GS Yuasa Battery Sales has demonstrated the positive business and customer service benefits of testing every battery with a major workshop trial. The battery testing trial, conducted over three summer months, has revealed that over a quarter (27%) of vehicles tested had a battery issue, and more than one in ten (11%) needed a complete battery replacement.

Three busy workshops in the UK took part in the trial between May and July last year. They were each supplied with a Yuasa battery analyser and asked to test the battery of every vehicle they worked on. They were also supplied with Yuasa point of sale material to communicate the scheme to customers, and mirror hangers to show customers test results.

Analysis of the results combined with some financial interpretations by Yuasa shows that on average a workshop which sees 100 vehicles a month could expect an increase in annual sales revenue of up to £15480 (around €17500) by implementing the initiative, with £6480 (€7320) coming from battery charging and fitting charges alone.

Yuasa say that the scheme also allows workshops to improve customer service, enhance reputation and prevent customers the distress a battery failure can cause. The company points out that customers would rather discover they need a new battery whilst their vehicle is in a workshop instead of when it fails to start on a cold morning.

Ian Newham, Training Manager at GS Yuasa Battery Sales said, “Most customers expect their workshop to check and maintain all elements of their vehicle. If the battery fails shortly after a service or repair work, customers may question the quality of the work carried out and the reliability of the workshop. Garages should be implementing the simple minute long test into their everyday routine. A battery may look and perform fine but the test will identify its state of health and if it is likely to fail soon.” He adds, “Workshops should always make sure that they are supplying batteries based on vehicle specification and the customer’s driving habits rather than on cost alone. They also shouldn’t be afraid to charge for battery recharging or fitting services”.

One of the trial workshops was ADS Automotive run by well known aftermarket technical expert Frank Massey. It found that 38% of batteries tested required attention and 19% needed replacing. Frank said, “The Yuasa battery testing programme has helped us, not just by updating our knowledge of battery technology, but also highlighting the need and opportunities in offering our customers a professional health and charge status report. Before you assume this is a simple sales drive, please consider how important the battery has become, it has many responsibilities and effects on the reliability of complex network systems.”

Another in the trial Matthew Pestridge of D & D Autos said, “In our eyes, when a customer has a vehicle serviced they want reliability for the next year, not just right now. No one wants to wake up in the morning and find that their car won’t start when they have important things to do.”

Terry Taylor Garages in Hinckley discovered 26% of vehicle batteries tested needed recharging or replacing. Technician Janson Baggott said, “I would suggest other garages join the scheme as it’s great for revenue and customer service. It’s very beneficial to test every battery coming through the door.”

Yuasa will fully launch their Always Check The Battery workshop initiative in the coming months. It will provide workshops all the tools they need to set up battery testing in a low-cost workshop testing kit. More details on the launch will be released shortly.

Garages wishing to find out more about Yuasa’s Always Check The Battery scheme, including trial results and case studies should visit www.yuasa.com/checkbattery