The Automotive industry is changing, and here at Auxo we’ve been going through a world of change too – with the launch of our new workshop software, Auxo Workshop, and a new CEO, Terry Allen, stepping in to lead us on the next phase of our journey.
Terry has a long history in the technology and software industry including 12 years at Microsoft. As well as his CEO role, he is also a director for Theta Systems and chairs the boards of a range of technology and software companies: Serato, Massey Ventures and Chargenet.
We recently caught up with Terry to find out what makes him tick and what spurred him into this new role.
Q: Why Auxo, why now?
Terry: What attracted me to Auxo was its unique position in the market compared to other workshop management companies. Auxo has rich product history and a strong market presence with around half the New Zealand market using our products. Auxo is also special, being owned by MTA, the peak motor trade association in NZ.
It is the only set of solutions that is owned, designed and governed by the very people who use it – workshop and dealership owners. Other workshop software businesses are typically owned by private equity companies that just want to build revenue then sell up. We are motivated by making a difference to workshops, and workshop owners’ lives.
The idea of working with a purpose-driven organisation that truly understands its customers and can make a meaningful difference in the workshop industry was something I couldn’t pass up. And right now, having just launched Auxo Workshop we’re moving into a new chapter with a new product – it’s perfect timing.
Q: Since your time at Microsoft, you have worked with a wide range of companies, what’s the common thread?
Terry: The companies I work with all share a common foundation of technology and innovation. I’m drawn to businesses that are disruptive in a positive way and companies which can have a significant impact in their industry, for their customers and their staff.
Q: What are your biggest challenges right now?
Terry: We have a dual mandate for both the new and existing products. While we’re moving quickly with the development of Auxo Workshop we have many customers on SAM, Orion and Autoline. I want to reassure customers we have dedicated teams focused on improving our existing products, and are continuing to invest in our existing platforms, to remain fast, reliable and scalable.
Timing is another – we’re launching a new product into a market under economic pressure, and many workshops are having a challenging time. So, it’s critical we look at all the things that we can do to improve the profitability of the workshop. There’s more of a need than ever for this technology and we have prioritised features that will increase bookings and profit
Q: How have customers responded to the new product?
Terry: Customers involved in the development of Auxo software, the beta user group, have been excited and delighted to see that what they asked for and helped design came to life. They have actively guided the development team at every step.; Particularly, its future potential as we rapidly add more functionality, has really struck a chord. It’s rare to see this level of enthusiasm for a new product, and it’s been fantastic to witness.
Q: What does the future hold for Auxo?
Terry: Looking ahead, we’ll continue working closely with workshops and evolve the Auxo Workshop product with their input. We want Auxo to be the first choice for all workshops across New Zealand initially, then further afield. Our strong industry partnerships will also be vital as we expand and develop. We wanted to imbed this right from the first release, which is why we are delighted to partner with GPC, launching a Repco Navigator Pro integration on day one, so customers can order parts and complete invoicing in one system.
The product development map will see further integrations with suppliers and useful software and data tools of various sorts in the future.
I expect the new platform to reach near feature parity with SAM within a year, and many workshops will be able to start using it within three to four months. That said, we’re taking a considered approach to ensure we meet customer needs without compromising on quality or reliability as features roll out.
On that note, to our existing customers, I want to say thank you for your patience. I know you’ve faced challenges with SAM over the years. SAM is an incredibly wide and deep product in terms of capability and flexibility but requires considerable knowledge and understanding to extract its best. I want to assure you we’re absolutely committed to delivering world-class, great user-experience software that provides exactly what you need for your business to succeed.