Garage service of the future: Schaeffler and Continental partner in commercial vehicle maintenance

Fleet operators can maximize their operating periods by coordinating driver rest periods with the next garage service appointment. Garages, on the other hand, can tap into new customer groups. The new TruckOn online booking portal by Continental makes this possible – all across Europe. Pictures: Continental and Schaeffler

• Goal of the cooperation agreement: to bring fleets and garages together and drive advances in garage digitalization

• REPXPERT partner garages that register on TruckOn will receive extra points for the bonus program

• Integration plans: In a later phase, TruckOn will offer a filter that allows specific searches for garages that offer Schaeffler brands

The Automotive Aftermarket division at Schaeffler is a new partner of TruckOn, Continental’s digital booking platform for commercial vehicle repairs and services. The companies have launched their long-term collaboration by recommending each other’s programs to their respective garages. REPXPERT garages that register for TruckOn will receive extra points for the REPXPERT bonus program. In the future a filter function will be added that will let fleets search specifically through filters for garages that are REPXPERT partners, thus giving them access to premium Schaeffler brands like LuK, INA and FAG. Each partner has already included a link to the other’s platform. In the long term Schaeffler and Continental even plan to offer a single sign-on so as to facilitate digital garage management for their members. Garages that belong to both online portals will then only have to log in once.

Common goal: digital support for garages
"As a strong partner for garages, we are contributing our REPXPERT service brand to the partnership, and with it our comprehensive knowledge of systems and our technical expertise. Our product brands and repair solutions in OEM quality contribute significantly toward reducing downtimes," says Dr. Robert Felger, President Product Management and Research & Development at Schaeffler Automotive Aftermarket. "Together with Continental, we are preparing garages and fleets for the digital era," says Dr. Felger. Viridiana Chaveron, Head of TruckOn at Continental, adds this: "When they are combined, REPXPERT and TruckOn fulfill the wish of making life easier for our partner garages. To achieve this we exploit the advantages of digitalization. REPXPERT and TruckOn complement one another very well, which is why we are recommending REPXPERT to our partner garages. Here, we want to help garages to strengthen their processes as well as their marketing with digital tools."

Over TruckOn, fleet managers and haulers can book garage services online – quickly and reliably, across country borders or internationally, and around the clock. The services currently include tachograph testing, periodic inspection of trucks and trailers, clutch repair, wheel bearing repair and axle drivetrain repair. Fleet operators can use the platform, free of charge, to readily find garages along their routes. Based on information at TruckOn and evaluations by other users, they can book their services online – reliably and efficiently. TruckOn lets garages tap into new customer groups, digitalize their systems and simplify their processes. In addition, they receive important information in advance to prepare for the booked service appointment.

REPXPERT offers comprehensive services through the agreement
REPXPERT is the only system on the market to fully cover the TecDoc catalog, which is one of the leading cross-manufacturer vehicle and spare part catalogs in the world. Here, garages can find the right spare parts quickly and easily. They also get detailed repair instructions for Schaeffler products. Via the REPXPERT online portal, they also have access to the TecRMI information system, which offers a wide variety of vehicle-specific repair and maintenance information for commercial vehicles. The hotline and technical trainings also help to continually keep garage professionals up-to-date in their technical knowledge. All of this enables them to repair commercial vehicles efficiently and reliably and thereby become a recognized partner of fleets.

TruckOn: new customer groups, simpler processes and information in advance for garages 
"Our new TruckOn platform makes us digital pioneers in the commercial vehicle world, and we are already perceiving great interest by garages and fleets," says Viridiana Chaveron about TruckOn. "We see ourselves not only as a link between garage and fleet but also as support for garages. TruckOn should not only bring customers but also make the work easier. That is what connects us with REPXPERT." Garages that register on TruckOn can offer their repair services with just a few clicks over the new online service and thereby attain better utilization and more customers. The garage can input which brands and services it prefers to work with. The Schaeffler lineup for commercial vehicles includes products and repair solutions for the powertrain (LuK) and for the chassis (FAG). In addition, the services of the REPXPERT brand support garages in their daily work, such as through personal on-site training, and thereby contribute to a business enterprise's professionalism.

About Continental
Continental develops pioneering technologies and services for sustainable and connected mobility of people and their goods. Founded in 1871, the technology company offers safe, efficient, intelligent, and affordable solutions for vehicles, machines, traffic and transportation. In 2018, Continental generated sales of €44.4 billion and currently employs around 245,000 people in 60 countries and markets.