OEMs are under pressure to modernise their aftersales experience. Customers expect Amazon-style convenience. Support teams are drowning in parts queries. Incorrect orders are costing time and money. It’s no surprise AI is being held up as the future of spare parts management.
But while AI dominates the headlines, the real driver behind the shift is simpler: OEMs need faster, more accurate ways to identify, sell, and fulfil parts. And for many, there’s a better route than expensive algorithms or complex integrations.
What’s Driving the Shift to AI?
Aftersales support hasn’t kept pace with product innovation. Static diagrams, scattered PDFs, and clunky ordering portals are still the norm. Meanwhile:
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Customer expectations have changed — they want to find and buy parts online, on their schedule.
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Incorrect parts orders hurt everyone — from frustrated customers to overstretched support teams.
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Support costs are rising — with many teams wasting hours on lookups and repeat questions.
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Aftersales is now a revenue driver — and margins depend on smooth, error-free fulfilment.
In this context, AI looks like an attractive solution. But is it always the right one?
The AI Promise in Aftermarket Support
Tech vendors are promising a new era of AI-powered parts support. Common use cases include:
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Predictive maintenance and stock forecasting
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Chatbot-driven ordering flows
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Image-based part recognition from photos
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Smart routing of parts queries to reduce response times
While powerful in theory, these solutions can take months to implement and require large datasets to work effectively. For most OEMs, they’re not a quick fix.
Why Some OEMs Are Choosing Faster, Simpler Solutions
Instead of chasing AI, many OEMs are solving the same core problems with interactive 3D parts catalogues, a proven way to reduce errors, support self-service, and speed up fulfilment.
With a solution like Partful’s parts catalog software, OEMs can:
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Turn CAD into a live, interactive 3D parts catalog in hours, not weeks
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Let customers and dealers self-serve with visual part selection
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Cut support tickets by up to 50% by removing confusion from parts lookup
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Speed up fulfilment with direct ordering and accurate part identification
It’s a faster route to the same results, without the risk or investment of AI.
A Real-World Example: Maeving’s Transformation
EV startup Maeving wanted a spare parts experience that matched the sleek UX of their electric motorcycles. They considered their options and chose Partful to create a fully branded, mobile-friendly 3D parts portal.
The result?
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A self-serve experience that mirrors their product design
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Fewer incorrect orders and faster support
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More time for product teams to focus on development, not admin
As their Head of Product put it:
“Partful saved the product team and the engineers a bucket load of work.”
The Bottom Line: You Don’t Need AI to Modernise
Not every OEM has the resources, or the need, for AI. What they do need is a better way to connect CAD data to customers, enable self-service, and eliminate avoidable errors in the parts journey.
A 3D parts catalog does just that. It delivers many of the benefits associated with AI, accuracy, automation, and customer ease without the complexity.
Partful
