Founded in 2014 by entrepreneur Lucy Burnford and former Motors.co.uk CTO, Olli Astley, Motoriety.co.uk is claimed to be the first web-based platform that allows motorists to manage all aspects of car ownership in one secure online space, for free.
The Motoriety system will automate all car-related administration, notifying motorists of their legal and maintenance requirements in advance and allowing them to book-in via the site at listed garages. Uniquely, Motoriety generates a valuable digital service record for every vehicle – called an AUTObiography – which adds real value to the car.
Workshops benefit from increased visibility online, via an individual profile page, and this can be used to showcase your business – including any schemes and affiliations you’re part of – allowing local motorists to find you and book in for services, MOTs, maintenance, repairs and diagnostics. Additionally they can submit quote requests for specific work required.
Motoriety brings three unique benefits:
1. Garage members are signed up with local motorists in advance of the work becoming due, helping to avoid the ‘distress purchase’ moment and encouraging a more efficient way of managing car ownership and maintenance. This allows workshops to manage their diaries more efficiently, and also choose the work they want in a timely way.
2. The initiative has not been created to drive down prices at garage levels. Instead, the site showcases great garages that are part of reputable industry schemes and bodies to help motorists make an informed decision.
3. Motoriety features a mutually incentivised rating and digital ‘stamp’ system. On accepting a booking, the garage agrees to digitally ‘stamp’ the motorist’s AUTObiography – a simple process that is automated via the easy-to-use admin dashboard. In return, the motorist is obliged to rate and review the garage – meaning a real, traceable review is generated from every booking. This addresses longstanding issues over fake reviews or a lack of take-up.
IMI affiliation
Lucy says: “We want motorists to select well-run garages with a good reputation, that have trained and experienced staff, use premium products and parts, and perform thorough servicing and repairs. If someone’s repairing your brakes, do you really want the cheapest option? A focus on quality of work over price is better for the garage as a business, and far better for the motorist too.
“What’s more, we have an affiliation with the IMI, and will aim to champion garages that employ professionally trained technicians to help educate drivers on quality and skillset, rather than price. This is good news for the industry. With a variety of industry heavy-hitters involved in the business as investors and advisors, we think Motoriety.co.uk is one to watch out for in 2015.”
