Case Study: AI-Powered Inventory Optimization at Nissan

Challenge:
As a Product Manager at Nissan, I discovered through conversations with Parts Managers and employees that dealerships faced overstocked and understocked inventory issues, leading to high costs and customer dissatisfaction.

Solution Development:
I mapped the parts ordering process, identifying all stakeholders. Collaborating closely with the engineering and development team, we agreed to integrate Nissan's Dealer Business System (DBS) with Cox Automotive's AI-powered vAuto system. Leadership approved the plan.

Execution:
I worked with the UX/UI design team to create a prototype and gathered feedback from current and prospective clients. Using this input, the engineering team refined the feature, ensuring technical feasibility and alignment with customer needs.

Outcome:

• 15 new customers adopted DBS with the AI feature.

• 4 existing customers extended contracts.

• Business Results:

  • Reduced inventory-related security incidents from 15 to 2 per month by implementing secure data handling.

  • Improved inventory turnover by 20% in six months.

  • Enhanced pricing accuracy by 30%.

  • Increased sales by 15%, generating $20M in revenue.

This case highlights how collaboration with engineering and development teams drives impactful solutions that address customer pain points and deliver measurable business growth.