Independent Repairers
Over the past few years, there has been a steady decrease in the volume and variety of repairs that independent shops have been taking in.
In a research conducted by IMR to understand the challenges faced by Independent repairers, we found a few factors influencing the challenges directly related to manufacturers’ and their authorized Dealers’ monopolistic market strategies.
Repairs are more difficult or unfeasible to perform by the independent repairer due to their inability to access parts, manuals, and diagnostic software and tools.
Challenges Today
Why it matters to you?
Life After Fair Repair
Challenges Today
- You are forced to reject repairs on many brands, negatively impacting the viability of your business.
- A lot of time is wasted in the process of estimations due to lack of accurate spares fitment or pricing.
- You are restricted from accessing special tools and diagnostic equipment needed to diagnose and undertake the repair.
- You do not have access to the necessary training and workforce to undertake repairs, limiting your understanding of complex systems.
- Unlike authorised dealers, you are unable to provide the right customer experience needed to satisfy the customer due to being disadvantaged by the lack of spares, tools, repair procedures and diagnostic equipment needed to undertake repairs.
- You lack the digital infrastructure to manage your customer history, track repair records and generate invoices.
- You are restricted from accessing the manufacturer’s repair manuals.
- Car owners don’t prefer independent garages for insurance repairs due to higher out of pocket expenses leading to loss of revenue for your garage.
Why it matters to you?
- With access to spares, catalogues, repair procedures, special tools, diagnostic equipment and training, you would be in a position to repair cars of any brand leading to higher inflow, more satisfied customers and higher profits, thus improving the viability of your garage.
- Manufacturers and Dealers must now contribute to the training and development needs of the Independent repairers. With training and certification by the manufacturer, car owners will be more confident while dropping off their car at any independent garage.
- With access to digital catalogues, you can procure the right spare based on fitment details and MMVY (Make, Model, Variant and Year).
Life After Fair Repair
- Your time now to procure the right spare parts would substantially decrease.
- You will now be equipped with the right tools and procedures to undertake the repair.
- With the proper training from the manufacturer, you will undertake repairs more confidently.
- You will now participate on a level playing field where you compete with the dealers boosting customer satisfaction.
- With access to repair manuals, diagnostic tools and equipment, you will now be more aware of the repair procedures. You will know precisely when to send the car to the Dealer.
- With the availability of spare parts, you will now take up more volume of repairs and will reduce the repair turnaround time.
- Insurers will more confidently and willingly engage with independent repairers on insurance claim repairs.
- You’ll have to equip your garages with digital garage management software, which helps you to track and maintain an in-depth report of the repair actions. Digital garage management software will boost the productivity of your garage and help you conduct in-warranty services.
- You must match Industry standards by equipping your garage with the right digital tools. This helps the insurers develop a sense of trust with your repair network.
