When I’m writing an article, I always have a set word count in mind that I know I need to reach in order to fill the page. When I’m planning my day, I have a set number of tasks I must perform. Numbers dictate a large part of what many people do on a daily basis.
For you, the technician or shop owner, I’m sure numbers like how many repairs you get done in a day, how long a repair will take you to complete, or the number of customers frequenting your shop, are all numbers that are top of mind.
In this month’s issue, we have our ninth annual Aftermarket Profile. This yearly purchasing study offers a few more numbers for you to take into consideration as you conduct your business. We gathered data from shop owners and technicians across the country, asking questions about the types of repairs and services you perform, the tools and equipment you own, your current and future purchasing plans, and much more.
Before we dive into the details, I just want to give a big thank you to the over 200 of you who responded to the survey. Without your help, this wouldn’t be possible!
With 80 percent of shops reporting that they have a diagnostician on staff, it’s no surprise that 70 percent of you noted that you plan on purchasing electrical tools/equipment and 53 percent plan on purchasing a scan tool this year. As the modern vehicle becomes more complex, so do the repairs needed to fix it, meaning tools and equipment will need to be updated to keep up with what’s on the market.
However, it’s not only tools and equipment that need updating. Up-to-date training for these complex repairs is also a necessity. According to our findings, electrical/electronic systems (64 percent), hybrids/EVs (52 percent), and ADAS (39 percent) were among the top topics respondents noted as the biggest training opportunities.
Looking at data from last year’s survey and comparing it with this year’s results, training on the topics above is becoming more pertinent. In 2023, the number of shops saying they worked on both hybrid and electric vehicles was 27 percent. That number has increased by four percent in only the past year. Additionally, the number of shops offering ADAS services has increased by two percent for a total of nine percent. Though these increases sound small, they will only continue to grow.
We hope this report can be a valuable reference for your business. If you have any questions or would like to discuss the findings of the Aftermarket Profile, feel free to reach out.
