July/August 2020

JULY/AUGUST 2020 AFTERMARKET 19 www.aftermarketonline.net customers. We also expect to see increased opportunities to provide manual DPF regeneration services. Vehicles using DPFs will likely face issues when returning to the road, with lack of use preventing systems from properly regenerating and emptying. Customers will likely encounter significant performance issues, caused by system blockages and build-ups of soot. Finally, air conditioning maintenance could emerge as a common source of demand for garages. These units naturally disperse gas throughout a vehicle’s lifespan, typically resulting in a loss of around five per cent capacity in a normal year. But prolonged periods of non-use can cause air conditioning seals to weaken, exacerbating refrigerant loss and leading to problems elsewhere, such as engines or batteries overheating, or warning messages due to false pressure readings. Again, thorough diagnostics will be crucial to help identify the correct solution, with warning messages likely to distract from the root cause of problems caused by faulty air conditioning. What tools can garages leverage to promote services to customers and encourage new business? Taking advantage of free marketing tools, such as social media, will help garages to let customers know they’re open, reach audiences they may not have had access to before, while encouraging conversations and recommendations to help build trust and reputation. Creating posts with regular updates on opening times, available services, and possibly tips and advice on common queries can keep customers engaged and help to generate new leads. This can be done via a business’ own page, and in relevant community groups on Facebook to directly target local audiences. Garages can also take advantage of their garage management systems, which often have in-built functions that allow them to email their entire customer database. What services is LKQ Euro Car Parts offering to support garages? We’ve been working with our team of experts to understand and prepare for the things garages will need to consider to ensure a successful reopening – and we’ve developed a comprehensive guide for our customers, complete with tips, advice and suggested products and solutions. The immediate priority is safety – for garage staff and their customers. Putting protective measures in place in line with the latest government guidance will help to build trust with customers and ensure they feel able to contact and visit garages for any support they may need. As well as offering a checklist of safety measures to implement before reopening, we’ve created a ‘Back to Work’ pack of essential cleaning supplies and PPE, available to buy in a bundle at a discounted price. Technology will play a key role in enabling garages to complete work to high standards, while minimising physical contact. LKQ Euro Car Parts is making key products and solutions available at discounted rates to support this. Our garage customers can access a free 12-month subscription to HaynesPro, worth £695, so their technicians can operate autonomously and efficiently in the workshop with mobile access to essential repair and maintenance data, alongside guided diagnostics and technical support. They can also sign up for a free 12- month subscription to VIEWMECH, a personalised customer video solution, via their local LKQ Euro Car Parts branch. The subscription is worth £599 and enables garages to send their customers video footage of any work required to their vehicles, with the option to add a quote and accompanying note for any repair work. As well as supporting faster work authorisation, this solution helps to maintain social distancing while aiding customer retention, referrals and work conversions through top quality, transparent service.

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