LKQ, the bodyshop industry’s leading and only complete service provider, has shared a follow up to its recent update on deepening partnerships in 2024, this time centred around frontline insights from its own customers.  

LKQ have been working with bodyshops to help them future-proof their business, focusing in on profit margins against a backdrop of widely reported industry challenges such as the skills shortage, rising operating costs and changing vehicle technologies. 

The LKQ Platinum Parts range – which now includes more than 18,000 parts – is approved by every major UK motor insurer. As well as up-to-date guidance and insight to ensure compliance with work providers’ instructions, through LKQ, bodyshops can access savings data for Platinum vs dealer parts, and use it to increase profitability. 

Owen Drywood, parts advisor at Vehicle Crash Repairs, said: “As Milton Keynes’ largest independent bodyshop, we work with a lot of different work providers with specific parts repair instructions. The LKQ team has supported our business by providing guidance for each individual work provider, ensuring we can order the most cost-effective parts for each job. 

“They’ve always responded to my enquires and orders very promptly, with next or same day delivery on so many parts. It’s truly a bespoke service to our business with tailored reports and support that I’d consider vital for our growth. I feel much more confident knowing that LKQ and the team are looking out for us.”

As well as helping bodyshops drive efficiencies through their choice of wet and dry parts, LKQ is helping them to minimise overheads, including through its dedicated LKQ Academy proposition. 

A first-of-its-kind ‘Sustainability in the Bodyshop’ course has been proven to help bodyshops save up to 95% on carbon emissions and costs, across products, processes and equipment.

After completing the course, John Brown, general manager at BCA’s Doncaster defleet facility, said: “We’ve implemented every suggestion we took away on the day, including removing all single-use plastics, introducing solvent recycling and gun wash machines, and replacing plastic filler spreaders with steel. 

“We’ve also introduced a chemical drying agent so vehicles can air dry, rather than relying on electricity or gas. This means our spray booths are now used for spraying only, so our throughput has gone up as well as our profitability. We’ve seen incredible cost savings and efficiencies since taking the course, creating a cleaner, nicer environment for our teams to work in and reinvesting some of the money saved to buy new tools and create breakout areas.”

Underpinning LKQ’s approach to partnerships is a focus on listening to the specific needs of each of its customers, with a view to driving profitable and sustainable growth in the long term. 

That means offering expertise, innovation and tailored resources to help with everything from maximising throughput and minimising key-to-key times, through to reducing operating costs, enhancing customers’ capabilities – such as training them to work with hybrids and EVs – and opening up new revenue streams such as Intelligent Repair, and strengthening the business’ commitment to being a supportive partner in a changing world. 

David White, owner of Abbey Sprays in Romsey, commented on the recent Level 3 Electric and Hybrid training he completed through the LKQ Academy: “Our focus recently is development within our business and since attending the course we’ve now been able to take on more insurance work. We now meet insurance company criteria to be able to work on the hybrid and EVs that come through them both safely and efficiently.”

It’s a challenging world for bodyshops and LKQ is here to support every bodyshop, no matter its size, drawing on strong relationships with customers to understand what matters most to them.

Jai Coates, parts manager at Auto Fix Buckingham, said of LKQ’s service: “If I ever have a query with LKQ, I know it will be resolved. Working with the business has been incredibly good for us and we’re in constant communication, with the team providing reports to see our savings with LKQ parts and optimise on areas where we may be missing out.” 

Reflecting on customers’ comments on LKQ’s partnership approach, Managing Director of LKQ Bodyshop, Chris O’Rourke, added: “Our customers’ feedback is testament to the strength of our support – both our proposition and the commitment of our people, who are out on the frontline delivering it day-in, day-out. Relationships and partnerships are everything in this business – we’re not here to just sell parts and paint. Since I started in my role, I’ve seen such commitment from the team in nurturing our customer relationships to leverage our brilliance and difference and protect the future of the industry, working to support each bodyshop’s individual needs and helping them to achieve sustainable, profitable growth.”