MOTORING NEWS - The Motor Industry Workshop Association (Miwa) says the organisation foresees three major trends for the automotive industry that will bring about noticeable change.
According to Pieter Niemand, director of Miwa, the first of these is the move towards drafting a code of conduct for the automotive industry.
CODE OF CONDUCT
"The Competition Commission has started putting together a code of conduct for the industry," he says.
"While the code will take time to be finalised, there is no doubt that it will be the catalyst for change in the industry.
"At this point stakeholders have submitted their comments and the commission will review and revert back to the industry.
"The commission has recognised that change is inevitable. There's a good chance that changes will include how consumers engage with dealers, how independent workshops service vehicles and how parts are priced and sold.
"This enquiry has raised awareness among the public and questions about the way in which the industry has been operating. I believe that consumers are more enlightened and will challenge the way things are done. This is the start of a wave of change."
TECHNOLOGY
The second trend Miwa mentions is technology advancements in the sector and how this will challenge independent workshops.
"The technology being introduced into vehicles is moving at such a rapid rate that workshop owners are realising they need to evolve and specialise.
Pieter Niemand
"This is forcing workshops to decide what they will be in future - specialists or general repairers. Specialist workshops will have to invest in the diagnostic machinery, tools and training to be able to service technologically evolving vehicles.
"While it will most likely be an expensive initial outlay, the future prospects of the business will be good."
Niemand says this may not be an option for workshops that do not have the capital available. While a percentage of the South African car park includes older vehicles that a general mechanic will be able to repair, this will not remain so for many more years.
For this reason, it is imperative that in order to stay in business, the independent aftermarket needs access to coding information, diagnostic tools, training etc from the original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), which they hope may be the outcome of the industry code of conduct.
ONLINE CONSUMERS
Online consumer behaviour in the automotive space is the third trend worth tracking, according to Niemand. "Consumers are becoming more comfortable and savvy about buying online and booking appointments online.
"There's no doubt that this will spill over into the automotive industry. We are already reaching a point where consumers don't necessarily even see the need to test drive a vehicle before they purchase it!
"They review and purchase online. The same will apply for servicing. Consumers will want to be directed to the nearest workshop to their location, be able to book in their car for a service and get a full report through their mobile device.
"Those businesses that embrace the opportunity to make the process as efficient and streamlined as possible will benefit. We foresee developments in this area in the very near future," he says.
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