Troy Webber, CEO of YardSmart, believes artificial intelligence is set to transform, rather than replace, the auto recycling industry. He sees AI as a tool to enhance operations, improve decision-making, and support workers. By combining data-driven insights with hands-on expertise, Webber envisions a smarter, more efficient, and sustainable future for recyclers.
The auto recycling industry has always been rooted in hands-on work, utilizing tools, machines, and a significant amount of physical labour. That’s not changing anytime soon. But as we look ahead, it’s clear that the future of our industry will be increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence. Not in the science fiction sense of robots dismantling cars on their own, at least, not yet, but in the very real and immediate sense of AI driving smarter decision-making, tighter operations, and better business outcomes.
At YardSmart, we’re watching this trend closely. While robots aren’t replacing our workforce anytime soon, the rise of AI tools promises to enhance the way we run our businesses. We’re not talking about replacing human intuition and experience, but rather complementing it, giving plant operators better insight into their processes, making production more efficient, reducing waste, and improving the bottom line.
We currently utilize an AI-powered chatbot on our website to interact with customers, answering the most common and basic questions. This allows us to still provide service to our customers without the need to pay someone to sit at a computer all day. It also uses the interactions that it has with our customers to provide us with insights into how we should market our product. It can tell us what customers are asking about most often and how they find out about our product.
Think about the power of data. Today, AI allows for lightning-fast data collection and analysis that would take a human team days or even weeks. With the right systems in place, AI can help us identify which types of vehicles bring the most profit, spot trends in part demand, or even fine-tune inventory management. It can help us zero in on the highest-value materials, reduce unnecessary purchases, and optimize every step of the recycling process.
These tools can also support better decision-making. By automating parts of the evaluation process, AI can help reduce human error, ensure more consistent pricing, and tighten up tolerances across operations. The potential here isn’t just about saving time; it’s about making our businesses leaner, smarter, and more responsive to market needs.
However, like any powerful tool, AI comes with its own risks. Over-reliance on technology can lead to blind spots. No matter how advanced a system is, it won’t always catch the subtle signs a seasoned operator would notice. There’s also the danger of complacency, of trusting the data so much that we stop questioning the results. Procedures and protocols still matter. We must remain vigilant to ensure technology enhances our standards rather than eroding them.
There’s also a cultural shift to consider. As AI becomes more prevalent, we’ll need to invest in training and reskilling our teams. Many of our workers have deep experience on the floor but may not be familiar with data systems or digital platforms. That’s not a weakness, it’s an opportunity. By pairing their practical knowledge with AI-enabled tools, we can unlock new levels of performance and innovation.
At the end of the day, AI is not a silver bullet. It’s not going to revolutionise auto recycling overnight. But it is a tool with enormous potential, one that, when used wisely, can help us run more efficient operations, reduce waste, and ultimately become more profitable.
Auto recycling is already a model of sustainability. With the help of AI, we can make it even smarter, more agile, and more forward-looking. The future isn’t about man versus machine. It’s about man and machine working together to build a better industry.
