Nearly 400 shop owners who subscribe to Brake & Front End completed a survey in early April, and while there were several compelling data points, I thought the following two were incredibly revealing.
- 61% agreed with this statement: “It is very important that customers own their data and can share it with shops of their choice,” with 31% having strong agreement.
- Almost the same percent, 60%, indicated that, “I want to learn more about incorporating telematics into my business.”
I want to learn more about incorporating telematics into my business.
These data points may fuel some challenges, especially if your customers are unable to share their vehicle data with you, but a “glass half-full” perspective would identify data and telematics as an opportunity to effectively connect you directly to your customers’ vehicles. These two components of technology will require your time and a continued
commitment to understand their impact on your business moving forward.
How about some help?! We are on it. An on-going editorial mission is to keep you, our valued readers, educated on the topics of data and telematics moving forward. Watch for relevant content on these topics in the magazine, including newsletters, podcasts and webinars.
Bill Hanvey, president and CEO of your Auto Care Association, and Paul McCarthy, president and COO of the Automotive Aftermarket Supplier Association are on it too. Both are making noise where it counts: on the Hill in Washington, D.C., among lawmakers who ultimately provide legislature to ensure vehicle owners (your customers) decide who receives this data emitted from their vehicles.
It may be a long and winding road before any resolution is found but count on us to keep you posted. Meanwhile, keep the value of telematics and data top of mind. The more you know, the faster you’ll be able to take advantage of the technical opportunities available to your business. Stay tuned!
