Jobber News Executive Outlook: Emily Chung
Jobber News reached out to leaders in the supply and distribution segment of the automotive aftermarket and asked them what they see happening in the industry over the next 12 months, how the segment can leverage technology, lasting impacts, lessons learned from last year and where success will be found in 2026. We will present their answers in alphabetical order over the coming weeks…
You can view the full feature in our January 2026 issue.
Emily Chung, President, CEO | AIA Canada
Despite ongoing noise around trade, tariffs, labour and technology, the industry fundamentals remain strong.
The industry can leverage artificial intelligence, predictive analytics and demand forecasting to optimize inventory levels, improve distribution efficiency, and reduce manual processes. When applied thoughtfully, these tools provide clearer insights, support better planning, decision-making, and focused training for staff to utilize and leverage these tools. Strong integration between technology providers and existing management systems is also essential to deliver meaningful, actionable reports.
There have been two lasting lessons from the past year. First, consolidation is accelerating and reinforcing the need for a long-term strategic view. We saw continued integration of major players, creating organizations that now serve more complex, diversified customer bases. Companies require clearer strategic direction, commitment and constant observation of market signals.
Second, resilience remains a defining strength of the auto care sector. Despite ongoing noise around trade, tariffs, labour and technology, the industry fundamentals remain strong. Through advocacy and collaboration, we can continue to drive the sector forward with confidence.
In 2026, jobbers, distributors and suppliers will find success by improving process efficiencies while staying closely aligned with the automotive service providers’ needs, especially around product availability and service support. Being a former shop owner and technician, there is an opportunity to better align jobbers and shops by listening to shared feedback. Recent surveys from Jobber News and CARS highlight a perception gap: 33 per cent of jobbers believe shops buy too many low-cost parts, while 41 per cent of shops say inventory availability drives their first call, and 53 per cent report selling “best” quality parts most often. Bridging this gap through clearer communication and relationship-building will drive sustainable growth.
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