Despite the prevalence of vehicle manufacturer (VM) derived electronic parts catalogues (EPC), they generally rely on a variety of search methods to identify a replacement part, which for wholesalers and CV workshops servicing and repairing multi-brand fleets, makes the identification process time-consuming, laborious and not cost-effective.
As the number of TecDoc users had increased significantly during the previous few years, in 2010, Jason Meade joined Shaun Greasley, the brand’s then regional manager, to become the UK and Ireland’s full-time technical support representative assisting official data suppliers and catalogue users with a multitude of enquiries from product upload matters, to fine-tuning the most efficient search method in order to identify the most unusual of replacement components or repair time information.
Since the launch of the Intellectual Property Office (IPO) Crime and Enforcement Report 2018 -2019, the already high level of interest and concern on the subject of counterfeit replacement vehicle parts, has become even greater. The problem is complicated further by the increase in the number of customer supplied parts that independent workshops are being asked to fit and the difficulty they face in determining their origin. Amid this gloom there is however some light, as TecAlliance has developed a solution.
TecAlliance is running two free webinars in early September. Warranty claims and parts returns represent a significant cost for the entire automotive aftermarket, which is why suppliers are always looking for ways to improve the process and streamline the procedure.
TecAlliance, known worldwide as a source of vehicle parts-related data, will exhibit its growing portfolio of services and solutions for multiple sectors of the aftermarket at Automechanika Birmingham.
The Independent Automotive Aftermarket Federation (IAAF) has presented the runner-up award for IAAF Service Supplier of the Year 2018 to PACT, the joint venture between eParts and TecAlliance.
TecAlliance has announced a pilot project to enable its official data suppliers to update their product information on a weekly rather than monthly basis. The company is known for the TecDoc electronic replacement parts catalogue. “The relentless globalisation of the industry is putting extra demands on parts brands, particularly for those growing into new sectors or rapidly increasing their product portfolio,” explained Shaun Greasley, TecAlliance’s regional sales director CEE/GB/IE.
Version 3.0 of the TecDoc Catalogue is available in January 2019 in the TecAlliance online shop. The spare parts catalogue is designed to be more user-friendly and intuitive than ever, enabling faster and more precise searches.
Despite the fact that here in the UK and Ireland there is not a culture of changing from summer to winter tyres at the end of the season, tyre related problems do increase during the colder, wetter months. In order to help workshops to be ready to tackle these potential issues, TecAlliance has developed a tyre change checklist that provides optimal support and offers customers maximum transparency. Another important issue is the installation and configuration of tyre pressure monitoring systems (TPMS), for which it now offers even more comprehensive information.
TecAlliance has been active in the fight against product piracy for years. Now, together with subsidiary oneIDentity+, it has established a solution in the fight against counterfeit products – an application that has also found use in other markets.
TecAlliance and Continental have developed a prototype of the first digital voice assistant for vehicle workshops as part of a joint innovation initiative. The innovative voice assistance system supports mechanics during the initial vehicle inspection. The companies are presenting the proof of concept at Automechanika.
TecAlliance will be presenting exciting highlights for the automotive aftermarket at Automechanika 2018 in Frankfurt. “With our innovations, we are concentrating even more on optimising the processes of parts manufacturers, traders and workshops and strengthening the collaboration among them,” emphasises Jürgen Buchert, Managing Director of TecAlliance, at Automechanika. “Our aim is to develop practical and innovative solutions for the digital automotive aftermarket to make day-to-day business easier for our customers. We also want to help them gain access to new target groups and markets,” explained Jürgen Buchert.
MTS Exhausts Systems, distributed in the UK by Opera Automotive, has become the latest company to invest in electronic trading with motor factors as part of its wider plans to grow the brand in the UK automotive aftermarket.
Optimal UK has implemented electronic trading with customers into its business as part of its plans to grow substantially in the automotive aftermarket in the next few years. As a PACT-enabled supplier – the joint electronic trading initiative between eparts & TecAlliance – Optimal UK is currently communicating with distributors electronically, allowing them to make enquiries and place orders.
TecAlliance might be primarily known by many in the trade for its TecDoc electronic parts catalogue and identification system, but the company recently adapted its systems to provide bespoke solutions for German online used tyre retailer Orbix.