Briefs

... Days Toyota saved on vehicle in-transit time by using data warehousing to plan more efficient routes.

Toyota Motor Corp. overtook Ford Motor Co. as the world's second largest automaker by sales volume in 2004. One reason was popular cars such as the Prius gas-electric hybrid sedan. Another reason: the information systems at its North America unit.

Over the past seven years, Toyota has led the industry in how it captures and mines data from every corner of its manufacturing, logistics and sales operations to gain business intelligence.

Using applications from IBM's Red Brick unit, Oracle and Hyperion Solutions Corp., Toyota re-engineered its data warehouse and saved $30 million a year in North America. With data mining, Toyota determined more efficient transportation routes and reduced the time it takes to get its vehicles to customers from 37 days to 18. Dealers also get immediate information on vehicles they've ordered. Toyota identifies sales trends faster, and can determine the best locations for new dealerships. Research firm IDC calculated the overall project's return on investment at 506 percent.

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