Halfords enters B2B software market with launch of Avayler
Car parts and cycling retailer Halfords has entered the B2B software market with the launch of Avayler, a new business that offers the retailer’s proprietary software to streamline service delivery for companies that operate in multiple locations.
Halfords has also signed up American Tire Distributors as the first customer for the business.
The software was developed to manage Halfords’ own garages, mobile vans and retail stores, and brings together systems and services developed inhouse. The retailer said the Avayler Mobile product uses algorithms to calculate the available time slots for the customer according to where the nearest van is located and the parts available. It then uses dynamic pricing to value the slots and there is also the facility for customers to track where the van is and receive notifications and updates.
Halfords has been using the platform for three years and manages over 70,000 services through it per week.
Avayler will be based in the UK but will serve customers internationally.
Graham Stapleton, chief executive of Halfords, said: “We’re proud to be launching Avayler today with ATD as our first client. This is an historic moment for Halfords and another major milestone in our transition to become a market leading motoring services focused business. The Avayler platform has enabled us to optimise our motoring services operations across our stores, garages and mobile vans, reducing operating costs, growing profits and delivering a better customer experience. We’re very excited about the opportunities this platform will create for Halfords in the UK and internationally.”
American Tire Distributors is one of the largest independent suppliers of tyres to the replacement tyre market in North America and is the owner of online tyre retailer Tirebuyer.com. Avayler’s platform will underpin the company’s operations and supply tyres to 80,000 garages across the US. The company will also be the exclusive provider of the Avayler Mobile platform to the North American automotive market.
Stuart Schuette, president and chief executive of American Tire Distributors, said: “At ATD, we’re committed to helping our customers thrive in an evolving industry. We continuously search around the world to bring new technology and capabilities that complement our customers’ businesses. As the trend toward mobile tire installation continues to grow, ATD is looking forward to accelerating access to best-in-class technology for our customers that are interested in entering the mobile tire installation business. We’re excited to partner with Avayler to bring this offering to our tyre retailers.”
