Sara Scullin
Managing Editor
Vesna Brajkovic
Assistant Editor
Stefanie Von Rueden
Assistant Editor
Barry Hoyland
Contributing Editor
EDITOR'S N OTE
The return on investment
for new tool technologies
By Erica Schueller, Editor
Erica@VehicleServicePros.com
PTEN Editorial Advisory Board
Technicians
John Harris,
Brooks-Huff Goodyear, Timonium MD
Eric Moore,
DeMary Trucks, Columbus, OH
Lou Fort,
K.A.R.S. Inc., Huntingburg, IN
Shop Owners
Phil Fournier,
Phil's Auto Clinic, Hemet, CA
JD Goad,
Goad's Body Shop, Lexington, VA
Edwin Hazzard,
Southeast Mobile Tech, Goose Creek, SC
Barry Hoyland,
VSSCA, Camarillo, CA
Pete Rudloff,
Pete’s Garage Inc., Newark, DE
Equipment Manufacturers
Chad Schley,
Schley Products/SP Tools
Jim O’Hara,
Clore Automotive
How do you build a case for your
next shop purchase?
As an independent repair shop business
owner, your large equipment
buys and higher price tag tools
for the shop likely involve a fair amount of
research before you sign off on the purchase.
When making these decisions, how do
you build a case for buying a particular
tool or piece of equipment? While cost is
a considerable factor, making that buying
decision goes much deeper than “How many
times do I need to use 'X' to get my investment
back?”
In addition, you likely gather feedback
from your technicians, shop managers,
service managers and/or other employees
in the shop who will be using the product.
The evaluation will involve comparison
shopping to review all of the options available
in that particular tool category. Not to
mention, testimonials and user feedback can
go a long way in making a sound decision.
You also want to be sure you’re making a
long-term investment in your shop’s future.
Will this equipment last five years? 10 years,
or longer? Is it upgradeable or updatable, or
does it have capabilities to retrofit particular
accessories for adjustments in the future?
(Think tire changers, RRR machines, scan
tools, etc.)
For newer tool technologies on the market,
some of these tool categories are just
emerging for the aftermarket.
When you’re looking to the future, it’s
also important to understand there are some
products that haven’t been on the market
for long – but they’ll still be a value to your
technicians.
Evaluating the need and value of these
products can be challenging, which is why
it’s crucial to stay up-to-date on changing
vehicle technologies, and how those will
affect the products developed due to these
8 PTEN OCTOBER 2017 VehicleServicePros.com
industry changes.
So, what is on the horizon for new products
you may be tooling up for soon?
This month, Contributing Editor Barry
Hoyland provides readers with an indepth
look at the different tool technologies
recently introduced to the aftermarket.
He covers everything from the traditional
and more familiar scan tools and lab scopes,
to digital inspection tools, telematics and
tools for calibrating advanced driver assist
systems (ADAS).
Just like the changes in refrigerants, the
adoption of some of these technologies may
take years before you see them. Others –
like scan tools and lab scopes – are in your
shop already. It’s just a matter of making
sure you’re using those products to their
fullest potential.
To read more about these new tool technologies
in this month’s Tool Briefing,
“How to integrate new tool technologies
into your shop,” turn to page 68. And, as
always, check out other new tools available
now in the New Products section, starting
on page 10.
Check out the
VehicleServicePros.com
online product guide,
which is updated daily with
details on new tools and
equipment. To search, visit:
VehicleServicePros.com/directory
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