Canadian Tire Signs Agreement with Costar

Canadian Tire Corporation, Limited has signed a multi-year agreement with Costar Computer Systems to provide automotive shop management software.

Costar’s Windows-based Shop Management System — integrated with other technologies currently being acquired — will provide Canadian Tire’s 476 automotive centres and 5,500 auto bays with world-class automotive functionality and customer-friendly technology.

Upon the new technology’s implementation starting in 2011, customers will begin to see a marked improvement and difference in their automotive service experience.

Canadian Tire detailed some of the customers service developments:

Customers will note easy-to-understand diagrams and pictures of their auto parts, along with installation and repair instructions. Installation and repair instructions can be printed to aid do-it-yourself repair;

Store staff will be able to quickly see information in a truly integrated fashion, from auto part identification to labour times, and ‘how-to-repair’ schematics;

Customers will have their automotive history easily migrated from one location to another, allowing Canadian Tire to service that customer ‘nationally’. Both customer and vehicle history will be able to be forwarded to another store, along with pertinent information to assist the receiving store in welcoming the customer with upfront knowledge of their vehicle issue, forging a stronger customer relationship;

Customers will benefit from significantly advanced systems for preventative maintenance schedules and new appointment scheduling capability.

“Canadian Tire is committed to improving our overall automotive customer experience and we are significantly investing in new infrastructure to achieve this goal,” said Michael Medline, president, Canadian Tire Automotive and Dealer Relations. “Costar is Canada’s leading provider of shop management software and when combined with other technologies, will bring a wealth of new tools and functionality that will allow our automotive employees to deliver a superior customer experience.”