February 2021

BY Andy Hamilton, CEO at LKQ Euro Car Parts T he Coronavirus pandemic hasn’t slowed the pace of technological and regulatory change in the automotive industry; if anything, the opposite is true. Consumers and industry have seized the opportunity to recover sustainably, and all of us have incorporated more digital solutions into our everyday lives to ensure we can access the people, products and services we need. So, what does this mean for independent garages? While many were understandably focused on survival last year – and although this year will bring challenges of its own including Brexit – in 2021 it’s important for workshop owners to take back control. There are two digitalisation gaps to close. To remain competitive, independent garages need to keep up with the rest of the automotive sector in terms of digital capability and connectivity, while matching service providers in other sectors to meet consumers’ expectations. We know that many garage owners are cautious about making business investments in the uncertain climate we’re in, but deployed in the right way, digital technology can improve efficiency, profitability and competitiveness from day one. Digital solutions for business management Downtime in the workshop is costly – and potentially more likely, now that seasonal demand patterns have been disrupted by shifting MOT deadlines. The onus is on garages to proactively manage their workload, which is where digital garage management solutions come in. Using data to accurately predict how long each job will take is essential, so that work can be scheduled effectively, and technician resource scaled up or down as needed. Haynes Pro data underpins quoting for and scheduling work through our CarSys garage management software, which is also loaded with customer and vehicle databases. This means technicians can look up MOT and service histories at the touch of a button. As well as maximising productivity on the workshop floor, garage management software can streamline back office processes, too. CarSys comes with a direct link to our catalogue, facilitating 24/7 online parts look up and ordering, as well as stock management features, a help centre and the ability to sync with leading accounting solutions, Sage and QuickBooks. Parts ordering in the independent 12 AFTERMARKET FEBRUARY 2021 BUSINESS www.aftermarketonline.net 2021: TIME FOR A DIGITAL REVOLUTION IN THE AFTERMARKET? Does 2021 mean it’s time to throw out the new ideas and go digital in the garage sector?