BETHESDA, MD – Joe Zucchero, senior vice president and chief information officer (CIO) of General Parts International, Inc. (CARQUEST) will provide the final presentation on day two of the 2007 Aftermarket eForum on Tuesday, July 17. With a theme of “eBusiness Innovations Driving Aftermarket Growth,” the 2007 eForum will be held July 16-18 at the Hyatt Regency O’Hare in Chicago.
Zucchero, the company’s chief technology strategist says, “The company’s technology strategy is rooted in our culture to provide excellent service and value with products to all our customers, commercial and retail.”
He believes technology does not exist for technology’s sake; nor should technology be deployed because it’s trendy or cool, rather technology is nothing more than an enabler, but a “key enabler.”
CARQUEST in the past has followed the industry trend and under-invested in IT, said Zucchero, “but today we are investing heavily.” Zucchero added, “CARQUEST will align itself with vendors who have the same attitude and values. It’s no longer just about quality, price and availability. Those factors are still extremely important and will continue to be for a long time. It’s also about the information.”
According to Zucchero, eCommerce throughout the entire aftermarket value chain is the key to making it easy to do business with CARQUEST and WORLDPAC. Zucchero explains that both companies have been leaders in helping define the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA) standards, as well as promoting them.
Zucchero was named to his current post in June 2005. He has more than 27 years of experience in information technology management, 10 of which are in the automotive industry. Prior to joining General Parts International, he was executive vice president of The Casey Group, an IT services company. In December 2002, NetigrateZ, an IT services company he founded in April 2001, merged with The Casey Group.
The Aftermarket eForum is important for senior-level executives who want to understand the e-commerce and supply chain transformations taking place in the vehicle aftermarket. It is a must-attend event for those seeking to understand and conduct e-business in the industry, including: business developers, CIOs, CTOs, consultants, electronic commerce providers, manufacturers, manufacturers’ representatives, researchers, retailers, jobbers, and warehouse distributors.
For more information on the 2007 Aftermarket eForum visit http://www.AftermarketeForum.com, or contact Barbara Clark of AAIA at 301-654-6664.
