37
wolk after sales experts
03.07.2015
00119955
Interview with Dr. Friemel (Daparto) (4)
Antti Wolk: Mobile Shopping and click & collect as trends of the future keep the sector occupied. How do you see this trend in the future?
Dr. Friemel: Yes, mobile shopping is definitely a trend which our sector has to deal with and focus on. Still, at this point, mobile devices are not
that suited yet for shopping car parts online. However, to keep up with this important trend will be one of a webshop's major challenges.
Click & collect models will also become relevant, because they form the missing link between online and offline. The majority of customers
will continue to have the goods ordered online delivered to their homes. However, there will be a customer segment that will make use of
Click & Collect offerings.
Antti Wolk: Basically, there's always the danger that Google or other Internet giants will occupy a successful market in its own way. In the US,
Google is currently testing the price comparison market for car insurances. How do you see the risk that this will also happen with car
parts?
Dr. Friemel: I personally think that Google is heading more towards true mobility than towards the brokerage of auto repairs. In my view, the
spare parts segment is way too complex and fragmented to be interesting for Google. There are more lucrative mass market segments such
as travel- or or hotel booking. Therefore, I think that Google's market entry in the auto or repair market within the next 10 years is unlikely.
Antti Wolk: In comparison to competitors such as Ebay Motors, Teilehaber, Motoso, etcetera, where do you position yourself?
Dr. Friemel: We see ourselves as the clear number 2 in the market. This assessment is underlined i.a. by the number of monthly visitors to
daparto, as well as other key metrics that define the market position for online businesses. Ebay has been the largest auto parts online
aggregator for years and has therefore developed a massive advantage that especially lies in its highly frequented C2C segments. In
contrast, in the fields regarding vehicle identification, parts categorization or clarity in price comparison, the advantages lie on daparto’s
side.
