Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Find your place among the online auto parts cross reference trends

As automotive repair information companies learn more about how consumers navigate the Web and use their Internet connections, they are becoming savvier about making their information more accessible. B2B Internet auto parts cross reference is facing more of a challenge getting mechanics and shop owners to use their sites so you need to stay on top of the trends to get your team on-board with emerging technology.

I recommend: Market Research offers dozens of links to specific areas in the auto industry that provide current reports and important analysis that help you keep up with automotive information resources news and trends. Find in-depth market reports about trends affecting the industry at Automotive Body Repair News.

Stay on top of auto industry information

While you can't spend your whole day reading about what every other automotive company is doing or what latest scheme your competitor has come up with, you need to stay informed about the latest news affecting your industry. Find niche publications that can narrow your focus and regularly feed you with the important news that you need so have each day.

I recommend: Under Hood Service provides blogs and opportunities to share ideas about current market trends with other professionals as well as informative articles and information about important events. Beyond Parts is an auto industry publication that will keep you up on all the news and trends affecting most of the areas that will affect your auto business.

Get involved with automotive information pros

You often can hear about the latest news affecting your industry before it even hits the press from a good gossip. Find ways to interact with your peers and be prepared to give and get important information on news and trends that you've picked up.

I recommend: The Automotive Service Association can keep you informed about news and trends in a number of ways, from putting on events and training at which you meet other business people and gather leads, to sending out email alerts and publishing a magazine. NADA is the National Automobile Dealers Association, an organization that you should participate in to stay on top of the industry news and trends.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Give employees time each day, when you can, to read an industry publication and present regular reports on the automotive industry information that they've found.

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Use automotive information resources to help your auto repair business

It's essential for any auto repair shop to maintain some reference materials. You may know how to change the radiator on a 2006 Dodge, but can you do it on a 1983 Toyota? It's best to be prepared for anything.

I recommend: GlobalSpec is the definitive auto parts cross reference guide. They require registration, but you can then search it for any parts. If you need automotive repair information, check out the Auto Repair Reference Center by EBSCO Publishing. It covers repairs for most makes and models of cars, including domestic and import cars, back through the year 1945. Take a free trial run today.

Attend auto trade shows to get the most recent automotive information

If you're in the automotive industry, it's imperative that you have access to the latest information. A great way to do this is to attend local trade shows. There, you'll be able to interact with other professionals, meet with industry leaders and learn about upcoming products.

I recommend: ExpoCentral.com lists many of the trade shows in the U.S. from themes like alternative fuel vehicles to buses. BizTradeShows.com lists shows by date so that you can easily find when the next show is.

Join a professional organization to access even more car industry resources

By joining a professional organization, you'll be able to network with other professionals in the industry. This often leads to learning things that you wouldn't have known otherwise.

I recommend: The National Automobile Dealers Association is a great organization for dealerships. They will periodically send you an auto market report that details the current research. They also hold training sessions. The Automotive Service Association focuses on auto repair shops and offers publications full of the latest information.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Auto websites can be another great source of auto industry information. Sign up for site newsletters so that they will notify you of any changes.

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The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Keep a copy of an updated auto parts cross reference book

While you might still carry books to cross reference auto parts so that you can use different parts to fix your autos, now you can find electronic versions of the directories and guides that are updated regularly and don't take up shelf room in your offices.

I recommend: Components Engine can help you develop a spare parts catalogue as well as get you hooked into online versions of the cross reference materials you need to operate your repair shop profitably. Use Interstate to easily access links to various parts for their cross-reference catalogues online. Get to places such as Four Seasons, Goodyear and Littlefuse from one site.

Stay informed about market changes with an auto industry report

Whether you are selling cars or repairing them, you need to know what's going on in the market place and with your competitors so that you can prepare for big changes and keep your pricing competitive. Good auto industry information sources will provide you with all the updated information you need for your company.

I recommend: Use Wards Auto to stay abreast of industry news from emerging technology to auto reviews and government regulations. Use Global Auto Industry online to keep up with B2B automotive news. Get annual reports on the industry from this same site.

Tap into the advice you glean from car industry resources

By subscribing to industry magazines and newsletters and regularly visiting websites that provide auto information, you can pick up best practice ideas from experts who write for the publications. While you are keeping up with the news that affects your business, look for ideas to market your company and generate sales leads.

I recommend: Use the special reports and publications in the automotive section of reports put out by the NPD Group. Use Auto Observer to get daily email alerts about news that can make a difference to your business.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Begin using automotive information resources for other ways to build your business such as bringing new training to your team or finding new funding streams. While you're using your resource base, keep your eye out for all they ways you can get the most information from a single source.

Action Steps
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Automotive market report

An automotive market report is a published document that provides researched information regarding the status of a particular segment of the automotive industry. Such reports highlight statistics and offer analysis on the status and future trends of a specific automotive market segment.

I recommend: Learn more about information you can get from an automotive market report dealing with the used car industry at Manheim Consulting.

Auto parts cross reference guide

An auto parts cross reference guide refers to a publication (print, digital or online) that allows users to find a particular automotive part compatible with the vehicle. Guides can be general in nature or deal only with a specific car part like oil filters or fuel pumps.

I recommend: ACDelco provides an extensive online cross reference guide for all the auto parts they manufacture. Chilton provides reference content and resources for the automotive industry.

GlobalSpec

GlobalSpec is a popular and specialized e-publishing, vertical search and information services company that benefits both buyers and sellers. It maintains a proprietary database of both distributor and OEM product catalogs, e-newsletters and a vertical search engine to save time and effort in your research.

I recommend: The GlobalSpec website serves as a valuable automotive resource for finding information on automobile parts, services and equipment.

National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA)

Founded in 1917, the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) is a national trade organization for new car and truck dealerships and serves as a rich resource for automotive information. The organization stays involved with legislative affairs, industry relations, legal affairs, public affairs, dealership services, training programs, information technology and much more. Its publications include the widely used NADA Used Car Guide.

I recommend: Find the NADA publication that offers the information you need at the organization's website.

Automotive Service Association (ASA)

First organized in 1951, the Automotive Service Association (ASA) is a not-for-profit trade organization dedicated to offering education, member services and representation to automotive service business owners and managers.

I recommend: Explore the ASA website for information on legislative actions, automotive tips, employment classifieds, education, training and events.

Employment and Training Administration (ETA)

The Employment and Training Administration (ETA) is a federal agency that falls within the U.S. Department of Labor. It administers job training and worker dislocation programs, unemployment insurance benefits and federal grants related to public employment service programs for states.

I recommend: Learn more about information resources geared towards workers displaced from the automotive industry at the ETA website.