RIM stands for Retail Inventory Management. The RIM project allows General Motors to help dealers manage their parts inventory by automatically controlling inventory and order process for needed parts. The controlling parameters are based on the dealer's parts sales activity, current inventory levels and various other criteria.

If a dealer chooses to sign up with GM for RIM, they will also need to purchase the RIM Interface package from ADAM. Please note that due to the complexity of the RIM standards set by GM, this interface will only work with current versions of the ADAM Parts system (3.0.92 or better). Please call 800-331-2326 if you have an earlier version.

The interface package consists of the RIM management console and the Activator communications package to send and receive data from the RIM data center. This package also includes an update to their ADAM Parts system which enables the interface with GM RIM.

General Motors has chosen a completely different method of communicating RIM data with the factory than what is currently used by FACTS (Financial Statement), RAPID (Parts), and WINS (Warranty) upload systems. Therefore, we had to develop a completely separate integration solution that fell outside the scope of our current GM DCS Interface package.

When General Motors wrote the specifications for the RIM project, they required that all data communications between the dealership and the factory be in a highly secure data format named ebXML. This format is the new standard for GM B2B (Business to Business) communications. ebXML is a complex process which requires encryption of the data and digital certificates to verify and prove data security when transmitted over the public Internet. An ebXML Activator program (included in the ADAM RIM Interface) manages all of this encryption/decryption and secure transmission for the dealership behind the scenes. Unfortunately, this secure transmission package is expensive to install and maintain. Providing an ebXML RIM solution was not exclusive to ADAM and is required by all GM DCS Certified System providers.

The Interface automatically handles all of the daily transfer of parts sales and inventory level data to GM for analysis by the RIM data center. It also directs incoming transmission of Inventory States (RIM State) and well as incoming parts orders and material returns generated by the RIM data center. The Interface also functions as a "Message Center" for the parts manager, allowing him/her to verify incoming and outgoing data transmissions, check for errors in data transmissions and run reports on the RIM state of the parts inventory. Incoming parts orders and material returns are automatically dispatched to the parts inventory system for processing so manual input of data is not required.