aftermarket, PACT is now the standard. This makes our partnership every bit as relevant today as it was a decade ago.”