Jobber News Executive Outlook: Jason Yurchak

Jobber News reached out to leaders in the supply and distribution segment of the automotive aftermarket and asked them what they see happening in the industry over the next 12 months, how the segment can leverage technology, lasting impacts, lessons learned from last year and where success will be found in 2026. We will present their answers in alphabetical order over the coming weeks…

You can view the full feature in our January 2026 issue.

Jason Yurchak, Senior Vice President | Worldpac Canada

The faster we can get products to our customers, the faster they can get it off the hoist, which increases our customers’efficiency.

Last year continued the wave of decreasing consumer confidence in general, partly due to unease in the worldwide political climate. The positive is this resulted in increased travel within Canada, but many shops still struggled to keep their average invoice value at previous levels.

We also saw an increase in the leverage of AI technology, specifically AI, predictive analytics to optimize inventory levels and improve distribution efficiency in several ways. 

Using AI-driven demand forecasting to analyze historical sales data, seasonality, vehicle population trends and market shifts, AI models can predict which parts will be needed, in what quantities, and where. This enables more accurate stocking, reducing both overstock and out-of-stock situations.

The use of predictive analytics for inventory optimization to identify slow-moving and high-turnover items, allowing distributors to adjust inventory levels dynamically. This minimizes excess inventory and associated carrying costs while ensuring high-demand parts are always available.

AI-powered route optimization tools can streamline delivery schedules, reduce transportation costs and improve on-time performance.  The faster we can get products to our customers, the faster they can get it off the hoist, which increases our customers’ efficiency.

In 2026, I see continued uncertainty in the market; the underlying issues have not changed, but by utilizing efficiencies such as AI to ensure we have the products our customers need, where they’re needed, and getting to them on time remains the key to continued success.