Suppliers looking at tomorrow’s technology impact today

A panel discussion from the AASA 2017 Technology Conference.

With plenty of change on tap in the automotive aftermarket, the Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association has announced a keynote speaker to address the issues facing the industry going forward for its upcoming conference.

Paul Golata, senior technology specialist at Mouser Electronics – a Texas-based electronic components distributor – will speak about how the aftermarket needs to prepare in order to deal with the rapid pace of technological changes, and the ramifications that will follow, at the 2018 AASA Technology Conference in Clearwater, Fla. From Sept. 30-Oct. 2

A panel will look at the new aftermarket supplier, from telematics to predictive analytics and all things digital, while another session will look at the transition from hard parts suppliers to smart parts. Aftermarket suppliers will also hear about threats from cybercrime from Special Agent Andrew Sekela of the Federal Bureau of Investigations. Breakout sessions will also focus on heavy duty, marketing and information technology.

There will also be live technology demonstrations from Carquest, which will showcase technician training through a gaming interface; virtual reality and new axel technology from Dana, telematics demonstrations from Innova Technologies and more.

An augmented reality demonstration during the AASA 2017 Technology Conference.

Data/catalogue managers, information technology engineers, product managers and marketing teams from warehouse distributors, retailers and technology and service providers are expected to attend the event.

New event

A new breed of aftermarket suppliers is growing – providers of telematics, predictive analytics, mobile apps, dongles, sensors, smart parts, and so on. So the AASA has added the Aftermarket Mobility Innovation event to its calendar to help understand the business interests of mobility and technology suppliers to the automotive aftermarket.

Sessions include understanding the new aftermarket supplier, the transition from hard parts to smart parts and a debate on just how much longer the OBDII port will last.

The one-day event will run Oct. 3 – the day after the Technology Conference – and it open to all industry players.

Registration information for both events is available at aasatech.com