Aftermarket July/August 2022 Issue

JULY/AUGUST 2022 AFTERMARKET 51 www.aftermarketonline.net parts, making it easier to manage capacity and cashflow during times of high demand. Our garage management solution, CarSys, is fully integrated with HaynesPro and has stock management, parts ordering and quoting and invoicing features to streamline processes throughout the garage and enhance the overall customer experience.” Upskilling Training is vital, said Anthony: “Keeping on top of training and skills requirements is also an easy way to win customer loyalty and trust. Sharing product knowledge and recommendations following a MOT can help customers to avoid repeat problems in the future, or stop small issues from becoming serious, and generates opportunities to upsell.” He added: “We’re committed to helping technicians maintain outstanding levels of service with the IMI- approved MOT Training we offer through the LKQ Academy. Garages can opt for either the full annual CPD programme, due by 31 March each year, or routine refresher courses, which can be accessed online or in our classroom-based sessions.” For more information, visit: https://omnipart.eurocarparts.com Peaks and troughs GEA Chief Executive Julian Woods commented: “We are now over two years since the DVSA first suspended the MOT test for cars and light commercial to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. Unfortunately, the peaks and troughs of workload the six-month suspension caused to the MOT trade have not been resolved. The initial thought was that many drivers would maintain their original MOT dates as it was frequently linked with the annual service of the vehicle. Instead, due to the lower mileage/usage of the vehicle, many people seem to have simply put off the annual service until the MOT was due. The other element which would have helped the spread of the MOT workload would be new car sales. As older cars come out of the marketplace, new car sales are more spread across the year. Whether or not it was an effect of Brexit post-2019 or the global pandemic, new car and van sales have slumped to an all-time low. Subsequently, more people are keeping their cars on the road and getting them MOT-ed.” On the suggested MOT frequency change, Julian said: “Now, the latest thing from the government is its thinking about reducing the frequency of the MOT test to save the public some money. The negative impact this could have on the economy is huge. There is also the potential for increased accidents and incidents on the road due to untested/serviced vehicles. “We know that car reliability has improved over the years, and drivers can check the tyres and lights etc. However, the fact is that the vast majority of drivers simply do not perform these checks, and wait for the MOT or service to advise what is needed. Also, our National Health Service is already stretched; Do we really need to be adding to the workload via additional road accidents incidents? The national road network is bursting at the seams nowadays and the last thing we need is for more delays and hold-ups caused by vehicles which have broken down due to lack of maintenance /inspection or testing.” Invest and update Now is the time for MOT Testing Stations to step-up according to Julian: “What the industry needs is for MOT Stations to be able to invest and update in equipment to enable them to test more effectively the modern vehicle including such things as the advance safety systems, driver assist systems like electronic parking brakes and automatic headlights.” Julian concluded: “One of the great recent introductions from the DVSA into the MOT scheme which we really should be applauding as an industry as its helping drive down errors and mistakes in the MOT scheme and reducing time in conducting the test is the roll-out of connected MOT testing equipment. These units work the same as normal testing equipment, i.e. roller brake testers/emissions etc, but they are connected to the internet and simply pass the test results at the end of the test from the equipment directly back to the DVSA MTS server. This saves time as the Tester is not manually re-entering data, so there is no risk of typing errors either.” MOT tips Despite all the changes and challenges, the MOT continues to be performed each day. Offering MOT tips from HELLA, Senior Head of Marketing and Communications Helen Goldingay observed: “Lights remains one of the most common reasons for test failure, which is why HELLA’s 120- year plus lighting expertise is so relevant to workshops. Now that high intensity discharge or xenon bulbs are comparatively commonplace in today’s vehicles, the need for aftermarket replacements is on the rise. Reflecting the company’s OE quality standards, HELLA’s Xenon range therefore provides workshops with the ideal like-for-like substitution.” She continued: “Incorrect headlight alignment is also an MOT test failure. As a matter of course, workshops should offer a lighting and alignment check for all customers. This would also provide workshops with a additional revenue stream. To make this opportunity a reality for workshops, Hella Gutmann offers the SEG beam setter series, a new generation of alignment tools that are able to measure and adjust even the most advanced headlight systems, quickly and efficiently.” On wipers, Helen observed: “Correctly functioning wipers are another MOT test requirement, so OE quality replacements should be the automatic choice for workshops. HELLA’s SmarTech jointless beam blade range provides a modern, high performance solution for 90% of the popular UK vehicle parc in just 11 part numbers.”