The auto industry is constantly evolving. After all, we’ve seen a significant progression of what’s on the road from the 1908 release of the Ford Model T to the first Tesla Cybertruck hitting the road just over a year ago.
Just as the technological advances in auto manufacturing have been impressive, the technology for maintaining and repairing these vehicles must keep pace. Auto service centers have faced some challenges in keeping up, but fortunately, they have access to some innovative solutions. Here are some of the top challenges faced by automotive service centers and the benefits of using mobile carts to address them.
Challenges Faced by Automotive Service Centers
As long as there are vehicles on the road, there will always be a need for automotive service and repair shops. However, running one of these shops doesn’t come without its challenges. That’s why a large percentage of these businesses fail within the first few years.
According to IMR’s latest survey of independent auto repair shops, some of the top challenges of these businesses include:
- Finding affordable parts
- Finding qualified and responsible technicians
- Staying current with diagnostic updates
- Getting parts on time
- Staying current with technology
- Customer retention
- Keeping overhead costs low
- Ability to compete with larger shops
- Retaining qualified technicians
Different shop sizes tend to experience different challenges. However, many of these issues can be addressed by implementing mobile carts.
What Are Mobile Carts?
Mobile carts are moveable platforms for productivity. These versatile carts can carry any technology, tools, and storage solutions your employees need for greater performance and fewer errors.
Mobile carts offer many power options, such as swappable for fixed power systems and lithium or lead batteries, allowing for full-shift or around-the-clock power. They can also be customized to suit your particular needs, so they are useful and ergonomic.
12 Benefits of Using Mobile Carts in Automotive Service Centers
Just as the auto industry has advanced tremendously over time, so has the technology that goes into servicing and repairing vehicles. At the same time, people who own these vehicles have greater expectations from the service centers they support. Here are some of the benefits of using mobile carts in automotive service centers.
1. Improved Efficiency
With technicians now able to take workstations with them on the shop floor, their efficiency and productivity will massively improve. Instead of having to waste footsteps going back and forth to a central location to get work orders, request parts, or turn in slips, they can do everything from their workspace.
2. Enhanced Organization
Every vehicle is slightly different, with varying manufacturing years and specs. Mobile carts allow fast access to vehicle schematics with part numbers and instructions for service and repairs. This enhanced organization can reduce errors and boost turnaround time.
3. Better Space Optimization
Auto service centers usually have limited space, which often are filled with vehicles, tools, lifts, and parts supplies. In other words, there’s not an abundance of space. Using mobile carts reduces the need to add additional office space or workspace for each bay as your business reaches capacity.
4. Increased Flexibility
A mobile cart can be moved directly next to the vehicle being worked on, eliminating the need to transport parts, tools, or technology across the shop. This also allows technicians to reduce downtime by completing more repairs per shift.
5. Improved Ergonomics
When outfitted and designed properly, a mobile powered cart offers improved ergonomics for service technicians. Instead of having to awkwardly reach or twist to read instructions or access tools, these items can be placed where they make more sense and won’t lead to injuries.
6. Easier Access to Tools
How much time do your techs waste looking for tools, work orders, or vehicle schematics? With a mobile cart sitting right next to the vehicle, all of those items are within easy reach.
7. More Customer Convenience
Having mobile carts in the service bays allows your business to deliver a better overall customer experience. Inputting vehicle details, creating estimates, and processing payments can be done electronically on the spot. Service techs can also quickly communicate with customers during the day to provide updates on service and repairs.
8. Faster Parts Sourcing
One common struggle of many auto service centers is sourcing parts. Mobile carts can give techs instant access to vehicle schematics with corresponding links to parts locations and availability. The faster techs can get parts in hand, the quicker they can turn around orders.
9. Easier Workload Management
Mobile carts enable service technicians to quickly check job assignments and create updates without having to walk to a centralized office or pick up the phone. Having customer and VIN information easily accessible reduces redundancy and makes workload management easier.
10. Better Customer Retention
Using mobile carts can elevate the customer experience by making everything more seamless. For example, customer and VIN information only needs to be inputted once. Technology solutions added to mobile carts also make repairs more accurate and turnarounds faster.
11. Reduced Reliance on Paper
Using mobile carts in automotive service centers allows your business to reduce or eliminate handwritten documentation. Techs no longer have to walk to and from a centralized printer or search through filing cabinets for estimates. This saves paper and ink costs as well as space.
12. More Cost Effective
Buying a computer for each service bay can be more costly than using mobile powered carts that can move between active bays. Another way this technology saves costs is through the reduction in human error and potential space savings.
Mobile carts provide the freedom your business needs to untether employees, boost productivity, and improve the overall customer experience. Unlike stationary desks, mobile workstations can move anywhere in your automotive service center, creating an efficient and comfortable workspace with a small footprint. These workstations are also built to withstand harsh environments and carry the technology and solutions your employees need to get the job done quickly and correctly.
|
Eliminate Costly "Waste" in the Warehouse with Mobile Power |
