Inventory management for multi-brand workshops: a practical guide

If you run a multi-brand workshop and your inventory feels out of control, you're not alone. Most multi-brand workshops hold 3× more inventory than they need, while simultaneously running out of the parts they actually use. Here is how to fix it without a magic wand.

The root cause

A multi-brand workshop services Maruti, Hyundai, Toyota, Honda, Ford, Mahindra, Tata — plus their variants. Each brand has its own parts catalog, part numbers and fitment rules. Manual inventory can't keep up.

The 5 changes that work

1. Move to VIN-based part look-up

A part isn't "front brake pad". It's "front brake pad for 2019 Honda City 1.5 CVT variant". VIN-based look-up is the only reliable way.

2. Track by bin, not by part

Every part lives in exactly one bin. Bin-scanning (even just a QR on the bin) cuts stock-count time from days to hours.

3. Classify ABC by velocity, not by price

A parts (top 20% by movement): always stocked, auto-reorder.
B parts: stocked conservatively, reorder weekly.
C parts (slow movers): order against job, never stock.

This alone typically cuts holding cost 30%.

4. Cross-reference OEM and aftermarket

Your technicians should see: OEM part, aftermarket equivalent, pricing, stock status. Let the customer choose. Workshops that do this close more estimates.

5. Auto-reorder against vendors

Low-stock alerts are not enough. Link each A part to a preferred vendor with a PO auto-draft. The manager approves with a single tap.

What to avoid

Don't stock for "what if a weird brand walks in" — order it then.
Don't let technicians take parts without logging.
Don't do physical stock counts less than quarterly.

How a modern GMS helps

VIN look-up, bin-level tracking, ABC analysis, cross-references and auto-reorder are all built into GetAFix WMS. Typical inventory carrying-cost reduction: 30–40% in the first quarter. See it live.