By A.J. Hecht and Laura Pitts
The SEMA Show in Las Vegas, this year November 5-8, is the specialty-equipment industry's largest gathering, the best venue to learn about the latest products, services and trends hitting the market, and an opportunity to see first-hand how the aftermarket is continuing to innovate with world-class vehicle builds and displays. (Registration is available online here).
"SEMA is not just a great place; it's THE place for industry leaders to exhibit their products, their brands, learn from each other, and meet in person with current and prospective customers--not just in the American market, but in the global market," said Jeff Carpenter, director and general manager of sales at TCS Technologies.
And according to the exhibitors SEMA News connected with, innovation is happening in every corner of the industry, including the business services segment, which is streamlining the way automotive businesses--from shops and retailers to manufacturers and distributors--are operating.
For Showgoers, shop management software can increase the profitability and efficiency of their aftermarket business. Lucky for attendees, SEMA concentrates the purveyors of these systems in North Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center, providing shop owners a convenient location to find new tools to improve the business side of their operations.
"The North Hall's business service section is a must-see every year, but especially in 2024. The section is packed with vendors who aim to make that easier, from shop management software designed to increase profitability and efficiency to state-of-the-art payments solutions to marketing and legal services," said Katie Russell, director of marketing, aftermarket at Vehlo Shop Management. "This year, there's more to see than ever before as several exciting new vendors have joined the space and others plan to unveil new products and services. The business services section will be an exciting part of any attendee's time at the SEMA Show."
Deion Devenport, Bob Fullerton, Bowdie Hess, Keisha Cepeda and Josh Nail representing Tire Guru at the 2023 SEMA Show.
TCS's Carpenter echoed those sentiments, stating, "If you're looking to move your business forward, [North Hall] is the place to find the right solution for your specific needs."
The team at Shopmonkey, who will also be exhibiting in North Hall, emphasized how the section can help automotive businesses adapt to the changing world around them.
"The Business Services section is where companies like Shopmonkey get to demonstrate how to help shop owners solve their most pressing business challenges," said Tracy Schuster, director, integrated marketing and events at Shopmonkey. "Folks come to SEMA to soak in the spirit of the event and learn how to improve. The Business Services section is a window into what tools these folks can directly apply today to help improve and evolve their automotive businesses."
Shopmonkey's display will offer an up-close look at its software and new shop marketing suite, addressing a long-standing need for its customers, according to the company.
"For too long, shop owners have had to work with too many tools that are far too disconnected. All those minutes spent finding information in different programs, clicking through different windows, etc., add up," Schuster said. "Shops deserve highly specialized tools for things like shop marketing and oil changes, all centralized within their shop management platform."
"Our team will once again be on-site demonstrating the power of our comprehensive shop management platform and shop marketing suite," she added.
Vehlo Shop Management will have a new approach at the 2024 SEMA Show, highlighting new partnerships with established software brands that now fall under one umbrella.
SEMA Show attendees gather around the Shopmonkey booth for a demonstration.
"We're thrilled to debut an innovative approach to shop management at the Vehlo Shop Management booth this year," Russell said. "Shop Boss, Shop-Ware, Protractor and Tire Guru all have long histories and great reputations in the aftermarket. This year, their latest innovations and features will be on full display as they bring their high-performance software solutions together for the first time."
Exhibitor TCS, which offers an online solution geared toward tire and auto service industry businesses, plans to showcase a redesigned integrated Digital Vehicle Inspection app that is customizable to fit almost any workflow. A new "quick-tap" layout will also increase speed and efficiency, alongside updates like QuickBooks Online integration including two-sync between TireWorks HD and QuickBooks Online; the new TCS Inspect 2.0; RT Systems (warehouse management) integration for sales orders, transfer orders, inventory items, retail store replenishment, purchase orders and inventory receipts; better-designed order prompts; part core management and even Michelin BWS integration for dealers to easily access see the quantity available, and price of Michelin and Michelin's wholesale distributor network of brands.
"As we continually improve this offering, our goal is to help tire and auto repair businesses of all sizes effectively run their day-to-day by maximizing opportunity within each customer interaction," TCS' Carpenter said.
In addition, a healthy portion of the exhibit space in North Hall will be dedicated to mobile electronics and the many manufacturers currently serving the aftermarket.
Among the many suppliers already on the 2024 SEMA Show floor plan, Rydeen and Pioneer not only plan on showcasing new product lines and features but also expect to gather valuable feedback from their customers to hone in future plans.
"The mobile electronics and technology category remains robust, continually evolving to meet changing consumer demands," said Phil Maeda, president of Rydeen. "Rydeen recognizes the importance of staying ahead of the curve by actively listening to our dealers and distributors, gathering real-world feedback and addressing customer concerns. By investing in research and development and maintaining a proactive approach to innovation, we see vast potential for growth both for Rydeen and the market segment as a whole."
North Hall is home to the business services and mobile electronics sections of the SEMA Show.
One such area for growth, according to Maeda, is the electric vehicle (EV) market. During the event, the company will debut its new line of Tesla accessories to dealers and distributors, opening up new opportunities for Tesla drivers to customize their vehicles.
"Innovation is thriving across the mobile electronics and technology markets, particularly in response to the increasing number of electric vehicles on the road," Maeda said. "Our industry is adapting by developing products tailored for these vehicles, ensuring seamless integration and offering customers the opportunity to further enhance their driving experience. As customers seek differentiation, there's a continuous push for unique upgrades and sensible solutions to meet their evolving needs."
Pioneer, meanwhile, will highlight another new area of development for the company, as well as the expansion of some of its features to new levels of its product lineup.
"We are unveiling groundbreaking features and technology to enhance the seamless usability of CarPlay and Android Auto," said Sam Paek, director of marketing at Pioneer. "Our primary goal is to elevate safety and address major pain points while creating the ultimate ease of use. Traditionally, these benefits have been featured within our high-end units, but now they are available in mid-level ones as well, offering unique features and functionalities not yet available in the market."
The company is also taking advantage of the creativity of the industry and is partnering with a yet-to-be-revealed custom builder to demonstrate its array of speaker products.
"We're teaming up with a renowned custom builder to showcase the full Pioneer solution alongside another surprise demo truck, ready to turn up the volume with our exceptional selection of speakers," said Paek. "It's time to bring our speakers out of the shadows and into the spotlight where they belong. We're confident that everyone will recognize Pioneer not only as a leader in head units but also as a powerhouse in speaker technology."
Austin Ward and Khrist Hussein representing Shop Boss at the 2023 SEMA Show.
That kind of exposure is invaluable to all companies exhibiting at the SEMA Show, including Vehlo Shop Management.
"Brands that exhibit at the show can connect with [more than] 140,000 attendees who are all industry professionals, making this an excellent event to promote brand awareness, meet with current customers and make a statement," said Russell. "There’s no better event or opportunity to have this kind of exposure in the aftermarket."
Rydeen's Maeda agrees.
"The SEMA Show offers a valuable platform for Rydeen to directly engage with our customers and sales reps all at once," he said. "It's an opportunity to raise awareness among potential business partners who may not have been aware of the opportunities available with our products."
Altogether, the SEMA Show represents an unparalleled opportunity in the specialty-equipment industry for every person and organization involved.
"It's the pinnacle of the aftermarket world," Paek said. "[It's] our equivalent of the Super Bowl, drawing industry insiders and consumers alike. This show is a must-attend event, boasting unparalleled reach and significance within the industry."
Attendee, buyer and media registration for the 2024 SEMA Show has been open at semashow.com/register. Attendees can maximize their ROI by registering early and taking advantage of travel discounts (more details here) and Show badge discounts. Registration is only $60 for qualified attendees who register by Friday, September 27. After, the price will increase to $120 per approved badge. Deadlines and fees for other registration categories can be found at semashow.com/register.