In this webinar, leaders of WrenchWay and Fullbay discuss how the parts and technician shortages are impacting heavy-duty shops, the industry, and more.
The Part Shortage
- 82% of shops reported at least some disruption from the parts shortage in 2021.
- Unfortunately, the parts shortage doesn’t seem to be going away in the next year. Even common resources, such as oil pans are on backorder.
- It’s hard to predict what parts may be in a shortage. One week a part could be in a shortage, and then the next it’s not.
- Shops have to be very careful of the repairs they start due to the parts shortage. Technicians might not know what parts they need until they’re in the car, and then they could be on backorder.
- 45% of shops have had to order outside their normal suppliers in 2021.
Keeping Afloat—Strategies to Survive the Parts Shortage
- If a shop is impacted by rising part prices, don’t be afraid to confidently boost the markup.
- Don’t rip people off. Be ethical and a fair exchange of value with everything going on in the market.
- Maintain strong vendor relationships, but don’t be afraid to go outside normal vendors.
- Constantly give customers updates on what’s going on with the parts shortage and delays.
The Technician Shortage
- 64% of shops said it was more difficult to hire technicians, while 1% said it was easier.
- Due to the shortage, job boards are becoming less effective due to all the opportunities out there.
- At the end of the day, there are not enough people to fill all the roles out there. Shops need to sell themselves to technicians.
- 75% of technicians are currently employed not looking for a new job, but are open to a good career opportunity if one came along.
- We’re at a point now where it is extremely important to enjoy the work environment you are in.
Strategies for Recruiting Technicians
- Don’t rely on one approach to recruit technicians; use multiple approaches (i.e., job boards, social media, referrals, schools, etc.)
- Focus on employer marketing—why is your shop a great place to work?
- Post videos on why technicians love working at the shop, shop tours, how your shop prioritizes training, etc.
- The best recruiting strategy starts with a good retention strategy.
- Video content on social media gets 1200% more shares than text and image content.
