As we ease into the new decade, it can be helpful to reflect on the one we’re leaving behind. Some major shifts in the automotive landscape found their roots between 2010 and 2019, and that means some shifts for you, the mobile tool dealer.
The most obvious change was in vehicle technology: battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) are here and they’re on the rise, becoming more common every day. Whether you service light duty or heavy duty shops, these technologies are virtually everywhere - or they will be soon.
With changes in technology come changes in maintenance and repair, and that means new and different types of tools are required. That also means you need to know what to stock on your truck, whether it be tools as simple as insulated hand tools rated for working on BEVs, or tools as complex as the scan tools and apparatus used to calibrate ADAS sensors.
The new decade is sure to bring additional changes, and the pages of Professional Distributor are no exception. You may notice a slight change in our format, and it starts with the issue in your hands.
We poll our readers every year, and every year we receive the same feedback: you want to know more about tools and equipment, and how to sell them. We hear you loud and clear, and we’re giving you more of what you want.
Our new cover story each month will focus on one category of tools or equipment - similar to the Product Training column you’ve seen in the past. This expanded section will provide an in-depth look at the product category, options available, market trends, and - importantly - essential sales advice from mobile tool dealers who have found success selling in that category.
Don’t worry - we know you also enjoy the distributor profiles, and those are not going anywhere. You’ll still find Show Me Your Truck and Tales from the Road in their usual spots, along with the product listings and Products In Focus that you’re used to.
One other change coming to Professional Distributor is the addition of a new contributing editor, Scott Brown, an ASE Master Certified L1 Technician. With over 37 years of industry experience, he has the knowledge to teach us a thing or two about vehicle repair. He’ll be writing the new diagnostic column, Diagnostic Tech. Check out his first article on ADAS sensor calibration (p. 38) and find out what products to stock for this type of service. Brown is also hosting a new podcast series, which you can find at VehicleServicePros.com/podcasts, or on your favorite podcast app.
As the new year - and the new decade - ramps up, there are sure to be more changes to come to the tool selling landscape. We’ll see new technologies, new items to repair, and new products to sell. What changes are you expecting in automotive tools in the new decade, and what is your plan to keep up?
