The Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association (AASA) has established a new industry recognition: The Channel Excellence Award. This newest industry honor will be presented by Epicor during the 2019 AASA Vision Conference on Wednesday, April 3, in Dearborn, Michigan.
“The AASA Channel Excellence Award’s goal is to both recognize innovation and to encourage collaboration between suppliers and valued channel partners to drive aftermarket growth,” said Bill Long, AASA president and chief operating officer. “Suppliers are innovators and the drivers of new technologies, but greater achievements are possible when suppliers and channel partners develop new products and new ways of getting the right part to the right place at the right time.”
“As the aftermarket’s premier provider of solutions that drive business growth, Epicor is proud to play a central role in developing and presenting this exciting new award,” said Scott Thompson, senior vice president, automotive and business services, for Epicor. “The Channel Excellence Award stands alone in encouraging and rewarding collaborative initiatives that benefit participants throughout the aftermarket value chain.”
Application details for the AASA Channel Excellence Award are available here https://www.aftermarketsuppliers.org/Channel-Excellence-Award and are due by Tuesday, Jan. 15, 2019. Programs or initiatives launched in the past 18 months are eligible for the award. Entries should detail a collaborative effort between an aftermarket supplier and a down-channel partner, including retailers, distributors, e-tailers, repair facilities, etc. In addition, the program should be innovative and utilize technology, such as data analytics, robotics, artificial intelligence and/or digital business processes.
The goal of the award is to highlight the fact that, through innovation and collaboration, suppliers and channel partners can achieve the following:
- Advance the industry
- Increase sales
- Reduce costs
- Prepare the industry to become more competitive in the new digital world
- Enhance efficiencies
- Support the independent repair community’s ability to compete and service advanced vehicles.
A panel of experts representing aftermarket leaders, AASA and Epicor will select three finalists by Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2019. Each finalist will submit a short video, which will be posted on the AASA and Epicor websites and played at the 2019 AASA Vision Conference on April 3. The winner will be announced at the event.
More information is available at the AASA Channel Excellence Award webpage or by contacting AASA Vice President Chris Gardner at [email protected].
