september2021 - 4

EDITOR'S NOTE
Published by Endeavor Business Media, LLC
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Fort Atkinson, WI 53538
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Keep on adding
Automotive shops need to keep adding to their
services in order to stay competitive, and mobile
tool dealers need the right tools for these jobs.
I
AMANDA SILLIKER
EDITOR
asilliker@
endeavorb2b.com
t may be easy to stick with
what you know. It's comfortable,
stable, and keeps a
fairly steady stream of business
walking through your door. But
the automotive industry is rapidly
changing, and if automotive
shops don't keep adding to their
services, then before you know
it, they will end up offering services
for vehicles of yesteryear
while the shop down the street
is fixing self-driving cars.
J2534 reprogramming is a
great example (see cover story
on page 18). According to our
Aftermarket Profile, 37 percent of
shops were offering this service in
2018 compared to 42 percent in
2021. This service allows shops
to upgrade a vehicle to its most
recent software, which fixes a lot
of drivability issues. Reprogramming/reflashing
was identified in
the top four service opportunities
for automotive repair shops.
It's important that your customers
not shy away from these
highly-technical offerings because
that's simply the future of the
industry. If shops claim to not
have enough space, they should
consider reconfiguring their layout
and they might be surprised at the
space they find. If cost is an issue,
they need to take a hard look at
how much money this service can
help them bring in to determine if
it's worth the cost upfront. According
to Drew Technologies, " A J2534
tool will allow shops to fix cars,
grow profits by offering services
previously sent to the dealership,
and offer the services needed to
retain customers. "
Mobile tool dealers can help
their customers understand the
benefits of adding new services
to their lineup and walk them
through what tools and equipment
they will need. But you can also
take this concept to heart yourself,
and strive to always be adding
new tools and equipment on your
trucks. Is there a brand-new line
of equipment that is missing from
your truck? Do you need more
scan tool options instead of just
the few you always have on hand?
Wayne Liebnitzky, featured in this
month's Show Me Your Truck column
on page 26, is always trying
to find whatever tool or equipment
his customers request and isn't
afraid of a challenge.
Hopefully you can find some
ideas for new tools to add to your
truck in this issue. The In Focus
features on page 14 include a
high-powered torch, scan tool,
long reach ratchet, and relay tester.
Or on page 12 you will find
the products that the shop owners
and technicians who read our
sister publication PTEN have
requested more information on.
These are both great resources
for possible new additions to
your truck.
Have you added a new line of
tools recently? How has it helped
boost your business? Let me know
by connecting with me on LinkedIn.
I'd love to hear from you.
4 Professional Distributor I September 2021 I VehicleServicePros.com
Printed in the U.S. Volume 29, Number 8; September 2021
EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT - TRANSPORTATION
Reggie Lawrence
RLawrence@EndeavorB2B.com
VP/GROUP PUBLISHER, ENDEAVOR VEHICLE REPAIR GROUP
Kylie Hirko 630-253-4034 Kylie@VehicleServicePros.com
EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Krista McNamara
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EDITOR Amanda Silliker
ASilliker@EndeavorB2B.com
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september2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of september2021
