We are focusing on launching functionality for fleet customers in the commercial vehicles market. The process shall be started from domestic market and neighbouring countries. As the nest step we would like to develop this concept on other important markets - Joanna Król talked to the president of Q-Service Truck chain, Sławomir Rybarczyk.
Joanna Król: Round anniversary is a perfect occasion for planning. What are the aims for the coming years for Q-Service Truck?
Sławomir Rybarczyk, President of the Board of Q-Service Truck and Commercial Director at Inter Cars responsible for truck market: The chain of independent garages Q-Service Truck has built a strong position on Polish market and not only. It has 170 garages in 7 countries and is the biggest chain of independent garages in Europe, specializing in repairs of commercial vehicles.
Current plans of chain development apply to building structures on new markets. We would like the garage chain and Inter Cars to create new elements of synergy in the coming years, by gaining fleet customers, among other things. Following motto “together we can more”, our plan assumes creation of a fleet department. Something like a reception, a bridge connecting fleet transports, their needs of repairs with repair garages. At that point we can build a mechanism which will provide advantages for all the parties involved in the process. On the one hand, transport companies will obtain one reliable partner, who can accept repair orders and realize them on a very high level of quality, no matter on what geographical market such an order will appear. On the other hand, a garage as a beneficiary of orders will be provided continuity of repair orders. And as a result this might bring greater possibilities in planning further development. And I am thinking about investment in knowledge and devices for repairing more and more complicated vehicles.
Are you thinking about strengthening position of Inter Cars as the leader in segment of LKW spare parts. How does this influence the development of Q-Service Truck?
We are talking about two matters here, which should naturally follow one after another. The first of them is our, as a distributor of spare parts, position on the European market. And when talking about the region of Central and Eastern Europe we are leaders, continually strengthening this position. And this aspect is really important for us. Having the position of a market leader, we are able to work out a number of added values, which make independent garages associate under one common brand. Or just cooperate with us independently, also gaining advantages we are offering. Current year will surely be full of hard work taking into consideration development of the chain on foreign markets.
What garages can join the concept of providing services for fleet customers?
Of course we will be basing on garages associated in Q Service Truck chain. For us this is a guarantee of professional and reliable service. In the areas where we currently do not have chain garages to cooperate with, we will be inviting not associated garages, but only those which can meet our quality standards. Fleet services department, as a rule, will have a pan-European character, as we need to follow the routes of transport companies in the segment of commodity and people transportation. Our aim is to be present on all crucial European markets.
What factor can guarantee that Q-Service Truck associates only top quality garages?
Besides the fact that garages have to undergo an admission audit performed by an independent certifying body, it must also have three basic certifications (Wabco, Knorr and Feber). The technology of repairs is developing really fast and expectations towards quality of repairs are also becoming higher and higher. That is why, as Inter Cars group, we bet on our own Technical Trainings Department, where specialized engineers are working with full knowledge on diagnostics of heavy duty vehicles. The training department is a kind of knowledge base where we gather know-how from manufacturers of premium spare parts on repair technology. And which later on, with the help of trainers from our manufacturers, is later passed to all garages which are willing to gain knowledge, also those not associated. I suppose that this process keeps continuity in increasing standards in services, and in turn influences the condition of independent aftermarket.
What in your opinion is the greatest challenge for the coming years?
Surely main trends in motorization are on one hand a challenge, but also a chance for the independent garage. What I mean here are the alternative energy sources, infotainment systems and driverless vehicles. Everything depends on the extent in which the independent market will be able to fit the new reality. Let’s take telematics. It is not only managing the transportation process, but also possibility of remote diagnosis of vehicles. And as a result, possibility of redirecting a vehicle to a garage and passing the information on the need of taking up service activities on a car. It is a technology which provides enormous possibilities of garage development. Provided that it will have access to it. As for today it is still a huge challenge for an independent garage. That is why crucial is close cooperation with the independent automotive sector with non-governmental organizations like SDCM, FIGIEFA, having real influence on legislation in our industry. Association of the independent market in various forms and under various aegis prepares to challenges, makes overcoming difficulties easier. Thanks to this we are building a greater freedom of action, much wider perspectives and much better views for the future.
Looking from the perspective of garages, one can suppose that we will experience consolidation of service market. In relation to more and more difficult access to knowledge, but also the need of investment in more and more expensive specialised devices, only those garages will develop on the market, which will be able to keep the highest level of service and will have possibility (not only financial) to follow the trends and needs of the market.
And what trends in spare parts distribution do you see?
Most of all we have to take into consideration fast changes on the market. We are experiencing the time of dynamic consolidation in various areas. Manufacturers merge creating bigger and bigger organizations. And as regards distributors, the process is similar. Still the European market is much fragmented but surely consolidation process will be going forward. To sum up our current achievements and continuous investments in further development we might plan further expansion on the market, increasing our foothold in it.
What are your wishes to Q-Service Truck for the upcoming 20 years?
First of all I wish dynamic development to all our members of the chain and all our customers. We are living in the times of technological revolution and we need to keep it up with. And what is also important, it has to take place in ourselves. And this is what I wish to you all and also to myself.
