Tell us a bit about your business. When were you founded, where are you based and how many people do you employ?
TecAlliance is a provider of data and digital solutions for the independent automotive aftermarket, including commercial vehicles. The company TecDoc was founded in 1994 and introduced the TecDoc Standard to create a uniform data format for the collection, publication and distribution of product information for replacement parts. Over the years, TecAlliance has become the umbrella brand that includes the former companies and brands TecCom, TecDoc, TecRMI / AuDaCon, Headline and JNPSoft.
We have founded numerous subsidiaries in recent years, from Mexico and Russia to Malaysia, India or Dubai – and of course in the UK. Today, more than 750 employees work across our 21 subsidiaries worldwide.
What does the business do?
We support our customers by using data to optimise their daily business and digitise their processes to increase efficiency. For example, the TecDoc Standard has made it possible to clearly and unmistakably define each vehicle type and link it to the associated spare parts. It forms the basis for the TecDoc Catalogue, which includes more than 160,000 vehicle types, 8.2 million sets of product data corresponding to more than 860 brands, 370 million links and 48 product groups.
We offer the TecDoc VIN Catalogue – Truck, which enables easy vehicle lookup using the VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) or numberplate. The user finds the vehicle-specific OE part numbers together with their aftermarket matches and can order the latter. The TecDoc VIN Catalogue – Truck supports workshops and wholesalers in reducing wrong part deliveries and saving costs in the entire supply chain.
How is business? What’s the outlook for the year ahead?
Even before the Covid-19 pandemic, megatrends like connectivity, e-mobility and autonomy posed new challenges for the automotive aftermarket. The pandemic dramatically accelerates the transformation and digitisation and also unveiled new approaches for the future.
We still hold a positive outlook for the year ahead and are projecting growth in all markets, including in the UK. Although the pandemic has certainly impacted demand, we are still seeing resilience within the marketplace.
We accompany and support all market players throughout this challenging time and help them to take advantage of the opportunities that lie in digital transformation – with our data-driven solutions and comprehensive consulting services for effective and efficient business processes.
What are the big issues or technological advances that fill you with positivity?
All players in the aftermarket must be able to access technical information necessary for repairs and maintenance in order to guarantee effective competition. The independent aftermarket increases choice for consumers and keeps the price of repairs and spare parts competitive. However, many OEMs are not adhering to these guidelines and are still limiting the access to technical information. Therefore, we are supporting the international Right to Repair Campaign (R2RC) that aims at maintaining fair competition and fights for free access to technical information.
We collect the latest vehicle and product data, comprehensive repair and maintenance information globally, as well as regional vehicle parc data and market statistics. With standardised data, processes, integrated solutions and comprehensive consulting services, we create an infrastructure for the market participants in the digital aftermarket that makes them more successful in the long term.
Shaun Greasley, general manager
