The automotive aftermarket is being reshaped by technology. Think back a decade and today’s commonplace service issues like reprogramming, recalibration and ADAS issues weren’t even on the radar (excuse the pun). For shop owners, deciding which innovations to invest in can be daunting. That’s why Kathleen Callahan, owner of Xpertech Auto Repair in Englewood, Fla., and Bernard Tansey, co-founder and COO of Euro Clinic in Santa Clara, Calif., use AAPEX to cut through the noise and make smarter decisions about what their shops really need.

“I would say what we’re really actively working a lot on is flashing and reprogramming,” Callahan says. “All the ECUs and keys are starting to be a little bit more. I would love to see more ADAS calibration. I have the capability, but the clients don’t seem to fully understand how important that is for their safety.”

Tansey sees the same evolution from his bays. “These cars are a rolling computer,” he says. “Sometimes I’ll just put in the same coding that was in the module and it just refreshes the module, wakes it back up, and all of a sudden everything starts working again.”

For both, AAPEX provides the live, hands-on experience that turns curiosity into clarity. “It’s great for shop owners that are on that cusp of maybe getting into that realm,” Tansey explains. “You might have two managers standing there rubbing shoulders going, ‘Hey, we need this. Look how they’re able to do this.’ To see it live in front of you really helps make a decision.”

Prior Planning Prevents…You Know

Callahan agrees and goes in with a deliberate plan. “Before I head to AAPEX, I ask my staff, what are we turning away?” she says. “Do I need to take a look and see what that investment is going to look like? What business am I silently losing because I don’t have the technology in the building?”

Both stress that pacing matters. “I never recommend that a shop owner go in, find brand-new technology, and pull the trigger right away,” Callahan advises. “If you’re not seeing it, ask questions, get education, and go home and think about it. If you invest in a piece of technology that you’re not going to touch for two and a half years, you’re just kissing money away.”

For shop owners looking to future-proof their business, AAPEX is more than a trade show—it’s a proving ground. As Tansey puts it, “You’re there to see where the technology is going and decide if your shop aligns with that.”

Watch the video for all of the aftermarket and AAPEX insight.