Where one company is using AI to boost business

Small and medium-sized businesses in the automotive aftermarket are on the brink of a technological revolution, as AI and data analytics promise to transform operations and efficiency, according to an industry leader.

Bryan Funke, chief operating officer at HDA Truck Pride highlighted the untapped potential of AI and data analytics for small and medium-sized businesses during the recent MEMA Aftermarket Suppliers Technology Conference.

He emphasized that many businesses are not fully leveraging these powerful tools, often finding the concepts intimidating.

“At this level, unless you’re a startup business, you have trouble with even data itself. So getting into AI is very daunting,” he said during the session, AI: Already a Reality in the Aftermarket

To demystify AI, Funke stressed the importance of simplifying its concept. It may feel like a big term, that if you haven’t done anything with it by now, then you’ve fallen behind and will never catch up. But AI really has been around for a long time.

“It’s machine learning. It’s things that we’ve been doing from a telematics perspective forever. It’s just got a lot better recently with large language models and [generative] AI capabilities that are out there. It’s not this crazy advanced thing. It’s something you can do simply,” he explained.

Funke noted that his company is taking steps to make AI more accessible by fostering a culture that is literate in generative AI. “We’re trying to figure this thing out — just like everybody else at this level — but what we’re trying to do first is to create a culture that is literate in gen AI.”

And it’s not about getting young people’s head wrapped around the concept.

“It’s everybody. Everybody has to be literate in AI to understand what it does and how it can work,” Funke said. “They may not use it every day, but they need to be literate in it. That’s step No. 1, and that’s where we’re at.”

The company is also identifying areas where AI can fill gaps or streamline repetitive tasks. One such area is education. “Everybody wants to do it, but no one’s got the time. So how do we use AI to make our education tools more effective and help our people use it more effectively?” Funke asked.

On the finance side, AI is being used to process invoicing, payments and credits more efficiently. Funke mentioned that AI tools are also being employed to improve product information management, ensuring data communicates better with other systems without altering supplier data.

Cybersecurity is another critical area where AI can make a significant impact.

“None of us are very good at cybersecurity. Even if we’re really good, we’re still not very good. And AI can help us there,” Funke said.

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