Learn more, earn more: Attendees of 2008 eForum will profit from new techniques and tools to grow a business

This year's eForum has been designed to help aftermarket insiders keep up with customers' expectations while controlling costs and enhancing revenue, says Scott Luckett, the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association's (AAIA) vice president for technology standards and solutions. Aptly titled, "Learn More, Earn More: Techniques & Tools for Growing Your Business," the conference will feature innovative solutions and technologies that are available to everyone up and down the supply chain.

The 2008 eForum takes place July 14-16 at the Hyatt Regency O'Hare, Chicago, and features expert speakers that include a panel of mid-sized manufacturers, a panel of distributors and a panel of shop operators. According to Luckett, this diverse group of panelists will bring a rich variety of ideas to the conference as well as the experience necessary to help attendees learn which technologies can improve their businesses.

"We have always drawn on the expertise from within the industry to learn how to make the best use of technology in our business," Luckett says. "This year, we've gathered experts from the entire supply chain. Between them there is a wealth of experience and ideas for transforming your business into a top-performer."

Luckett himself will give a keynote address at the conference. Titled "Aftermarket Technology — A Strategy with a Vision," Luckett will address various technology resources in terms business people will understand. This talk will serve as the foundation of the eForum, during which Luckett will report on all of the major standards and technology initiatives underway in the aftermarket and place them firmly in the context of the Aftermarket 2012 strategic plan.

Additional highlights of this year's eForum include "What Are Your Products Doing Online? Protecting Your IP and Managing Your Brand in An Online World," by Sara Bruno and Anthony Lupo of Arent Fox; "Standards-based Technology Success Is Not Just for The Big Guys: Stories of Innovation with Smaller Manufacturers," moderated by Gary Molinaro of Automotive Week/The Greensheet and featuring Cameron Evans of Red Line Oil, Jesse Jones of MAHLE Clevite, Tim Martin of K&N Engineering and Donna Snyder of Deka/East Penn; "Vehicle Telematics — Industry SWOT Analysis," by Derek Kaufman of the C3 Network; "Shop Owners — What Keeps You up at Night?" moderated by Jeff Stankard of Babcox Publications and featuring Jim Dykstra of Dykstra Auto Service, Bruce Eccles of Eccles Auto Service, Mitch Schneider of Schneider Automotive Repair and Tony Zanders of Heritage Auto Repair; and a panel discussion that looks at leading innovators in distribution, moderated by Mike Willins of the Advanstar Automotive Group and featuring Mandy Aguilar of The Parts House, Greg Gardiner of Transamerican Wholesale, Scott O'Toole of Motor State Distribution and Jon Wyly of Arrow Speed Warehouse.

Breakout sessions during the conference will include presentations from vendors, which Luckett says is an industry first for an educational event.

"Some people shy away from featuring presentations from vendors out of concern that they will deliver a commercial from the podium," he says. "But this year, we've embraced the expertise and innovative solutions available from the technology vendors serving the aftermarket and have constructed a format for them to showcase the solutions currently available to manufacturers, suppliers, distributors, retailers and jobbers."

The decision to feature vendors was made, in part, Luckett says, on the desire to have attendees listen, learn and decide what's appropriate for their businesses after hearing experts in the field weigh in on the latest solutions.

"We've done a lot of strategic thinking in recent months about the role technology plays in the current and future states of our industry," Luckett adds. And, when asked to explain his goal for the conference, he answers: "I want to share our assumptions about the future and specific goals for the standards and technology initiatives of the industry. In addition to the data and communication standards that already exist, we need to address aftermarket telematics, service oriented architecture, Web services and data pools."

Luckett also says that he wants to put the idea of standards and technology in terms that resonate with all aftermarket players. To do so, he plans to talk about money, and how everyone attending the conference can sell more product, reduce new product returns and earn more on the product they sell by using the best practices and standards that have been developed for the aftermarket industry.

"For all the talk of standards, it is sometimes surprising how little adoption we have really achieved," Luckett says. "But I feel that we are at a tipping point with the 'encouragement' of some of the large retail and wholesale chains. Suppliers are beginning to invest in a new generation of technology. I'm very encouraged and think the rate of change is accelerating. And that is good news for our industry."

For more information about the 2008 eForum, or to download a registration form, click here.