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3 success factors for your online parts shop

Product

June 14, 2021

10 MIN of Reading

It was once a trend, but today it is an extremely consistent reality: online search and online buying are the first points of contact for many businesses established in the B2C model. In the automotive parts business, the reality is no different - on the contrary.

Considering that the aftermarket has been one of the most conservative markets when it comes to adopting digital technologies, we can expect a significant growth potential in the near future.

According to McKinsey's study “The changing aftermarket game - and how automotive suppliers can benefit from arising opportunities”, digital channels will continue to influence customers' search and buying processes in mature markets, but above all in more emerging markets. In automotive parts sales, McKinsey estimates that the weight of e-commerce could grow by 30% by 2035.

For those automotive aftermarket companies that don't have an online presence, launching an online shop represents the first step in digitizing the business. But to be successful, it is essential to have an approach strategy, as suggested by Roland Berger in the study “Online automotive parts sales: the Rise of a New Channel”

3 factors to consider before launching an online shop:

1. CUSTOMERS: What are they looking for? What is their need?

Start by considering whether your company is going to compete in the whole market or to specialize in a specific target, adequating your offer. Faced with a possible saturation of supply, it is wise to consider what is the added value of the new online shop you are about to start.

Defining your target market enables to develop a better strategy and to understand how to be more successful selling parts online, allowing a more structered development plan of the shop itself.

2. PRODUCT: What are the most requested parts?

Here the concern is to focus on the parts with the highest turnover to sell online, depending on demand, but it is also important to understand which parts release the highest margin according to its features.

The logistics issue is strategic in this context, as it is a variable that impacts on the physical size of the packaging (greater or lesser volume for transportation), handling (fragile or not) and the level of service for delivery, among other details that determine the price and customer loyalty.

3. CHANNEL: How to reach the right customers?

As mentioned previously, it is important to know who you are selling to and what are the most requested part numbers, so you can develop your online shop to provide the right services and the best shopping experience (UX).

Tips4y thought about these challenges within its offer, providing the B2C Online Shop, an e-commerce solution for end customers, which allows access to strategic back-office functionalities to create a customized portfolio, automatic pricing and the integration of the customer's offer with different marketing channels.

This innovative and agile solution has a fast implementation process, allowing a fast Go to Market in a fully responsive way, differentiating the approach and providing end customers with an excellent digital shopping experience.

B2C consumers of automotive parts have omnichannel research habits, where they make price comparisons and convenience purchases, so it has become a “must” in this sector to invest in digitizing the business in order to continue to compete in this market in line with current purchasing trends.

Contact us for more information.

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