New catalogue functionality for Autopart users

MAM's latest Autocat+ electronic catalogue to be available for all versions of Autopart

Printable version 12 March 2007

MAM Software has announced that the forthcoming release of its Autocat+ electronic catalogue will be compatible with all versions of its Autopart management software. Autocat+, which was previously only available with Autopart v20, is being developed to work with v17 of the software as well.

"We're very pleased to be able to extend Autocat+'s functionality to all our Autopart users" said MAM Managing Director, Mike Jamieson. "Autocat+ is now well established and receiving very positive reviews, so it's the right time to widen its availability. It's always been our intention to offer all our users a choice of catalogue format. Soon, users will be able to choose between staying with the standard CD-based version and upgrading to Autocat+, which offers a wealth of new features and improved search functionality".

In contrast to its CD-based alternative, Autocat+ employs state-of-the-art Web Services technology to retrieve data from centrally hosted internet servers. Consequently, Autocat+ users no longer have to wait for CD updates to gain access to new data.

"Because it is web-driven, Autocat+ can be updated more frequently" explained Jamieson. "Rather than waiting for a new CD to be published, we can add new information as soon as it's been received and converted. Certain suppliers are now noticing the benefits of this improved process and are providing us with updates on a more frequent basis. As a result, the catalogue is more accurate which, crucially for our customers, means fewer problems specifying parts and an increase in first-time-fit ".

Autocat+ will be available to all Autopart users from April 2007, although MAM are already taking advance orders. "Even though it's not available yet, initial feedback has been very encouraging. We've had a lot of requests for Autocat+ from our v17 users and we've already taken a significant number of orders" concluded Jamieson.

In order to run Autocat+, v17 users will require the latest version of the software (17XK) and a suitable broadband internet connection. For more information, please call MAM Software on 0870 766 7036.

About Autocat+

Autocat+ is an electronic parts catalogue that brings together automotive components from multiple suppliers in a consistent format, making it easier for motor factors and parts retailers to identify and compare products.  MAM Software cataloguing products (Autocat and Autocat+) have over 5,000 users throughout the UK.

Autocat+ currently supports 985 catalogue sections from 172 component suppliers. For more information please visit www.mamsoft.co.uk/autocat