For a long time limitations existed in Canada for those seeking to up their aftermarket business management game. Simply put, they often had to get that upgrading in U.S. That is about to change.

A new Aftermarket Management Program is poised to launch at the Automotive Business School of Canada (ABSC) that promises to bring made-in-Canada business management learning to managers and owners to Canada.

Jason Dale. Executive Director of the Automotive Business School of Canada, based at Barrie, Ontario’s Georgian College, says the time is right.

“Over the course of the last my six years at the college we’re looking at the aftermarket industry and we’re saying, how can we help and how can we how can we collaborate more together? So we have designed and developed the one and only aftermarket management program, and it’s geared towards entry to mid-level managers that really want to step up their game and really want to learn a little bit more about the business that they’re in.”

Designed with flexible delivery comprising seven courses the program leaves successful participants with a five-year strategic plan.  

The launch of the Aftermarket Management Program builds on decades of training provided through the college, and expands on an aftermarket commitment that goes back decades, said Dale speaking on The Great Canadian Aftermarket Podcast.

“We were actually designed by Industry, for industry in 1985. Over those 35 years we’ve evolved. We’ve brought in JF Champagne from the Aftermarket Industries Association of Canada  as one of our board members. And really, I’ve been working very closely with him to seek out the needs of the aftermarket.”

The ABSC offers  undergrad programs: a two year automotive business diploma, and a four year automotive business degree. Dale says that the aftermarket industry has become an increasingly important part of the ABSC.

“Typically, 10 years ago we would see most of our students graduate and go into the OEMs or go into a dealership. But now because of the co-op opportunities that the students have within the aftermarket industry, they’re recognizing a whole other area which is a huge part of Canada and our business in automotive. They’re actually enjoying the aftermarket and want to be more involved.”

Driven by this increasing interest and connection to the aftermarket, the ABSC went to work on a dedicated Aftermarket Program. A key consideration was being to provide aftermarket education that was drawn from the Canadian experience.

“Our full-time faculty members really took a deep dive and worked with industry professionals to capture more Canadian data, Canadian benchmarks also the Canadian legislation when it comes to servicing and repairing vehicles. And while working with those industry professionals, we really developed a core set of courses. So the aftermarket professionals that come into this program are going to learn a lot about aftermarket fundamentals, customer experience, customer service, marketing techniques, and really look at how we’re doing it in Canada and not how we’re doing it in the United States.”

Dale says that the most noticeable consideration is in Canadian benchmarks.

“When you compare yourself to the United States, you’re comparing yourself to a much larger area. And that area also is very different. And when we look at our our sales per demographic, or our sales per geographic we do a lot of different things in Canada than they do in the United States.”

And, he adds, weather differences play a significant role in shaping aftermarket industry metrics.

“We’re a huge industry across Canada, and let’s use those industry benchmarks, and we can even narrow them down into provincial benchmarks if that’s what the student would prefer.”

Those deep dives have resulted in an aftermarket program that is designed to work with the realities of Canadian aftermarket professionals.

“This is a 12-month program. The aftermarket management again geared towards that entry to mid-level manager that wants to either aspire to be an owner president, etcetera. It is based on seven courses. The requirement is for the student to be onsite in Barrie for three days.  And then it would be six-week distance learning where we have the student go out and do projects and presentations and analyze their business and bring it back to the faculty members. And you’ll do six of those. And then the finally, the seventh course is what we call a capstone course or a strategic action plan course. And that’s really building your five-year business plan.”

He believes that having a homegrown Aftermarket Program will pay real dividends for professionals from any sector of the aftermarket.

“A lot of the students in the auto industry come up through working in the industry; they work their way up. And sometimes they need that extra little bit of education or that little bit of assistance and guidance on how to further expand, how to look at their business. And that’s what we really want to get through to the aftermarket industry professionals: let’s work on the business as well. Let’s not just work in the business. Let’s find all those areas of opportunity that can present growth and also customer experience.”

The ABSC Aftermarket Program is poised to launch in Spring of 2024.

For more information about the Aftermarket Management Program CLICK HERE

Listen to the full podcast here