As the UK remains in lockdown, consumers continue to shift online at an ever-increasing rate, with ecommerce sales up 74% last month compared to the same month last year.
Forbes magazine suggests that the pandemic has accelerated ecommerce growth by between four and six years. Unsurprisingly, many traditionally offline industries and companies are now embracing an increasingly online future.
In the automotive industry it’s not just new and used vehicle sales moving online – Fixter, the UK’s first end-to-end online car maintenance service provider, is riding the crest of the digital wave, having reported record year-on-year net revenue growth of 200%.
The UK is the second largest e-commerce market in the world and the reasons behind its
proliferation are clear. With 24/7 accessibility, online shoppers also enjoy the greater levels
of transparency, trust and upfront pricing which ecommerce typically provides. The
automotive industry has begun adapting to this retail trend, with online car sales rising and
many new retailers emerging.
The same pattern is now emerging in car maintenance, as motorists shift to Fixter’s digitally-led service, which makes this aspect of car ownership as easy as ordering a takeaway.
The London-based business with over 500 independent garages in its UK network has
grown rapidly in recent years. So much so that Fixter is now seeking additional investors to
fund its continued growth, including expansion into Europe, as it looks to more than double
its revenues every year over the next five years.
Currently however, another crucial element is being factored in, safety. While many aspects
of normal life have been put on hold, car maintenance is still needed to keep Britain moving.
Now, more than ever, privately owned cars are being used as safe and secure ‘private
transportation bubbles’, often in place of buses and trains. From NHS workers and delivery
drivers, to volunteers and commuting workers who are unable to work from home, keeping
your four-wheeled friend in fine fettle has become even more essential.
In addition to the need for social distancing and the usual demands of modern life, working from home and homeschooling have added new challenges for many. As a result, making a visit to the local garage has become a significant logistical challenge and loss of precious time.
Limvirak Chea, Founder and CEO, Fixter, said: “The pandemic has changed the way in
which people rely on their cars as a COVID-secure safe space. As a result, we have seen a
huge increase in demand for our service.
“Our contact-free, door-to-door service enables car owners to not just keep their car in good working order, but crucially, to protect themselves and those they care about by not making unnecessary journeys.
“The fact that we can also save people time, money and worry in these uncertain times is what is driving us forwards on our mission to keep Britain moving.”
Fixter’s tech-led approach allows car owners to book MOTs, servicing and repairs within
minutes, as well as get an instant quote, using a laptop or smartphone. Now, during the
pandemic, their door-to-door contact-free service, with convenient thirty-minute time slots for delivery and collection and live text updates, customers can spend less time worrying about car admin and focus on the things that matter to them.
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