Bridgestone Retail Operations goes paperless with digital
Bridgestone Retail Operations is now issuing paperless results of vehicle inspections to customers.
The network of company-owned tire and automotive service centers, a subsidiary of Bridgestone Americas, has shifted its vehicle inspections from paper-based to digital at all of its more than 2,200 retail stores.
The digital inspections are designed to improve store efficiency, increase transparency and trust with customers, and provide data insights to further enhance tire design and development. The effort is expected to save 35 million pieces of paper, or the equivalent of 3,500 trees, annually.
Digital inspections are now offered at Bridgestone Retail Operations store banners including including Firestone Complete Auto Care, Tires Plus, Hibdon Tires Plus and Wheel Works. Customers receive an email that includes recommended services, paired with real-time visuals, in lieu of a paper report.
In addition to paperless inspections efforts, BSRO’s sustainability initiatives include the expansion of maintenance services and charging resources for electric vehicles and energy-saving technologies to reduce carbon emissions. The nationwide digital inspections rollout also supports the company’s Bridgestone E8 commitment, which established eight sustainability values.
Other tire and automotive services retailers have also launched digital and omnichannel features. For example, in August 2023, Walmart debuted the Virtual Garage feature on its site and app. Virtual Garage allows customers to store details about multiple vehicles and connects with scheduling service appointments at Walmart Auto Care Centers.
[READ MORE: Three reasons tires are an ideal omnichannel product]
"Customers have repeatedly expressed a desire to join us on our sustainability journey, and implementing digital inspections is our way of involving them in our transition," said Marko Ibrahim, president, Bridgestone Retail Operations. "Taking our inspections fully digital not only helps the environment, but also delivers more transparency and clarity to our customers as we seek to be the most trusted auto care provider in every neighborhood we serve."
Headquartered in Nashville, Bridgestone Retail Operations LLC operates the largest network of company-owned automotive service providers in the world, more than 2,200 tire and vehicle service centers across the U.S., including Firestone Complete Auto Care, Tires Plus, Hibdon Tires Plus and Wheel Works store locations. It is a member of the Bridgestone Americas portfolio of companies.
