From the Magazine: From noise to navigation

Finishing the year strong and starting 2026 smarter

The end of the year has a way of forcing honesty. Between closing reports, forecasting meetings, and the flurry of next-year conversations, it becomes clear which efforts created real traction and which simply created activity.

The automotive aftermarket has never lacked energy. But in 2025, the difference between progress and motion became impossible to ignore. This was a year that tested strategy. Tariffs created financial headwinds. Technology promises came faster than operational capacity. Supply chain predictability gave way to constant recalibration.

And yet, for many in the aftermarket, this year wasn’t defined by external pressures. It was defined by how organizations chose to respond to them.

The companies that emerged stronger weren’t necessarily the ones that moved fastest. They were the ones that stayed aligned and paused long enough to connect the dots between decisions. They understood that resilience doesn’t come from reacting to disruption. It comes from being rooted in a clear direction when everything around you starts to shift.

Taking stock beyond the balance sheet

Year-end reflection often starts with numbers: Revenue, margin, growth rate, customer count. But what if the more important audit is strategic rather than financial?

Ask yourself:

• Were our big initiatives tied to a clear strategy or driven by urgency?
• Did our teams spend more time reacting to change than shaping it?
• Are we still aligned on who we serve and how we deliver value?

The most successful leaders this year all share one mindset. They measure progress not by how many projects they launched but by how much clarity they gained. Reflection is not a pause in growth; it is the process that makes growth intentional.

And yet, for many in the aftermarket, this year wasn’t defined by external pressures. It was defined by how organizations chose to respond to them.

What actually mattered

Every year brings its wave of buzzwords and 2025 was no exception. Artificial intelligence, data platforms and EV readiness are each promised to redefine the future. Some of that promise is real, but the results have been uneven.

What quietly separated the hype from the progress were the fundamentals. Teams that focused on clean data instead of chasing dashboards. Distributors who prioritized stronger partnerships over one-off campaigns. Companies that spent time building cross-functional trust instead of just new technology stacks.

While others chased the latest platform, the most effective players doubled down on purpose. They knew that real transformation isn’t about tools. It’s about alignment.

Positioning for 2026

The beginning of a new year often feels like a blank slate. In reality, it should be an acceleration point. What you carry forward from this year, your systems, your people, your decision-making discipline, sets the tone for everything that follows.

2026 will reward focus. The companies that win won’t necessarily have the biggest budgets or the newest technology. It’ll be the ones that know what to say no to. They’ll set sharper priorities, link marketing and operations more tightly, and invest in leaders who can translate strategy into action across departments.

Use the first quarter not to sprint blindly, but to refine direction. Progress in the aftermarket has always come from those who balance speed with substance.

Use the first quarter not to sprint blindly, but to refine direction. Progress in the aftermarket has always come from those who balance speed with substance.

Progress over perception

As this year closes, it’s worth remembering that perception fades quickly, but progress compounds quietly. The industry doesn’t need more noise; it needs more navigation.

Beyond the hype, what will truly matter in 2026 is clarity of purpose, confidence in execution, and the discipline to keep both in sync.

When the noise dies down, what will your business still stand for?

Meagan Moody is the founder of The Moody Blueprint, a strategy and business development consultancy focused on the automotive aftermarket. With over 15 years of experience — including executive leadership at a global supplier — she brings a practical, growth-minded approach to helping distributors and manufacturers stay ahead of change.

This article originally appeared in the November 2025 issue of Jobber News