Amid a cost-of-living crisis, the automotive service industry is experiencing challenges with rising operational costs and customer affordability. Experts John Bramley, Group Operations Director of Halfords, and Karl Baker, Head of Halfords Mobile Expert, suggest reimagining business models and integrating tech solutions as a way forward. They shared that Halfords has leveraged its Avayler software platform to boost technician productivity, automate inventory management, and improve customer communication. The company also offers mobile repair services with a 4.8/5 Trustpilot rating, experiencing a 70% increase in job productivity and over 200% increase in utilization.
They recommended three tech-led innovations for the industry:
- prioritizing customer preferences through digital booking and service updates,
- achieving operational benefits with automated scheduling and inventory management, and
- improving productivity with technology that assists technicians in auto repair centers and in the field.
