Services

PROJECTA TECH SUPPORT MAKES DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION

Projecta has established a fast-growing online community: Projecta Switched on Tech Talk

With a dedicated team of four product experts in its Technical Support Department, Projecta says it is ready to help should customers need further explanation or assistance with a product. One of the team members, Benny, has also recently transitioned to video as the brand explores new ways to support owners. A 15-year veteran of Projecta, Benny lives and breathes the industry he works in, having rotated through the company’s production, manufacturing and design departments before finding his calling in tech support. “As a child I was interested in becoming a teacher but never did – I really enjoy helping people and showing them how to do things. I get to do this in my current role at Projecta which I really enjoy,” Benny said. Benny isn’t joking when he says this, you see – after officially clocking off from work at around 5.00pm, he would then happily spend his evenings on caravanning, RV and four-wheel-drive internet forums, sharing his technical knowledge with others on-line. Given the time it was taking Benny and other tech team members to navigate the many online forums, Projecta decided to establish its own forum. ‘Projecta Switched on Tech Talk’ is a private Facebook group that has already grown to around 3,000 members. In starting the group, it was Projecta’s goal to create an engaging and educational platform where owners and prospective customers could access general product information and technical support advice at the one convenient location. What they ended up with could now be described as a community, eager to help each other and share their Projecta-powered projects with the group. As well as encouraging a two-way communication channel between Benny and the other Projecta technical gurus, the group regularly posts videos covering product features and benefits, installation tips, troubleshooting recommendations and more. Benny said that the technical nature of some of the Projecta range, as well as the fact that many owners opt for DIY installations, meant that inevitably users had plenty of questions they wanted answered. “The user demographic for Switched On Tech Talk is split to around 80 percent for caravan and RV support, with the remainder of the audience being equipment dealers or RV manufacturers,” Benny said. If you are a current or prospective Projecta owner and wish to learn more about the brand’s online technical support and educational resources, search for ‘Projecta Switched On Tech Talk’ on Facebook. Alternatively, Benny’s videos can also be seen on the Projecta Australia YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/user/ProjectaAustralia For more from Projecta, visit www.projecta.com.au

TIPS FOR TAMING INFLATION IN AUTO PARTS DELIVERY

Delivery transport is a top five cost of doing business for many auto parts companies

Inflation is squeezing margins for many businesses, making it a good time for auto parts firms to analyse their major expenditure areas – and one area which often needs attention is the delivery transport function, according to Ontime Delivery Solutions Chief Executive Walter Scremin. The current inflation rate, at just over five percent, tells only part of the story – many businesses have had to negotiate much steeper rises in costs due to supply chain disruptions and labour shortages. And it’s not likely to get easier according to the Reserve Bank of Australia’s Governor, Philip Lowe, with the RBA forecasting inflation to peak at around seven percent later this year. “Much of the inflation we are seeing is beyond our control. But there are things within the control of auto parts delivery companies which can be looked at,” Walter said. Walter says delivery transport is a top five cost of doing business for many auto parts companies, which rely on deliveries for their existence. “Transport has remained a top five cost even with the many efficiency improvements which have been delivered over recent decades,” Walter said. “But if you don’t analyse your delivery transport function, there is potential for transport to become a top three or four business cost. It can really run away from you and there are many ‘hidden’ costs involved.” Walter says some common cost areas which can balloon out of control include in-house delivery fleets. “There has been a trend toward in-house fleets as companies become fed up with other options. But in-house fleets introduce many large fixed costs to your business,” Walter said. “High performing delivery fleets have flexibility. They can scale up to meet peak demands without having to break the bank. Likewise, they can scale down and reduce costs when business demand drops off. “In-house fleets can find this flexibility a challenge. Having an outsourced component to make the delivery function leaner and more responsive is usually beneficial.” Another big challenge with delivery fleets are the hidden costs which mount up – things like unexpected repairs or breakdowns, increases in insurance premiums, and vehicles which aren’t being used to their optimum. “Finding and controlling these hidden costs is challenging, but there are steps you can take to unearth these hidden costs and monitor them so they stay under control,” Walter said. “There are various tech tools available which allow you to do a really thorough fleet audit on costs. At Ontime we’ve seen many companies bring costs down by first bringing them out in the open.” Walter said technology can also help counter inflationary issues such as high fuel costs. “Delivery fleets can use telematics tracking technology to become more efficient. A more efficient fleet will use less fuel,” Walter said. By keeping hard-to-pin-down areas such as delivery transport under control, Walter says auto parts companies can give themselves a better chance of minimising inflation’s impact on their business. For more information, contact Walter at wscremin@ontimegroup.com.au or visit www.ontimegroup.com.au