News 8 www.aftermarketonline.net MAY 2025 Service advisors ‘grapple with repair costs challenge’ Workforce management platform Klipboard has completed its acquisition of Elcome, the automotive parts data and cataloguing business for the vehicle replacement parts aftermarket. Elcome’s core software solution, Xchecker, is a leading cataloguing and gap analysis solution for the automotive aftermarket. The company, established 25 years ago with a headquarters in the UK, also provides professional services in automotive, publishing and IT. Klipboard, formerly Kerridge Commercial Systems, said the acquisition, for an undisclosed sum, further complements its set of cloud-based solutions for the global auto parts, auto servicing, tyre and vertical distribution sectors. Supertracker has launched a ‘proudly British’ campaign, aimed at showcasing locally manufactured equipment for UK garages. The wheel alignment equipment manufacturer and supplier said it has boosted investment in innovation and manufacturing since its acquisition by Worksopbased Straightset three years ago. Supertracker has also introduced larger hanger castings to better serve the wide range of tyre sizes in today’s market. MD Andrew Bates said investment, such as in green laser technology for alignment systems, is what British manufacturing is about — precision, reliability and a direct link to the needs of the UK market. Affordability of garage repairs for motorists is the biggest challenge faced by service advisors in their day-to-day work, according to a new survey. A quarter of 520 service advisors polled for Sheffield based fintech firm, Bumper, cited affordability of repairs for customers as their main challenge, underscoring the increasing cost of living and rising parts prices. Bumper, which offers motorists finance to help pay for repairs to be carried out at the firm’s partner garages across the country, revealed the data as part of research for its upcoming ‘UK Automotive Aftersales Report 2024/25’. Customer expectations was the next biggest challenge, with 18% of service advisors signalling the growing demand for high quality service and personalised experiences, Bumper said. Parts availability was a concern for 12%, as service advisors grapple with supply chain issues. The research also found service advisors were equally split between those who had identified operational changes in dealership priorities in the last 12 months and those who had not. Bumper said the biggest changes identified by over two-thirds of the former group were to customer retention and satisfaction strategies, reflecting an increased management focus on ensuring positive customer experiences and loyalty. Most service advisors (58%) reported seeing changes in customer preferences or behaviour in aftersales services compared to previous years. Increased price sensitivity was the most frequently cited change (43%), indicating that customers are focused on affordability and value. Bumper’s head of sales Daniel Christie said: “Service advisors are in a unique position to observe the behavioural changes of aftersales customers. “Push-back from customers to the costs charged for servicing and repair work is understandable and increasingly difficult for service advisors to counter.” Offering interest-free payment schemes can help drive customer satisfaction and retention, while making necessary advisory work more affordable, Christie said. Supertracker ‘proudly British’ push .OLSERDUG DFTXLUHV SDUWV GDWD Ꭾ UP (OFRPH
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