While DVSA data suggests there will be another Autumn/Winter MOT demand peak this year following last years extension related mini-boom, the fleet sector was not part of it in September 2021. According to fleet system provider epyx, there was no substantial jump in the number of fleet MOT tests undertaken during September, despite warnings that deferrals made during the pandemic could lead to massive demand.
Just a few months after Halfords announced that it has entered the B2B software market by making American Tire Distributors Inc. (ATD) the first customer of Halfords’ Avayler proprietary multiple location “service delivery” software, Michael Welch reports that he has been collaborating with Halfords in a bid to find out more about Avayler.
In 2017 Daryl Magowan Snr. hatched the plan for a next-generation tyre warehouse and paperless warehouse management system. By 2019 plans were well underway, with the Magowan’s Tyres team cooperating closely with Mike Allen and the software professionals at Cam. Two years later, both the building and its cutting-edge software system are up and running at the bespoke site just outside Belfast. Tyres & Accessories recently toured the site in order to find out more about the warehouse, its software and the significant efficiencies they offer not only Magowan’s but the wider tyre wholesale business.
Bridgestone has announced that it has developed an integrated TPMS system for its Webfleet predictive tyre maintenance and fleet management system. Designed for heavy commercial vehicles, such as trucks and buses, Webfleet TPMS “utilises sensors that continuously monitor tyre pressure levels and tyre temperature”.
Last year GfK analysts reported that online tyre buying has increased as a consequence of recent lockdowns. Based on the same sources, it has been further predicted that more tyres will be sold online and that the budget tyre sector will benefit the most from the prevailing conditions. In addition, Statista research into online shopping behaviour in the UK shows that British buying habits have changed as a consequence of the pandemic. By February 2021, approximately 75 per cent of UK shoppers said that they have been shopping more online. And a report published in May 2021 found that over 93 per cent of consumers had made a purchase online in the last 30 days. So, we know it is growing in popularity, but is buying tyres online a good idea? Since offline shopping has decreased over the course of time, and as more and more people are turning towards online shopping, Tyres & Accessories took note when retailer Dartford Tyres shares its reasons in favour of buying tyres online.
Exide Technologies has released a new battery finder tool to help guide mechanics through the replacement process. The battery finder focuses on European parc vehicles including hybrid and electric cars as well as light commercial vehicles.
The European Tyre & Rubber Manufacturers’ Association (ETRMA) recently participated in the European Commission (EC) “access to in-vehicle data” workshop. Thanking the EC for the chance to contribute to such a strategic topic for the automotive industry, the ETRMA called on the EC to publish “an ambitious legislative proposal on access to in-vehicle data” in the first quarter of 2022.
A new partnership with DriverReviews gives Hankook Tyre UK a means of supplementing its consumer-facing website with user reviews. The fruits of integrating the DriverReviews platform can already be seen on Hankook’s UK site, and the tyre maker plans to roll out the concept in further markets next year.
Michelin has added the last 60 per cent of leading French tyre e-tailer Allopneus to the 40 per cent stake the leading tyremaker bought in 2015. Michelin now “intends to develop its knowledge of customer behaviour and the purchasing process and thus continue to offer the best possible experience, from online information seeking, right up to tyre fitting”, company representatives wrote in a statement dated 25 August.
Tirebuyer has formed an exclusive partnership with mobile tyre franchisor Tread Connection in order to capitalise on the “explosion” of mobile tyre fitting demand. Tirebuyer will use the Treadsy brand as the identity for its mobile solutions division and over 11,000 existing Tirebuyer brick and mortar install partners as well as more than 80,000 American Tire Distributor customers will be given the opportunity to add a Treadsy van to their business to provide mobile tyre installation services to their own consumers in exclusive geographic territories. Tread Connection’s existing network of franchisees will be integrated with the Treadsy brand and technology that will also be assigned preferred territories within Tirebuyer.com.
A new feature designed to help make fleet tyre payments through TyreServe easier was launched in July – at the same time as the epyx service passes the milestone of 100,000 total tyre sales.
The Outsourcing feature is designed for instances when major fleets that buy fixed cost tyre insurance from a tyre management company find that a tyre need has arisen during a routine garage visit by one of their vehicles.
Goodyear and TyreOps have created a connection to allow fleet, job and inspection data to be synchronised when carrying out work for fleets in a move that stretches across Europe. According to the companies, the connection will allow tyre businesses within the Goodyear network to save up to 50 per cent of admin time when carrying out fleet work and allows TyreOps users to manage assigned Goodyear fleets alongside their existing customers. As well as time savings and efficiency gains, the move is designed to “eliminate the need for double entry of data”.
Vaculug has signed an exclusive five-year agreement with CAM International, which will allow its service partners subscribed to the e-jobsheet tablet app for truck, bus, van, industrial and car fleet work to be integrated with its systems via the TiDaeX platform.
Halfords has entered the B2B software market by making American Tire Distributors Inc. (ATD) the first customer of Halfords’ Avayler proprietary software which streamlines “service delivery for companies that operate in multiple locations.” According to Halfords, the Avayler platform will underpin ATD’s operations, supplying tyres to 80,000 garages across the US. ATD will also be the exclusive provider of the Avayler Mobile platform to the North American automotive market. ATD is one of the largest independent suppliers of tyres in the US replacement market and the part owner of Tirebuyer.com (which was established by blackcircles.com founder Mike Welch). No price details associated with the sale of the Avayler software system to ATD have yet been disclosed.
The Allstar ServicePoint online service maintenance and repair (SMR) portal through is offering fleet tyres in conjunction with Colewood Automotive, which builds and operates a number of tyre retail websites in the UK, partnering with well-known brands such as ASDA, RAC and etyres.
epyx
Michael Welch
Chris Anthony, Tyre Industry Publications Ltd
Bridgestone
Andrea Piacquadio
Exide Technologies
Pixabay; Pexels
Allopneus; Michelin
Tirebuyer.com
epyx
ATD
Fleetcor