Aftermarket June 2022

D igital transformation is reshaping every industry sector, and the automotive industry is no exception. From design and manufacturing to supplies and logistics, tried-and-true processes that have been used in the automotive industry are finally being shaken up. The change is due to the convergence of many disruptive trends. In short, the whole automotive ecosystem is set to benefit from digital transformation. Various facets of the industry are seeing mission-critical services, systems and software move to the cloud. This change will impact, and reap huge benefits, on the aftermarket sector of the industry, too. This particular industry has not kept pace with the changes seen in consumer-packaged goods, healthcare and beyond. The timing of the move to the cloud converges neatly with the transformation of the automobile into a self-driving, fully connected, cloud-based system. The aftermarket also faces challenges that aren’t top of mind for automakers. For instance, on any given day, a non-specialist garage will work on multiple vehicles from different manufacturers, spanning different power plants and power sources, ranging from ICE to hybrid and electric. 18 AFTERMARKET JUNE 2022 BUSINESS www.aftermarketonline.net Digital transformation in the automotive industry is being accelerated with assisted reality wearables Easy access to real-time information is essential for such garages. Skill shortages within the automotive industry Digital transformation also helps to address two significant challenges the automotive after-sales sector faces. First, there are many highly skilled technicians who excel at diagnosing traditional ICE vehicles, but as these auto techs are not generally digital natives, they may experience frustration by the increasing electronic and software complexity present in many newer vehicles. Yet their talents are far too valuable to lose, so the cloud can play a role in helping upskill them further. Second, in the UK, vocational or trade skills courses do not always enjoy the same level of awareness as the more celebrated university courses, despite the professions they lead to being an essential part of our economy. Perhaps as a consequence of that, the automotive industry has traditionally been slow to shout about the great opportunities for employment that exist in the sector. This has compounded the skills shortage crisis, with seasoned professionals retiring from the industry faster than they can be replaced by those new to it. Therefore, the motor YOU WEAR IT WELL BY Jon Arnold, Vice-President of EMEA at RealWear Inc.