Snap-on Business Solutions: Featured Solutions

What does a new parts data format mean for Toyota parts counter professionals throughout the U.S. and Canada? A big upgrade to Snap-on Business Solutions' Toyota EPC. Now, the Toyota EPC makes finding the right parts with greater accuracy faster and easier.

All the Data

Toyota Motor Corporation and Snap-on Business Solutions have collaborated to supply Toyota parts departments with the freshest, most complete parts catalog data. This includes a major update to the EPC's VIN database. The EPC now incorporates newly refreshed data for all vehicles model years 2001 and later, including data for nearly 4 million previously missing VINs. Recently established processes will ensure consistent incorporation of future VINs, option codes, and option, paint, and trim descriptions.

That data will now reach Toyota EPC users earlier than ever before through Q.link, Snap-on Business Solutions' automated online data update feature. Weekly online data updates mean dealers will no longer have to wait for monthly updates, and will only need to run time-consuming DVD baseline updates as infrequently as once a quarter. In between quarterly DVD updates, Q.link will keep the Toyota EPC updated on a weekly basis.

Furthermore, Toyota EPC users now have improved access to additional information. For example, a simpilified Additional Publications index provides convenient access to the Fast Moving Parts Catalog, Stripes and Logos, Touch Up Paint publications, VIN decode documents, and other publications. Technical Service Bulletins and PANT Bulletins are all provided in PDF format, linked by part number, and a Japanese Port Installed Options group menu lists certain optional accessory parts that may have been installed on the vehicle after manufacturing.

All the Tools

To make searching through this data easier and faster, Snap-on has enhanced the Toyota EPC with new and improved tools. Most critical is an improved VIN decoding method that provides optimal filtering for newer model catalogs. This new method reduces the number of parts shown that correspond to an entered VIN, immediately improving the parts specification process.

Without losing the functionality that is important to long-time users, Snap-on has added several new techniques designed for less-experienced parts specifiers. For example, the new positional illustration index allows novice users to navigate from the group index to the captions index by clicking on colored index pictures corresponding to locations on the automobile.

The captions index itself has also been updated with two dynamic thumbnail views, replacing static index pictures with actual illustrations that are available for further navigation. These thumbnails are filtered by any entered VIN as well as the visual navigation path taken when the positional illustration index is used.

There are also more ways now to perform parts searches. Toyota EPC users can search by Part Number, Part Name, PNC, Bulletin, or for Supersessions/Local Parts information. Once the right parts have been found, usability enhancements enable improved access to additional information. What's more, the EPC now includes clearer part illustrations and color wiring diagrams.

More to Come

The Toyota EPC team is continuing to refine the catalog and to develop additional enhancements. Current EPC customers will receive additional information on future enhancements with their DVD baseline updates. If you're not running the Toyota EPC with weekly Q.link online updates in your parts department, you can contact Snap-on Business Solutions at 888.543.0894 to learn more.