AIA’s Automotive Service Associate Program (ASAP) was launched in January of this year and it’s just for you!

This program will provide repair service professionals with many benefits—benefits critical for their business to be successful.

As a Service Provider, when you participate in this program, there is an ample choice of benefits for you to take advantage of: tailored research at the shop level, training events geared to management, technical issues facing repair shops, a national shop finder service, financial services for shop customers, and technical expertise on vehicle reprogramming, among other perks. The program is specifically designed to be inclusive of all aftermarket shops—both mechanical and collision.

Access to services

In addition, you will be able to access other services… financial for instance. Sometimes if your customers can’t pay for the service they need, you, as an ASAP participant, will be able to offer tailored credit plans for them to arrange for easy payments (that service will be coming into the program shortly from Desjardins Financial Services).

If you want to have a web presence but don’t want the cost or the stress, ASAP will give you a free year membership to Garage Finder service—Trouve Ton Garage. This way you can list your shop and what your expertise is so motorists can find you quickly and easily.

You can also take advantage of the aftermarket’s clever human resource website, AutoConnex. Here you can find regional data on compensation, training options, skill requirements, job postings, and more.

Car Care

You know what “Be Car Care Aware” is all about and have likely used it quite often in your shop to educate your customers on the importance of keeping their vehicles regularly serviced and repaired. Be Car Care Aware has also provided resources to help you educate your customers about how regular maintenance ensures they are driving a dependable and safe vehicle.

This is where your customer will get the needed information to understand, plan and maybe even foresee their vehicles’ service and repair requirements before it becomes a necessity. For that information, go to becarcareaware.ca/industry/.

You’ll also be able to access CARS ON DEMAND and their training and skills assessment as well as the Technical Assistance Centre.

AIA has a bunch of research that you could well be interested in, research tailored especially for you, the automotive service provider. As a member of ASAP, you’ll receive a discount on these research products such as a focus on the service advisor role and an update of service shop activity and profit standards. Other products would include the HR Toolkit, Labour Market Studies, Outlook studies, etc.

There’s a video library that you’ll be able to access to see expert videos on training, technical questions and management tips. Discounted admission fares to exclusive training events will apply to you so you can take in management and technical issues you need to know about.

Leading technical experts will also provide you with regular updates on OEM programming issues and solutions.

If your business isn’t doing as well as you would like, the ASAP can likely help. Check it out! Aiacanada/asap.