For all who are affiliated with the Automotive Aftermarket
Welcome to the Automotive Service Business Network
We all know how vast and widespread our industry is. Wherever there are vehicles, there are mechanics and businesses to repair them. Yes, we are an essential service, keeping the population mobile.
Here's another reality. Beyond the vehicle manufacturers, thousands of manufacturers produce parts, tools, shop equipment, fluids, accessories, and more whose primary purpose is to support our industry. Then there are product distribution networks, educators, writers, publications, and business support services who may be non-mechanical but are also critical suppliers focused on our industry.
When you add it all up, this is a significant section of our Canadian population focused on the Automotive Industry.
New Vehicle Dealer vs. Aftermarket
When we talk about the automotive repair and service sector, there is a split between new vehicle dealer networks and the independent aftermarket.
First, dealer systems are made up of networks of individual manufacturers, and, as a network, they can centrally manage everything from product distribution, shop management, tooling, training, and resources. In addition, they maintain a communication system to allow them to solve individual issues. Although this network is used as a control system, setting policies and guidelines, it offers them the ability of a predictive management style to stay ahead of market changes.
Their advantages? Factory-trained technicians, tooling, factory parts, resources, and a steady flow of customers generated from new vehicle sales.
Their disadvantage? Their only main issue is keeping their customers past the warranty periods.
The Aftermarket Service Industry, on the other hand, is the primary alternative to the dealer networks, with 42% of the service market.
Our major advantages;
- Customer Service
- Flexibility
- Convenient
- Value
Our Disadvantages;
- Training
- Tooling
- Resources
Our flexibility, willingness, and passion to service our customers' needs have never been questioned. This is why there will never be a shortage of potential customers preferring the aftermarket over a dealer environment. But our disadvantages have become major issues.
Historically, maintaining a business or a career within the aftermarket has always been a challenge but never an issue. Technology growth was manageable, business costs were stable, and our disadvantages were easy to overcome.
But things have changed faster than we could adapt, leaving businesses to re-evaluate their futures and even technicians to question their career choices.
We need a solution.
What if we had our own private network?
Not one that is focused on management control but one that is primarily focused on generating solutions surrounding our disadvantages. celebrates our independence and is open to all professionals within the Automotive Aftermarket, management, and employees.
Plus, we can't forget all our valued suppliers, who have also been caught up in this mess. Not only do they supply our industry with everything we need, but they have also been a valued source of resources. The connection we once took for granted has become just a memory. Plus, since we need them and they definitely want to support us, we need to include them as active partners in the challenges ahead.
The Automotive Service Business Network: Beyond Normal Networks
You have, no doubt, signed up on various networks, from social pages, forums, and messaging systems to tech help sites. All these connect you to groups of others with common interests but are either outside your time zone, too general, too personal, or too specific in subject matter to be of practical use every day.
The Automotive Aftermarket is a massive group with all the same daily interests, whether running a business, applying your trade, or just trying to do your job. There is no end to the variety. In addition, this market region directly influences many of our group's interests. So it would be logical to focus on this market, where it matters the most: right here, at home in British Columbia.
One network serving the total industry in one market region and it's private, away from the general public internet.
Welcome to ASBN. Let's have some fun.
Resources;
The most valuable resource tools for the shop are the technical reference and vehicle service manuals, which we access directly through online subscriptions. If things go smoothly, you find your answer quickly, and your confidence is restored. Sometimes, the answers are not in service manuals, and you search the open internet for solutions.
Besides technical service issues, we shop for parts, tools, and equipment frequently. We might be interested in purchasing, or we might just be looking for more data so we can cross-reference for locally available products. Sometimes, you get lucky.
We also look to the net for answers or solutions to business queries, from sourcing local commercial service suppliers that can be used as sublets to complete jobs or businesses specializing in equipment, building, or property repairs and maintenance to those specializing in accounting, legal, and insurance.
Then there's the subject of training, which is a significant key to our success and advancement within our ever-changing industry and, yet, has little to no search results beyond the introductory or foundation courses your staff already possess.
Having information is critical to making any decision, but as we know, the internet has gaps.
So, let's fill those gaps.
We have an army of members who scour the net daily for the 'good stuff', and we all know how to copy and paste web addresses.
In addition, all our suppliers have vast information resources, but they have no practical way of delivering them to us in this market.
Our job, here at ASBN is to catalog and manage these resources in our permanent libraries so they are easily accessed by all members.
And here's the best part. Since every member has a vested interest in the growth of this network, everyone can contribute freely, whether it be links to little-known sites or pages, writing articles, blogs, tips, or even ideas to make ASBN a better tool for our industry.
That's what our industry network should be.
"Kowledge is something you can give away and still keep."
Talking about our suppliers;
Where would we be without them? No, really!
It wasn't that long ago that salespeople showed up every week to try to peddle their wares, and either you weren't interested or didn't have time to talk to them. For the most part, they were just a pain in the neck.
But guess what? Cold calls within communities were the only affordable way available to them to market to their industry-specific, commercial customers.
Commercial marketing differs from consumer marketing because it hinges on building business relationships, not just advertising.
What would happen if your customers were no longer available to you? You'd be closing your doors. That's exactly what's happening with them, and as a result, we are the losers. It's not just the loss of products or services that have weakened us. We have also lost the product knowledge, training, customer service, business support, and, ultimately, brand loyalties that were all part of our business relationships.
We need to fix that, and as a commercial network, we can offer them the same opportunities to build relationships as we have. (Read More)
We have opened the doors so we can do so much more.
This is the first network of its kind anywhere. That means it is ours. That also means we can develop it as we need it to be and not have anybody telling us what to do.
For example, networking and communications.
We would love to connect with others within our industry, especially here in BC, to talk about our latest build, how our Government is treating us, how they are fairing through the annual fires, or to pass on some neat tips you found. We would also like to bring the suppliers or the factory reps into our conversations to solve problems.
The issue is there are many different forms of communication across the net. Each of them has its limitations, and we have our own preferences. Since we are trying to connect a total industry together, why not incorporate all of them in a bundle?
It's called ASBN Connect. You've got to check this out. (Read More)
So, as you can tell, ASBN aims to bring all individuals in the automotive aftermarket service industry and the total supplier network together under one roof to share resources, discuss and solve issues, and do business. We can no longer afford to stay extremely independent and fragmented. We need to start sharing ideas, issues, and resources if we want to ease our burdens today and be proactive with future industry challenges that are just around the corner.
This is our industry. We can fix it ourselves. Because that's what we do: fix things. We just need the tools.
We're not going to stop there!
Here are a couple more ideas that are in the works.
Classifieds: How many of us have stuff we no longer need, just collecting dust, and how many are looking for the right stuff? Who's looking for a job, and who's looking to hire?
What better than to have our own classifieds within our own industry?
Training: Our techs and administrators need training courses, seminars, and clinics. Our continued growth depends on it. We also need our trainers and educators to return to the industry by offering them a better marketing tool than cold calls.
Here's how it should work. Our training suppliers would post their upcoming events through their listings in the Supplier Directory. ASBN will promote it to all members. Interested members would register for the event and manage all details directly with the supplier. ASBN will manage all notifications and reviews.
Do you have any ideas? Just let us know.
It's time we did something for ourselves.
Oh! I forgot to mention. Full memberships are FREE.
