Embracing resilience and innovation in the aftermarket
The automotive aftermarket has been urged to ‘raise the bar for the industry’, with the Independent Automotive Aftermarket Federation (IAAF) 2023 Conference centring around the theme ‘The Brilliance of Resilience’, celebrating the constant progression while also looking to overcome future obstacles and embrace opportunities.
The annual conference gathered a record number of industry leaders making it the largest conference in the federation's history.
The conference commenced with heartfelt remarks from IAAF's chief executive, Mark Field, who expressed gratitude towards attendees and headline sponsor Alliance Automotive Group (AAG).
He discussed IAAF’s evolution in 2024, with its striking, new branding on full display throughout the event, while also pointing to future endeavours to continue to support members, particularly with the Right to Repair movement, with more information on IAAF’s plans to follow in 2024.
The conference got into gear with the session, ‘IAAF Lobbying: Finding a Voice in the Corridors of Power,’ whereby Neil Pattemore, IAAF & UK AFCAR technical director, highlighted the importance of the MV-BEO focus and IAAF’s ongoing lobbying efforts. He encouraged continued engagement with the insightful words: "Influence is not just about speaking up; it's about being heard."
During the next session, titled, ‘The IAAF Market Trends Index – A Resilient Aftermarket,’ presented by Quentin Le Hetet from GIPA, the theme of resilience continued, with the discussion turning to the importance of adapting to industry changes, with a clear message: "Resilience isn't just surviving; it's thriving in the face of adversity."
Next up was the highly anticipated keynote speaker, Claire Lomas, with her highly emotive, and hugely popular, talk, ‘Triumph Over Adversity’, where she shared her personal and emotional journey of overcoming challenges after being paralysed in a horse riding accident when she was 27, leaving the audience with a lasting message: "Every setback is a setup for a comeback. Never underestimate the power of perseverance."
Tina Drayson, operations director at CCM was up next, she spoke about the transformative power of data in modern garages in her talk, ‘Business First: Data-Driven Independent Garages’. She emphasised: "Numbers tell a story; understand it, and you control your business' narrative."
Jack Wilson from eBay then addressed the conference in ‘eBay – E-commerce and the Aftermarket,’ focusing on eBay's role in inventory management and fostering business growth through trust and transparency.
In the second keynote speech of the day, ‘Risk vs Reward,’ Nick Leeson, dubbed the ‘rogue trader’ after bankrupting Barings Bank in 1995, discussed balancing risks and rewards. In his captivating talk, he shared some words of wisdom based on his own controversial but insightful experience: "Taking risks is essential, but knowing when to seek guidance is equally crucial."
The importance of cybersecurity was underscored in the first of two panel discussions ‘Staying Cybersafe in the Automotive Aftermarket,’ focusing on strategies for managing online risks and the necessity of cyber awareness.
Before finally, the conference concluded with the panel ‘Benefits of Gender Balance in the Aftermarket,’ hosted by Julia Muir, founder of the growing Automotive 30% Club, once again pushing the message of resilience, highlighting that "Diversity isn't just fair; it's smart business."
Mark Field, CEO of IAAF, had this to say about the event: 'Our 2023 conference has truly set a new benchmark in terms of attendance and impact, highlighting the dynamic and progressive approach of our federation in addressing the challenges and opportunities in our industry.
This progressiveness reflects our collective efforts, and I urge us all to maintain this forward momentum.
Images from the conference can be viewed here and for more information about the IAAF visit https://www.iaaf.co.uk.