AI’s Place in Automotive Aftermarket Shops, Part II

Editor’s note: This is the second of a two-part article on integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into automotive aftermarket shops from the experts at Motorhead Digital. It originally ran in the December 2025 issue of THE SHOP magazine. Read Part I here.

Artificial intelligence won’t replace your best workers. But it can assist with locating quality employees.

The key to using AI to find the right person for your shop is asking AI the right questions and being specific about your needs, such as the skill level, special skills, tools required, location and type of employment, for example.

Using Deep Search in ChatGPT is the best way we’ve found to use AI to find new skilled team members searching to fill that needed spot in your shop. AI will search the web, including social media, Reddit, Craigslist and job-wanted sites.

PRO TIP: Be as specific as you can with your AI prompts. The more info you input, the easier it is for AI to narrow down the right candidates for the job and the better results you’ll have.

RECOMMENDED AI SYSTEMS

There are tons of AI tools out there, but some are specifically designed to meet the needs of aftermarket auto shops like yours. Here are a few we recommend looking into that are AI-powered or work well with other AI tools:

• Calendly: Say goodbye to the back-and-forth of scheduling appointments once and for all. Calendly lets customers book a time that works for them, sends automatic reminders and keeps your calendar organized without you lifting a finger.
• ClickUp: A cloud-based project management platform that helps teams plan, organize and track work through customizable tasks, views and collaboration tools.
• Fishbowl Inventory: Never run out of the vital parts you need again. Fishbowl monitors your inventory and predicts what you’ll need for upcoming jobs. The best part? It can even place orders for you automatically.
• Mailchimp: Email might have been fun once upon a time, but as important as it is, we’ve all got better things to do than draft another marketing message. Mailchimp’s AI can help you draft email updates, follow-ups and promotions that sound just like you.
• MECH AI: When a weird engine problem has your technicians stumped, Mech-AI can save the day. It sifts through vehicle data to suggest likely fixes so your team can diagnose and repair cars faster than ever.
• Shopmonkey: This super-handy tool helps you track every job happening in your garage, with an easy way to look at each bay, so nothing gets overlooked.
• Others: AI is built into tools from Bosch and Snap-on.

PRO TIP: Pick the tools that solve the problems you deal with every day to make your job more enjoyable and keep your customers (and crew) happy.

WHAT AI CAN’T REPLACE

Right now, AI is great at handling routine tasks in the automotive industry—drafting emails, creating basic content, confirming appointments, performing predictive maintenance and even searching for parts. That frees up your team to focus on the big-ticket builds and custom projects you actually love.

But, if all the entry-level tasks go to AI, who’s learning the fundamentals? Skipping the basics can leave your shop with gaps in experience that can greatly impact customer satisfaction levels. The shops that thrive in the automotive aftermarket industry are the ones that pair AI with real mentorship, building strong teams and future leaders.

At the end of the day, tools can help, but here’s where people still run the show:

• Hands-on problem solving: Figuring out complex engine quirks or custom suspension setups still takes a sharp eye and plenty of experience.
• Mentorship & training: Teaching new techs how to measure, fab and tweak requires guidance and real-world oversight.
• Customer communications: Explaining options, understanding a client’s vision, responding to customer feedback and earning their trust are tasks that only humans can perform.
• Creative customization: Deciding how a build flows, any fabrication work, the look of a custom paint job, or integrating unique parts takes intuition and judgment AI simply can’t replicate.
• Content & communication: AI can give you some great ideas and a clear place to start, but only you can capture your shop’s personality and write in a voice that sounds like you.

PRO TIP: Schedule time for your team to work on projects without the help of AI; it’ll keep their skills and minds sharp.

COMMON MISTAKES TO AVOID

AI might feel like a quick fix to all your problems, but it isn’t perfect. Here are some risks to keep in mind before implementing it in your shop:

Relying too much on AI

It’s tempting to hand off a repetitive task and assume it’s done. But even the best AI needs a human eye. Make sure a knowledgeable person on your team is always checking the work and making the final call.

Tools that don’t work well together

It’s important to understand that just like auto parts, not all software is compatible. So, before you invest in AI software or software that incorporates AI into its workflow, check that the new tool will work with your existing shop management system or any other software you have in place.

Skip this step, and you could end up with a clunky, frustrating workflow full of manual data entry, mistakes and wasted time—exactly what you’re trying to avoid!

Skipping training

AI tools are only as smart as the people using them. If you skip training you’re not getting your money’s worth. A small investment of time to properly train your team ensures everyone knows how to use the tools correctly.

And when your team knows exactly what it’s doing, you can rest assured you’re safe from excessive mistakes and getting the most out of your investment.

Copyright risks

AI can generate content fast, but it can’t tell what is or isn’t protected by copyrights. Using AI drafts for blogs, ads or social posts without review can accidentally copy someone else’s work.

Always check content for originality and make sure it reflects your shop’s voice; you’re ultimately responsible for what you publish. We recommend that, even if you review and like the AI-generated content, you continually edit it to make it your own.

Not understanding how to create AI prompts

No one can argue that AI is a powerful tool for shops like yours, especially after everything we’ve just learned. Still, AI is only as effective as the prompts you give it, including any follow-up questions you ask.

It’s also essential to tell AI how to act. For example, you can say “Acting as an ASE Certified Master Technician, help me. . ..” Starting the conversation off on the right foot and really thinking about the questions you ask helps this technology dig deeper into the areas you care about.

Spend a little time learning the basics of prompt engineering and experiment with the way you talk to AI so you can find the best ways to get the correct answers you’re looking for.

FAQS

Can AI improve estimates?

Yes. By looking at past jobs, AI can highlight patterns and help you make more accurate, consistent quotes.

Is AI hard to set up?

Many tools are designed to be user-friendly, so you can start using them without having to be a tech wiz.

Will my new AI tech work with my current software?

It depends. Most AI tools are designed to integrate with popular shop management systems, so there’s a good chance it’ll work. That said, there are exceptions, so always double-check compatibility with your current system before making an investment.

Can AI handle ordering parts?

Absolutely! With the proper software, it can track inventory in real time, predict what you’ll need for upcoming jobs and even give you a heads up when stock is low.

Will AI replace office staff?

Definitely not. If you’re trying to use AI to replace your office or parts procurement teams, chances are it won’t end well. Humans are still needed for a lot of tasks. Instead, AI works best as a tool to help your team work smarter and faster, allowing them to focus their energy on important tasks and accomplish more in the same amount of time.

KEY TAKEAWAY

AI isn’t here to take over your shop—it’s here to help you work smarter, not harder. From speeding up diagnostics and inventory tracking to improving scheduling, marketing and parts searches, the right tools can save time and reduce repetitive work.

But the human touch still matters. Mentorship, hands-on problem solving, customer relationships and creative decisions can’t be replaced by software. The shops that thrive are the ones that balance AI with skilled, experienced teams.

Start small, find the tools that fit your shop and use them to make daily operations easier.

Oh, and a final note from the author: this article was not written with AI, but AI did help us with some research that we then validated as fact.