Professional Distributor - 34

Find out what
shop owners are
reading about in this
month's pages of

DIAGNOSTIC DISCOURSE

New Year's goals:
Increase your shop's
ROI in 2020

Small changes can mean increased profits and
a rock-solid reputation for a new year.

e've reached the end of another year.
While December is traditionally a time
of refelection, it also offers us a good
chance
to
look ahead. As you move into 2020,
BY SCOTT "GONZO" WEAVER
AND PTEN STAFF now is the time to consider ways you might
After owning an automotive electrichange up your business practices or even
cal repair shop in Tulsa, Oklahoma,
for more than three decades, ASE use technology to your advantage, to not only
Master Tech Scott "Gonzo" Weaver improve service, but to let customers know what
now writes and teaches about the
you are capable of.
latest automotive technology. As a
The fact is, our customers are moving further
storyteller, Weaver has hundreds of
published humorous and anecdotal and further away from understanding the comstories that can be found on his webplexities of the very machines they drive. It's up to
site, gonzostoolbox.com. He is the
author of the book, "Hey Look! us, the mechanics and technicians of the world, to
I Found the Loose Nut." keep up with these changes and customer demands.
Email Gonzo at gonzosae@aol.com.
In this year's columns, I talked about various
new diagnostic products and scenarios coming on
the scene that are available to our market. This
month, let's review a few tech-related ideas you
might consider to help increase your ROI numbers for 2020, as well as ways to help business by
connecting with the community you serve. Some
tips may work better for you than others, or one of
them may spark an idea of your own. Consider the
possibilities and give it a try.

CONSIDER ADDING SERVICES
Customers and vehicles are always changing. As
you head into 2020 consider adding services that
weren't part of your business model in the past. For
example, the percentage of cars and trucks with
TPMS is on the rise. Sales of replacement sensors
are on the rise, too. Ask yourself whether TPMS
would be a sound business investment, then investigate the right tools for your shop.
Decide whether you will require something that
provides complete TPMS coverage, including OE
sensor cloning, and remember that additional ROI
opportunities also include things like sensor sales
and services, alignment and rotation services, and
TPMS reset (relearn).
34 Professional Distributor I December 2019 I VehicleServicePros.com

Services for vehicles with Advanced Driver
Assist Systems (ADAS) are another talked-about
revenue generator for some businesses. If you have
the floor space, and there's a lack of this service in
your area, it may be time to consider the possibilities
of performing ADAS calibrations in-house. While
some newer cars can self-calibrate, most vehicles
hitting shops now require an in-house (static) camera alignment and diagnostics by a certified shop.
Even seemingly straightforward jobs like wheel
alignments, tire changes, or changed suspension
angles may affect the vehicle's ability to see through
its cameras and sensors.
ADAS calibration tools are sold in various kit
sizes, and floor space should always be considered.
ADAS systems today utilize radar, infrared LIDAR,
computer images and analysis, as well as sensors
for motion, heat, and sound. They often come with
expert support to help technicians along the way.
The investment could be as little as $3,000 or as
high as $20,000; it's important to consider what
your shop may be getting for the investment.

MAKE LIFE EASIER FOR CUSTOMERS
There are a few ways you can use technology to
your advantage to polish up your current customer
service practices. First things first: if you don't have
a website, set one up. Create a virtual 'electronic'
waiting room for your customers. Any information
that would be valuable to your customer could be
presented on the website. For example, your scan
results could show the technology involved in their
vehicle's repair and how you arrived at the solutions. This might lead to your customers having a
better understanding of the complexities involved
in a seemingly 'straightforward' maintenance or
repair situation.
Even though the phone is still an essential, many
customers now find it preferable to communicate
with you via text. Having a dedicated message

http://www.gonzostoolbox.com http://www.VehicleServicePros.com

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