Vendor Affinity Program Spotlight: PartsTrader

by Chasidy Rae Sisk

It’s impossible to repair a vehicle without the parts necessary to do so, but over the past couple of years, sourcing parts has become increasingly challenging – between intermittent shortages, delivery issues and inflation leading to increased costs, it can be difficult to know where to find the best parts for one’s business.

PartsTrader sets out to alleviate those burdens by providing a single marketplace where repairers can easily locate and acquire the parts they need.

“PartsTrader is an online real-time marketplace that connects suppliers, insurers and repairers in the collision repair industry to help them find parts for vehicles,” explains PartsTrader Chief Industry Relations Officer Greg Horn. “PartsTrader provides dynamic pricing and availability for parts in real-time, unlike other systems that use static catalog pricing databases. PartsTrader allows suppliers to compete for business, which ensures that repairers have access to the best options. The marketplace is fully integrated with estimating platforms, allowing for ease of use, and supports all part types, plus we provide information to help repairers purchase the right part for the vehicle, including quality and delivery details. Repairers can enter an estimate into our system and quickly receive competitive quotes for each part, without having to switch between platforms. They can also purchase parts directly through the platform.”

Founded in Wellington, New Zealand in 2004, PartsTrader expanded into the US in 2010 when “an opportunity arose to partner with the largest automobile insurer in the United States and provide a parts procurement process that didn’t favor any one party over any other,” according to Horn. Now, the company operates globally, supporting over 15,000 repairers and suppliers. “We have grown to provide customers with an easy-to-use online marketplace that allows collision repairers to source parts from leading Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) dealers, parts recyclers and alternative parts suppliers.”

Although shops have options for parts acquisition, PartsTrader is the “only competitive-based, online marketplace [where] suppliers actively bid for a shop’s business by offering the best combination of part quality, availability and price,” Horn says. It not only helps locate parts; it helps get the best possible price, and therefore, the shop can maximize their profit. 

PartsTrader serves the New England market by leveraging an extensive network of suppliers and repairers across the region. “We offer a streamlined platform that connects repairers with multiple suppliers, ensuring that they get the best possible parts at competitive prices,” Horn promises. “Our commitment to transparency, efficiency and customer satisfaction means that we actively engage with local suppliers to maintain a high standard of service, tailored to the unique needs of the New England market. We also have a dedicated customer success team that understands the specific challenges of the region and is ready to assist repairers and suppliers with any issues or inquiries.”

The company recently came on board with the Alliance’s Vendor Affinity Program as a Platinum-level sponsor because both organizations share a common goal: “to empower collision repairers and ensure they have the tools and resources needed to succeed in an increasingly competitive industry,” Horn stresses. “By partnering with AASP/MA, we can better support repairers in Massachusetts by offering them access to our platform, simplifying the parts procurement process and helping them maintain high margins, high repair quality and great customer satisfaction.”

Thanks to this partnership, PartsTrader has already “seen increased collaboration with local collision shops, a deeper understanding of the specific challenges faced by repairers in Massachusetts and the ability to contribute to discussions and initiatives that benefit the entire industry. Looking ahead, we anticipate even stronger relationships with repairers, more tailored solutions that meet the unique needs of the New England market and a positive impact on the overall efficiency and profitability of our partner shops,” Horn predicts. 

Want more? Check out the October 2024 issue of New England Automotive Report!