O'Reilly converting distribution centers to paperless system

The country's third-largest auto-parts retailer is beginning a nationwide transition to a paperless system.

Springfield-based O'Reilly Automotive Inc. is accelerating its distribution centers' move to voice systems from Pennsylvania-based Vocollect Inc. The system allows companies to organize warehouses and prepare shipments more quickly using voice-recognition technology, according to a company news release.

O'Reilly expects to have most of its distribution centers using the Vocollect Voice system in the next four to five years, according to the release. The company currently uses the system in most of its existing distribution centers and will convert new centers, along with those acquired in its 2008 purchase of CSK Auto, in the near future. The first group of those should be converted by the end of 2010.

"Last year we processed over 96 million lines using Vocollect Voice," said Greg Johnson, O'Reilly's senior vice president of distribution operations, in a news release. "Voice has helped us to reduce cost, improve customer satisfaction and overall business performance, as well as achieve a very positive return on investment."

O'Reilly has 3,415 stores in 38 states, employing more than 44,000 people, while Vocollect provides services in 55 countries speaking 26 languages.

Shares of O'Reilly Automotive (Nasdaq: ORLY) closed Friday at $38.49, compared to a 52-week range of $26.06 to $42.93.