New self-service check-in for PSA Group aftermarket locations

12 November 2018

PSA Group has launched a new aftermarket self-reception trial as it looks to simplify the process of booking cars in for routine maintenance.

The trial, taking place at two locations in France, will allow dealership customers to try out a convenient and dematerialised solution to deliver service outside regular dealership hours. This means drivers can drop off and pick up their cars, and book in work, at a time which is easier for them, rather than having to be available during regular working hours.

The new self-service reception kiosks provide customers with a secure option for routine maintenance services, allowing them to pick up or drop off their vehicles 24-hours a day, seven days a week, and make payment online when doing so.

The French manufacturer group says that doing this will free up its customer service providers to spend more time with in-store visitors and attend to those in need of more technical car repairs, which may need estimates and longer discussions than routine servicing.

The project is backed by PSA’s Business Lab, which is designed to detect, test and transform opportunities into marketable products and services for Groupe PSA, including outside its core automotive market. It comes as part of the Business Innovation Hub of this programme, which detects business and technological innovations while promoting interactions with innovative ecosystems worldwide and acting as the main entry point for start-ups.

Anne Abboud, Senior Vice President of PSA Retail, said ′PSA Retail is committed to being a leader and trailblazer for the transformation of automotive distribution. Part of the process to digitalise the aftermarket, Self-Reception is PSA’s latest innovation, developed following the widespread deployment of Video-Check by PSA Retail. Over the next few months, our pilot locations will allow us to gather feedback before we roll out Self-Reception to all PSA Retail outlets.’

The company is looking to streamline its dealer operations, terminating the contract of all Opel and Vauxhall outlets, allowing them to renegotiate terms and slim the network by 1,600 forecourts, as part of its plans to turn around the struggling manufacturer.