The Automotive Parts Services Group (The Group), which is a merged organization of National Pronto Association and Federated Auto Parts, announced it has been conducting focus groups nationwide to identify and explore its customers’ future training and information needs, and also is working with global partners to provide best-in-class programs and resources.

With support from European partner ADI and its training provider Group Eina, The Group engaged various customer groups, including shop owners and service technicians, in markets around the country. The meetings included top management from Federated and Pronto, representatives from ADI and Group Eina, distributor members and the management team from The Group.

“While we work closely with customers every single day, the focus group settings gave us the opportunity to have in-depth conversations with customers, learn about the challenges they face and identify what we at The Group can do to assist them,” said Bill Maggs, CEO of National Pronto Association and co-CEO of 1Parts, the joint venture with ADI. “Our partners in Europe are delivering state-of-the-art support to their customers and together we are determining how we can adapt many aspects of their efforts to better serve customers here in North America.”

“Being able to meet and spend time with many of our most important constituents, customers and members, along with management from both Pronto and Federated and our European partners, allowed for some insightful exchanges,” added Rusty Bishop, CEO of Federated Auto Parts. “The focus groups gave us a better understanding of customer needs now and in the future, and will help us leverage global resources to successfully meet those needs going forward.”