ACtion Magazine - March 2016 - (Page 12)

T he theme of this issue of ACTION™ magazine asks the question: Is your shop service ready? One element of being service ready is embracing and exploiting technology to leverage information that makes your shop more efficient. MACS is embracing new technology in many ways to make your membership and engagement experience better. One new piece of technology we implemented this year is a smart phone and tablet app for the MACS 2016 Training Event and Trade Show. MACS partnered with new MACS member SHIFTMobility Inc. to create the app. Who is SHIFTMobility Inc? SHIFTMobility, located in Foster City, CA provides mobile applications designed to increase productivity and ensure that part manufacturers, distributors, and repair shops are able to collaborate in real time wherever they are. The applications also promote faster selling and buying of parts through mobile commerce. SHIFTMobility was born in 2009. Elliott Schendel, Director of Marketing explains, "We spent three years developing a fully integrated mobile platform that connects all three verticals on the service side of the automotive industry and brings them into the modern age. In 2012, we bridged automotive standards. In 2013, we mobilized OEM and aftermarket parts on our network, and in 2014 we realized our vision of connecting manufacturers, distributors, and repair shops through mobile devices; but it doesn't end there - next on the horizon is connecting smart cars to smart devices." The company has created the industry's first All-In-One mobile platform for the automotive aftermarket. Leveraging the platform, they offer innovative applications for part and equipment manufacturers, part distributors and repair shops. Their mobile application portfolio includes: * ShopLite * RepairBuddy * SupplierPro * VroomBox * CarSpeck * Private Label as a Service (PLaaS) Why should repair shop owners care about apps and mobile technology? How will that knowledge make their shops service ready? Kevin Mullen, VP of Business Development and an aftermarket veteran explains, "The automotive industry is going through a massive innovation stage. The future of this industry will depend on a marriage between the independent repair shop and its customers; real time service updates, photographs and videos of needed repairs sent to customers, digital inspection sheets, recommended service intervals, notices of recommended maintenance - this is the new age of connectivity. It's a big change for an industry where many repair shops still look up parts in printed catalogs and place orders by phone. With SHIFTMobility apps, 12 ACTION * March 2016 mechanics will be able to monitor vehicles and let their customers know when it's time for an oil change or other routine maintenance. Consumers are already sold on maintaining their vehicles, now they want to see the information, not just be told something is true. The more transparent shops are with their customers, the better served those customers will feel. In the near future, when a customer notices a problem, their repair technician will already know everything about the vehicle, its current issues, and they will be able to diagnose the problem prior to arrival at the garage. By the time the customer reaches the shop, the right part and technician will be waiting." Learn more about SHIFTMobility at www.shiftmobility.com ❆ The SHIFT Mobility Team http://www.shiftmobility.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of ACtion Magazine - March 2016

ACtion Magazine - March 2016
Contents
Defining 'Service Ready' Because it Matters
Motor Age Top Shops
Outlook
Service Port
Leonard's Law
VIrtual View
Last Watch
Member Profile
Cooling Corner
Industry News
Association News
In Memoriam

ACtion Magazine - March 2016