Each week, The Pulse provides insight into the buying, sourcing and brand-loyalty habits of counter personnel and professional technicians. This week, using Babcox Research, we look at the increasing popularity of the Internet for parts ordering purposes. Data comes from the Babcox 2007 Tech Group* Internet Study.

With faster, more secure Internet connections, more repair shops are turning to the World Wide Web for online parts purchases. Data from a recent Tech Group Internet Study shows that technicians and shop owners are continuing to use the web for buying parts. The number of shops ordering parts online took a significant leap from 31 percent in 2003 to 62 percent in 2005. The number is continuing to steadily climb with 67 percent of shops surveyed reporting that they purchased repair parts online in 2007.

Fifty-two percent of those surveyed said they order products over the Internet from their main supplier. The average shop has two Internet connections. In 2007, 87 percent of the shops surveyed said they have an Internet connection in the manager’s office; and 88 percent of shops give their technicians access to the web as well.

* Readers of the Tech Group publications include the subscribers of Brake & Front End, Underhood Service and Import Car magazines.

For more information about Babcox Research, go to: http://www.babcox.com/marketing_research.html.