Speedier Service as Tire Shops Switch From Desktop to Mobile

People working in the automotive parts and service industry often need to be able to get information on the go. They may be looking at a customer’s car in the parking lot one minute and checking shelves in the stockroom the next.

In each case, they need to have digital tools and information at hand. For that and other reasons, the desktop computers and sales counters that have long been seen at tire shops are giving way to smartphones, tablets and staffers who are free to walk around.

For example, to meet the changing preferences among its dealers, tire manufacturer Continental announced in June that it is rolling out a mobile app to complement its browser-based online dealer portal called ContiOnlineContact (COC). The new app enables dealers to see product information, tire availability, orders and status updates.

“In the past years, we have witnessed a significant increase in the use of mobile devices also amongst Continental tire dealers,” Claudio Toldi, head of eBusiness EMEA Replacement Tires at Continental, said in a press release. “With our new COC Mobile app, they can now conduct their business from the palm of their hands.”

Now available in Sweden and Turkey, and soon to be launched in the rest of Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA), the app is meant to provide dealers with another convenient channel that will meet their business needs, Continental said.

While the online portal has been in use for 25 years, the new app is meant to cater to those who prefer mobile devices to desktop computers.

Breaking Down Barriers

Similarly, TireConnect’s range of offerings for tire retailers includes in-store tire sales solutions that can be used on a smartphone, tablet, kiosk or computer.

The company says on its website that these enable staffers to save time when providing tire quotes and to create tire quotes anywhere, on any device. They also make the experience of buying tires less intimidating and promote transparency and trust with customers, TireConnect said.

Like the rest of retail landscape, the tire shop is changing, with consumers asking more questions, doing more research in advance and making more informed purchase decisions, TireConnect said.

“How can tire retailers keep up with this shift, and better yet, use it to their advantage?” the company said. “Successful tire retailers of all sizes are breaking down barriers, like the sales counter, and providing customers with a more collaborative, visual and empowering in-store experience.”

Improving Speed, Accuracy

Another challenge faced by tire dealers is quickly and accurately assessing a customer’s existing tires and then finding the correct replacements.

For this, Anyline offers a tire scanning solution that tire store staffers can use to determine a tire’s size, specifications, age and whether it’s the subject of a recall. This technology speeds the process and improves accuracy, Lukas Kinigadner, CEO and co-founder of Anyline, told PYMNTS in a May interview.

Read more: Product Knowledge Gives Consumers Confidence to Buy Online

The product is offered to enterprises as software-as-a-service (SaaS) on a yearly subscription basis, and it can be integrated into employees’ camera-enabled devices.