Our exhibition season 2024 in Asia Pacific started with IAAE – International Auto Aftermarket Expo – in Tokyo, Japan. As the one & only automotive aftermarket trade show in Japan, despite its relatively smaller size, the show is growing fast in scale and popularity, with an increased number of exhibitors and visitors this year, especially from overseas. From March 5 to 7, together with other major Japanese auto parts manufacturers and distributors, we exhibited at IAAE with our own individual booth for the first time, a chance that allowed us to observe the market and pivot our focus to what’s needed most in Japan.
Motoki Hirata, Managing Director Japan at TecAlliance, expressed his thoughts, stating, “I felt the necessity to attend this show, because it offers a good opportunity for us to know and feel how Japanese aftermarket moves. TecAlliance has participated in IAAE for many years, but this is the first time that we join with a dedicated booth, so we made it count.”
Throughout the three-day exhibition, our booth welcomed over 450 visitors, many of whom were drawn by positive word-of-mouth referrals regarding our name and services. We showcased our extensive service portfolio to visitors representing various segments of the industry chain. Our well-established TecDoc Catalogue, the recently launched global Product Information Management (PIM) system TecDoc ONE, and TecRMI garnered significant interest.
Regional parts distributors showed keen interest in leveraging the TecDoc Catalogue to source parts for imported vehicles. They were impressed by our comprehensive TecDoc data, encompassing both European and Japanese vehicle applications, along with the unique Katashiki number linking to Ktype, facilitating seamless data integration for the Japanese domestic market. Our Data Suppliers were excited about the TecDoc ONE rollout, showcasing IDP (Instant Data Processing) capabilities and the promising prospects it holds in managing product information, including VIO & OE data and competitors’ data, across regions within a centralized platform.
Workshops specializing in repairs of imported vehicles were delighted to explore TecRMI, which provides exhaustive, manufacturer-compliant repair & maintenance information, enhancing their efficiency and reducing unnecessary costs.
The face-to-face interactions at the show proved immensely valuable. Engaging with customers, both existing and potential, provided fresh insights that propel us towards continuous improvement and innovation. This enables us to shape a robust ecosystem that caters to customers’ needs comprehensively and in varied capacities.
Jane Wu, Sales Leader SEA & Japan, emphasized the significance of firsthand insights, stating, “The first-hand knowledge gained is vital for our daily business here. Many customers appreciated us improving their work efficiency and data management, enlarging their product line and increasing their domestic & global sales.”
In conclusion, our participation in IAAE was not just a success; it reinforced our dedication to fostering enduring customer relationships built on trust, innovation, and unmatched service excellence.
