Motorist app Autofile to launch at Automotive Management Live

An app which allows motorists to keep up to date with all their vehicle maintenance and legal responsibilities will launch next month at Automotive Management Live.

Autofile, a consumer app designed to give drivers one place to keep on top of servicing and other issues, will be shared with audiences at the top event for automotive industry colleagues on November 9.

The app, which is completely free to the customer, has been developed to give dealerships, repairers and suppliers a dramatically cheaper and more targeted way to communicate with their clients than traditional methods of calling, emailing, texting or posting letters.

Autofile reminds the user when anything needs to be addressed and provides the means to organise bookings with repairers and dealerships, with the potential to store information for multiple vehicles.

For the automotive retail industry, the solution offers targeted access to customers in real time, with service charges only required when someone books a service and no ongoing subscription charges.

The concept for Autofile has been developed by founders Paul Clarke and Giles Daly, who draw upon a wealth of automotive industry experience.

Paul Clarke said: “We are excited to unveil Autofile at Automotive Management Live as we believe it can be the cheapest and most effective way for the car industry to communicate with customers yet.

“Everything needed to manage a vehicle is in one place with Autofile so there is no more looking for documents to find out when things might be due, or frustrations of trying to get through to a garage for a last-minute booking for a service or MOT as the app keeps users up to date.”

Giles Daly said: “Autofile gives retailers and repairers the ability to answer questions without the need to call and to send reminders via push notifications. Your customers are reminded when an MOT or scheduled servicing is required, allowing you to handle many more vehicles and customers with the same overhead as today, helping profitability and enhancing customer satisfaction.”

When an Autofile user sells a vehicle, they can pass the maintenance history to any new owner via the app, which can also analyse usage to assess potential savings of switching to an electric vehicle.

Autofile will be on display at stand B21 at Automotive Management Live on November 9. Taking place at Birmingham NEC the event is billed as the “go-to event” for automotive professionals wanting to find out about the latest technology solutions, products, and services in the industry.

The Autofile team have been supported in its development by the Worcestershire Elevate Growth programme, a Government-funded scheme run by Worcestershire County Council to support established small to medium-sized enterprises with growth ambitions. Autofile have partnered with fellow Elevate Growth cohort member Green Gorilla Software, based in Bromsgrove, which has developed the app software, along with design company Fuel.

The Autofile partners have a strong track record in industry innovation, having operated Autoconnect, one of the UK’s leading aftermarket solutions providers. Paul Clarke is founder of leading truck compliance system Truckfile and RTC, one of the current leading aftersales providers to the UK franchised dealer networks, which is now part of the Citnow group of companies.