New research shows that 56 percent of automotive parts and accessories shoppers are making their purchases online - an 8 percent increase over the previous year. The study also indicates that consumers are combining online and in-store channels for an omnichannel shopping experience. Omnichannel is when shoppers seamlessly shift between mobile, online and in-store resources to research, purchase, pick up and return their items.

As manufacturers continue to competitively differentiate themselves within various industry settings, after-sales service will increasingly become more important in their overall business and profitability strategy, according to Business Strategy: Spare Parts Planning for Service Excellence, a report from IDC Manufacturing Insights. In fact, many discrete manufacturers can expect to capture upward of 30 percent of revenue from service and service-based product strategies.

Analyst Insight: Customers want orders faster and without additional shipping cost. And that's impacting how companies deploy inventory across their networks. In addition to defining the parts (SKU) mix and inventory levels needed to support service goals, you must consider how many distribution nodes you'll need and where to locate them. You must balance cost and service across several variables. And the decisions have ripple effects throughout your operations. - John Giangrande, Automotive Industry Leader, Fortna Inc.