Cox Automotive brand vAuto in 2018 acquired iRecon, which says it helps control, manage and maximize the entire reconditioning workflow.

On Thursday, iRecon introduced the all-new iRecon: Vendor. The company says the new mobile application can help vendors manage their workloads — as well as dealer interactions across the reconditioning process — more efficiently and effectively.

iRecon says that the launch of the new mobile application means in-house reconditioning and all U.S. and Canadian vendor partners can easily track and handle work requests. The company says that means dealers can get their inventory turned and in front of customers faster.

Users can access the iRecon tool on-the-go on iOS and Android devices.

The company says that with the mobile application, vendors can manage work requests across partner dealerships. They can also document and complete work requests in real time, according to the company. Vendors can also view and respond to messages associated with work requests, and for completed work items, vendors can build and digitally sign invoices.

In addition, vendors can receive push notifications for new work requests and messages.

vAuto mentioned a 2017 Cox Automotive survey in which dealers ranked reconditioning as one of the top three most vehicle inventory management tasks. Those surveyed dealers also said the reconditioning process can take up significant resources.

vAuto also sourced the 2018 Cox Automotive Service Industry Study showing that dealer service bays are already nearing full capacity for a single shift. That means dealers should consider what they should continue to manage in-house and what must be outsourced. That is especially true in the area of reconditioning work, vAuto said.

The company said that with the iRecon: Vendor product, vendors will be able to better respond to these capacity limitations. The product will help vendors carry the load and be more efficient, according to vAuto.

“For each vehicle we take in, there are multiple phone calls, emails and text messages flying round to check status or get costs approved,” Columbus, Ohio-based Buck-Nut Detailing owner Dan Stark said in a news release.

“iRecon: Vendor cuts all that out and has all the information I need in one place, which not only improves my shop’s productivity but also makes my clients more satisfied with my service,” Stark said.

iRecon founder and senior director of business enablement Mike Boyd said that dealers are fighting to remain profitable, and that means improving the reconditioning process is more important than ever. “Every extra day it takes to get a vehicle front-line ready impacts a dealership’s turn rate and bottom line,” Boyd said. “With iRecon: Vendor, our vendor partners have the access, transparency and controlled workflow they need to minimize delays and meet the challenges facing today’s dealers.”