AI’s Place in Automotive Aftermarket Shops, Part I

Editor’s note: This is the first of a two-part article from the experts at Motorhead Digital on integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into automotive aftermarket shops. It originally appeared in the November 2025 issue of THE SHOP magazine.

There’s a lot that goes into running your automotive aftermarket shop that no one ever sees. Behind the scenes you’re shifting gears between parts orders, paperwork, project updates, customer interactions, team schedules and other back office tasks, and that’s just scratching the surface.

But what if you had an extra pair of hands? That’s exactly what artificial intelligence (AI) can be.

AI’s not just a futuristic concept anymore—it’s a very real technology that’s already working in thousands of shops across the U.S. In fact, the 2025 Ratchet+Wrench Industry Survey found that 61% of independent shops are using AI-powered estimate generators, 59% are using AI in digital vehicle inspections (DVIs) and 52% rely on AI-driven scheduling tools.

From AI-powered diagnostic tools and inventory tracking to better online marketing campaigns, AI is already helping some of the best shops in the industry bring in more business. And remember, AI isn’t about replacing your team. It’s about giving them the support they need to focus on the work they love.

Today, we’re getting under the hood of AI, sharing how it can be the engine that fuels your shop, helping you stay organized and attract more customers than ever before.

PRACTICAL AI USES

If you’re already using shop scheduling software or diagnostic tools in your shop, congratulations! You’re probably already working with AI, as many tool companies have already incorporated the functionality into their diagnostic software, even if it’s not apparent.

That’s the thing—AI is already all around us. The real power comes from putting it to work on the right tasks to make life in your shop as easy as possible.

With that in mind, here are some practical ways AI can make a real difference for your shop:

AI for Content Marketing

Keeping your shop visible online is a full-time job. Thankfully, AI can help you generate engaging social media post ideas, suggest different captions and even schedule content across platforms so you’re consistently connecting with your followers.

But it doesn’t stop there. AI can also assist with blogs, giving you a starting point for guides, how-tos, industry updates, or shop stories that share your expertise with the world.

For online ad campaigns, AI can help target the right audience and test variations to see what works best. This means your ads will reach more of the right people over time without you spending hours manually tweaking campaigns.

PRO TIP: You don’t always have to create new content. AI can be used to repurpose existing content, saving a lot of time. For example, one blog post could be turned into multiple social media posts.

Smarter Troubleshooting

Searching through info on the web or in repair manuals while trying to troubleshoot what’s wrong with a vehicle with modern electronics is time-consuming and energy-draining. Modern AI-driven diagnostic tools can spot patterns in a car’s behavior from a mile away and sometimes pinpoint the exact fix.

This can help less-experienced techs handle complex problems. That way, less time is spent scratching your head and a lot more time is spent turning wrenches and getting projects completed and cars back on the road. For example, Bosch and Snap-on are already incorporating AI into their platforms to provide more comprehensive and efficient diagnostic services.

For those pre-computer classic cars, you can use AI’s deep search feature to save hours scouring the web for the one issue that’s causing you to pull your hair out. With deep search, you can ask AI to act as a master mechanic or, better yet, an ASE Certified Master Technician, explaining the issue that you’re having, and let it find a possible solution for your problem.

Ask the question(s) and come back in 10-20 minutes and you’ll be amazed at what AI will dig up.

PRO TIP: The more accurate information in the prompts that you give AI, the better the results will be. You can also ask follow-up questions to dig deeper into your research.

Effortless Inventory Management

AI-powered inventory systems, integrated with accounting and business management software or point-of-sale (POS) systems, can track parts usage, sales and inventory levels in real-time. They learn what you use most often and predict what you’ll need for upcoming jobs.

For smaller shops with limited storage space or capital, having the right amount of inventory on hand is critical. Carrying too much inventory ties up cash, while low stock levels lead to project delays. AI helps find the perfect balance by analyzing sales data, supplier lead times and project schedules.

AI-driven inventory systems can even automatically place orders for you without you lifting a finger. You’ll never waste time with manual stock counts or delay a job because of a missing part again.

The U.S. Census Bureau’s 2025 data shows nearly 1 in 10 businesses are already using AI in daily operations, and adoption in the automotive industry is running well above that, especially in parts and inventory management.

PRO TIP: Set your AI inventory system to send an alert when stock for popular items drops to a certain level. This way, you can avoid running out of critical parts.

Streamlined scheduling

The back-and-forth of scheduling with prospects or clients can consume a significant amount of your valuable time with texts, emails and phone calls. AI tools let your prospects and customers book appointments online and confirm with a quick text.

This frees you up from multiple phone calls and endless email chains. The result? More time focusing on managing and working on customer projects instead of working the phone.

PRO TIP: To reduce no-shows and save time on follow-ups, set up automated email and text reminders to go out the day before their appointment.

Faster Part Searches

Hunting down a rare part can mean hours—sometimes even days—of digging through forums and online marketplaces. AI-powered deep search scans all those sources at once with just a few clicks.

It can pull results from eBay, Hemmings and most other online sources, such as open car-related forums and resource sites to provide you with the information you need—in some cases, almost instantly.

PRO TIP: Utilize AI’s handy cross-referencing features to find suitable alternatives when the exact parts you need are unavailable.

FUN FACT

The average restoration project is made up of thousands of individual tasks. Consider this: from the initial teardown to the final detailing, there’s a lot to accomplish.

As such, even if AI tools only save you 10% of that time, it still adds up to days of work and effort saved.

Research outlet McKinsey & Company reports productivity gains up to 30% for small businesses using AI. Add that to industry data showing 37-61% adoption of AI-powered shop tools, and it’s clear that these gains are already being realized in real shops.

USING AI TO BUILD SMARTER WEBSITE CONTENT 

Many websites feature endless pages of poorly written text that nobody reads. Web users today want something better—smart content that’s genuinely useful, easy to find and shows your expertise.

AI-driven tools like ChatGPT, Grok, Gemini, Google’s search snippets and voice assistants are getting smarter every day. They don’t just help answer questions like “Where can I find a Mustang restoration expert near me?”

They also decide which shops get recommended based on how your site is structured and the content you provide. By pulling insights from large amounts of information, AI tools help guide visitors to the answers they’re looking for.

For Google and AI search, an essential factor in SEO today is your ability to show your Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness and Trustworthiness (E-E-A-T). Using AI to help you write and properly format great content for your site that conveys these four critical factors is more important than ever when it comes to showing up in the new “Search Everywhere” world that we live in.

Shop owners can also use AI-powered tools to create smart, informative content that can:

• Improve customer engagement by becoming a go-to resource for auto enthusiasts.
• Make complex processes like custom paint jobs, complicated vehicle issues or classic car restorations easier to understand.
• Get seen online more often and draw in the right people without chasing clicks.
• Show off expertise so new customers come to you first.

PRO TIP: Search engines favor websites with clear, helpful content that reads like it was written by a real person. AI and automation tools can provide your shop with a solid starting point but be sure to tweak the content to convey your message in your own voice.

Next time we’ll look at specific AI systems that make sense for aftermarket shops and spell out some common mistakes to avoid.