AA Garage Guide, the online search and booking site for MOTs, servicing and repairs has recently launched a tow-in network. Designed as a companion for its expert patrols, helping to ensure customer’s vehicles are serviced by the best local garages, most of the Garage Guide’s 5,000-strong network can be accessed through patrols’ hand held devices, allowing them to search the database of tow-in garages for the most suitable site.
Long established and widely respected, Herefordshire-based Gerry Dovermans has reported a twenty per cent boost in productivity since it adopted TechMan, an innovative garage management system.
The Parts Alliance’s South West Garage and Workshop Show has returned for 2017 even ‘bigger and better’. Storm-like conditions failed to deter well over 500 garage owners and mechanics from visiting Sandy Park, home to English Premiership side Exeter Chiefs, on the evening of Thursday 19 October. The event hosted garage customers invited by the nine Parts Alliance branches in Somerset, Devon and Cornwall – including the recently opened Midsomer Norton Branch.
TechMan says new customer Jim Steel Garage has already realised big benefits after going live in August with the garage management system. Led by Kevin Steel and his son Sam, the family run Beeston-based business offers MOTs, servicing and repairs for all makes of vehicle. Formerly a Unipart Car Centre, the business had been reviewing new management systems for several months until a visit from national sales manager Leo Freebairn led to them trying a demo site and opting to go with TechMan.
Parent Company, Groupauto has announced that their garage network, ‘AutoCare’ has reached 600 garages – making them the largest independent garage programme in the UK.
Despite the complex nature of the modern clutch system, many technicians remain under the misapprehension that clutch replacement is a simple and straightforward affair. However, with clutch replacement now often taking several hours it’s imperative for workshop profitability that technicians have the information they need to fit the replacement right, first time.
GSF Car Parts say the Vetech DPF Professional Cleaner they launched in 2015 has already saved UK motorists millions of pounds in replacement parts.
The Parts Alliance’s garage programme, Servicesure Autocentres has recruited 50 new garages since the start of 2017. The parts distributor adds that the rate of joining has consistently averaged 15 garages per month since the latter part of 2016.
New research conducted by audio branding specialist PHMG suggests that the large majority of garages risk losing custom by subjecting customers to generic music and audio while on hold. The audit of 255 firms in the garage and vehicle repairs trade questions call handling standards.
Servicesure Autocentres, The Parts Alliance garage programme, has announced a new partnership with Slicker Recycling aimed at streamlining waste collection for its garage members. Slicker Recycling will offer the growing national network a simple ‘one call’ solution. Once contacted, they respond by arriving almost anywhere in the UK to collect and process business waste.
The Independent Garage Association (IGA) has introduced a new Trust My Garage £1,000 Guarantee. The scheme provides financial reassurance to consumers who have service and repair work carried out by a member of the Trust My Garage (TMG) programme. TMG is a Chartered Trading Standard Institute (CTSI) approved code under the Consumer Codes Approval Scheme.
Online search and booking platform, AA Garage Guide has unveiled its partnership with the Motor Ombudsman – formerly known as Motor Codes. As part of the new link, the Motor Ombudsman will advocate the AA Garage Guide platform to all of its accredited garages with immediate effect.
Servicesure Autocentres, The Parts Alliance garage programme, has reached 400 garage members. The programme provides a comprehensive range of business services designed to contribute towards increased productivity and profitability. Servicesure members can currently call upon more than 30 business services, covering such considerations as signage, business insurance, vehicle leasing, waste disposal and workwear through to technical training.
AA Garage Guide, the online search and booking site, has enlisted the help of the AA’s expert patrols to recommend the best local garages in their area. Each of the nearly 4,000 garages included on the Garage Guide’s site must adhere to its strict listing criteria. Patrol suggestions will be highlighted on the Garage Guide website as a ‘Patrol Pick’ so that members can see which selections they suggest. The AA says this will help to make sure that workshops get the recognition and the business that they deserve.
The new Klarius Emission Control Garage Accreditation scheme is designed to improve garage’s ability to deliver emission control product knowledge and services, while also increasing sales. The mission is to provide a mixture of professional training, signage and promotional tools all designed to increase customer confidence in solving Exhaust, CAT and DPF related issues.
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