- General business overheads and technician availability provide the biggest headache for garages
- Gender diversity remains poor, but the industry shows promise with a significantly younger workforce than the national average
- Connected vehicles could lead to greater efficiency levels
Fleet Assist the UK’s leading SMR network management provider, has conducted a nationwide aftermarket survey across its network of over 5,200 garages and over 650 mobile service units to better understand the risks and opportunities ahead.
The survey revealed that 89% of garages indicated that general business overheads and technician availability were the biggest areas of concern to their businesses. Meanwhile the reduction of the work content connected with servicing BEV vehicles was also highlighted as a challenge with garage job volumes needing to increase to counter the loss of chargeable work lost due to BEV work content.
In terms of diversity 80% of garages indicated that more than two thirds of their workforce were men with only one garage saying their workforce breakdown was equal. The sector remains very male dominated workplace highlighting the need to address the skill gap by attracting a more diverse workforce to the industry.
When looking at the age profile of technicians in excess of 70% are aged between 25- and 60-years of age while just over 23% of technicians are up to 24 years of age. When compared to the 9% annual average in this age band according to the Office for National Statistics, this is a positive sign for the aftermarket industry.
The automotive aftermarket remains under pressure to reduce lead times, and the survey resulted in 81% of garages expecting them to remain the same or reduce further. Similarly, 90% responded that repair times would follow a similar pattern.
With the advancement of connected vehicles and wider integration options becoming available there was a general feeling amongst garages that technology will increase efficiency levels (work capacity) whilst reducing time wastage such as work rejections.
In relation to courtesy vehicle provision nearly 50% of respondents said it would stay the same and 21% plan to grow their fleet, while 20% of garage respondents said their mobile fleet would grow to cater for the increased demand by fleets and their drivers.
The survey also revealed a level of concern over the growing number of systems garages are being asked to access which is adding to overhead costs. Meanwhile, garages said they felt confident in accessing ‘OEM Secure Gateways’ but highlighted only when the right diagnostics partner was available which helped confidence rise to 97%.
Finally, when asked about ESG within their garage, 70% of Fleet Assist’s network requested more information, clearly indicating their better understanding of the need to increase levels of sustainability with their business.
“Our survey has provided a wide-ranging insight into the garage industry and has confirmed the multiple challenges they face now and into the future when managing SMR on behalf of fleet drivers,” explained Nikos Kotrozos, Fleet Assist’s supply chain director.
“It is important that we recognise how garages are facing up to these challenges and how we can support them,” explained Kotrozos.
