Rotating electrics 42 www.aftermarketonline.net APRIL 2026 Smart stock management is vital with today’s extensive vehicle parc Autoelectro’s Harnek Bhogal believes that stock management is crucial when it is increasingly improbable for a motor factor to have all the stock it needs for today’s vehicle parc. Autoelectro is feeling the impact of the growing complexity of the vehicle parc. From modern 48V MHEV technology and start/stop systems to commercial vehicles and the ageing population of older models still in daily use, the remanufacturer of starter motors and alternators continues to stock units to cover every enquiry. With the capacity to remanufacture and stock virtually every part number in its portfolio, despite the number consistently increasing and showing no sign of slowing, Autoelectro is supporting motor factors that are finding it increasingly difficult to choose which units to stock in-house. To complicate matters further, there is often more than one starter motor or alternator that can be fitted to the same model, depending on the vehicle’s specifications, such as whether it has start/stop. The motor factors that have the best analytical resources and can use that data will have a competitive advantage. Harnek Bhogal explained: “For motor factors, it’s very difficult because they have a lot of product categories to account for, and they only have limited space. Expecting them to be able to stock everything is unrealistic, but factors that can analyse historical sales data by part number, vehicle application, etc., to identify genuine fast-moving units, as opposed to occasional or one-off sales, will be in a strong position. Rely on quality To cater to the needs and demands of motor factors, Autoelectro can react to changes in the external environment. With no potential for shipping delays or impact from exchange rate fluctuations, it can be relied upon to be on hand to fill gaps and respond when factor stock isn’t available. Harnek continued: “Our UK-based remanufacturing facility means our availability is second-to-none. In the current competitive environment, where a lot of motor factors are competing for the same sale, being able to say yes to every enquiry is worth its weight in gold because it builds trust. Motor factors know that they can rely on us.” Dual stocking for success There is also a compelling case for motor factors to dual-stock rotating brands. While a ‘value’ option may appeal to price-focused customers, relying solely on this range can limit the ability to answer every enquiry. Premium, quality brands, like Autoelectro, offer a wider vehicle parc coverage, excellent product quality and the reassurance that when availability or application accuracy really matters, there is a trusted solution to fall back on. By combining strong data analysis with the right supplier partnerships, motor factors can maximise availability, protect sales and build long-term customer trust. Of course, this in turn benefits the garage sector, as Harnek concluded: “The result for garages is greater availability and more opportunities to give customers options. It should also give workshops confidence that their trusted factor is proactive and ready to adjust accordingly to ensure availability. Ultimately, smart stock management means workshops shouldn’t have to ring around multiple factors to find what they need.” www.autoelectro.co.uk
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