Change has never been this fast and will never be this slow again – It’s Time To Embrace AI in Auto Recycling

Auto recyclers don’t need to “wait for AI”- practical tools are already improving day-to-day performance. Chris Daglis argues that AI can reduce costly buying mistakes through data-led bidding, prevent missed parts sales with 24/7 call-handling assistants, and rapidly document standard operating procedures. Start small: map bottlenecks, trial one solution, and scale what works.

Chris Daglis, Managing Director of Auto PARTnered Solutions, pictured in an auto recycling facility — Chris Daglis

In the auto recycling industry, artificial intelligence is no longer a futuristic concept; it’s a powerful tool transforming how we buy, sell, and operate every day. Chris Daglis, Managing Director at PARTnered Solutions, Founder & Managing Director at All Auto Recalls and Industry Advocate, challenges recyclers to stop waiting and start acting, showing how AI can sharpen operations, boost sales, and future-proof their business.

For those who know me, it won’t be a surprise that I don’t sleep much.

Some nights I’m on Zoom with leaders in the UK. Other times, I’m talking to recyclers in the US before sunrise. And during the day, you’ll usually find me walking through salvage yards here in Australia. After more than 30 years in this industry, I’ve learned two things: auto recycling is critical to the circular economy, and change always comes faster than you expect. As I often say, “Change will always happen faster again tomorrow.”

And right now, that change is staring us in the face: artificial intelligence.

I hear the same thing from recyclers all over the world: “AI feels complicated, intimidating… where do I even start?” I get it. It’s tempting to put it off, to tell yourself you’ll look at it next quarter, next year, whenever things “settle down.” However, the truth is that waiting is the bigger risk. The industry isn’t standing still, and the longer you hold back, the harder it will be to catch up.

ARI, an AI sales assistant concept image for handling parts enquiries and calls in an auto recycler’s operation — ARI – AI Sales Assistant

Where Tech Is Already at Work

Let’s look at three areas you deal with every single day: buying cars, taking calls, selling parts, and running your yard.

Buying Cars Smarter. For years, this was all about gut instinct and hustle, negotiating, chasing paperwork, and arranging transport. Experience still matters, but it’s no longer enough. Miss a detail, hesitate on a bid, and someone else beats you. AI changes that. Using a bidding tool, such as Bid Buddy, that analyses auction histories and learns from every transaction, whether good or bad, helps your team avoid expensive mistakes and stretch your budget further. We all know the rule: one bad buy takes three good ones to make up for it. Why put yourself in that hole when smarter tools already exist?

Taking Calls and Selling Parts. Customers don’t wait anymore. A missed call, a misquote, a slow reply, these aren’t minor slip-ups; they’re lost sales. AI-powered sales assistants, built specifically for our industry, can answer calls around the clock, capture part details correctly, and raise leads instantly. That means your team works with better data and spends time closing sales, not chasing them.

Here’s what these tools can already do today:

1. The Digital Sales Assistant can

Answer calls 24/7/365 – never miss another enquiry
Capture part details accurately so the right information is always logged
Ask if the buyer is ready to buy or just quoting
Ask smart questions of the buyer to prep the sales team with as much pre-call information as possible
Transfer calls to a live salesperson if requested to by the buyer
Create a sales lead ticket in the Control Centre so that your sales team can access
Help your sales team manage their high-value workflow so that they can focus on the big-ticket sales

2. The Digital Sales Professional will

Answer calls 24/7/365 – never miss another enquiry
Capture part details accurately so the right information is always logged
Check your inventory in real time for availability
Ask smart questions of the buyer to make sure they offer the right solution
Transfer calls to a live salesperson if requested to by the buyer
Upsell extended warranties at the right moment in the conversation
Calculate and add shipping costs to the quoted price
Negotiate with the buyer if needed to secure the deal
Ask for the sale directly rather than leaving it hanging
Send payment links and take payment instantly to close the deal
Call back on unconverted quotes to re-engage lost opportunities or
Create a quoted ticket in the Control Centre so that your sales team can prioritize follow-up if the buyer has not checked out

This isn’t a future promise; it’s already happening in yards that have adopted AI. And once you see it in action, you’ll realise it’s not about replacing people, it’s about making sure your team never misses a chance to sell. Good for sales teams on commission and great for the business.

Building SOPs. Here’s a question: how many of you have truly documented Standard Operating Procedures? Not many. Most of you are probably thinking, “Who’s got time to write all that down?” But what if AI could do it for you, learning how you handle things on the fly and turning that into a clear, usable set of SOPs?

Think about new starters. A salesperson comes in, but they don’t know your way of handling warranties or how you deal with tricky customers. With AI, you can capture that knowledge and standardize it, fast.

Here’s what AI can already help you build into SOPs:

Warranty handling processes – from simple returns to tricky claim scenarios
Sales workflows – how enquiries are handled from first contact to closed sale
Customer service playbooks – step-by-step responses for common issues
Inventory management procedures – how vehicles are acquired, logged, and parts tracked
Quality control checks – ensuring parts are inspected, graded, and listed consistently
Onboarding guides for new staff – everything from phone scripts to warranty terms
Escalation rules – when and how to involve management in complex situations

This isn’t futuristic; it’s available today. And every day you’re not capturing your processes, valuable know-how is slipping through the cracks.

The point is simple: AI doesn’t replace your team, it makes them sharper, faster, and more competitive.

Five Things You Can Do Right Now

If you’re thinking, “OK, Chris, but where do I start?” here’s my advice: don’t overthink it, just get moving.

Step back and map your business. Where are you losing time? Where are sales slipping away? A simple process map will show you the bottlenecks.
Build on data, not just instinct. Experience is gold, but data makes it stronger. Track bids, sales, and customer interactions, then act on the patterns.
Test-drive a solution. Don’t wait for the perfect fit. Trial one tool, whether it’s using a bidding tool or an AI sales assistant, and see what the results tell you.
Pick one quick win. Don’t try to fix everything at once. Choose one area where AI can give you an immediate benefit, prove the value, then expand.
Connect with innovators. Talk to other recyclers, join forums, and get to events. The best ideas often come from people already testing the waters.

Bigger Than Just Business

Auto recycling has never been just a business. We’re at the heart of the circular economy, reducing waste and creating sustainable alternatives to new manufacturing. Embracing technology isn’t just about efficiency or profit; it’s about keeping our place at the center of tomorrow’s mobility ecosystem.

We’ve already survived changing regulations, insurer shakeups, and new vehicle tech. AI is just the next chapter. The only question is: will you write it or let someone else write it for you?

My Challenge to You

Every change feels fast until the next one arrives even quicker. The teams willing to act, learn, and adapt today will be the ones shaping this industry tomorrow.

So ask yourself:

Are you still relying only on gut feel when bidding?
Are customers slipping away because no one’s picking up the phone?
Are you waiting for the “perfect moment” that never comes?

The future isn’t out there somewhere; it’s already in your yard, at auctions, and on the phones. The only real risk is doing nothing.

About Auto PARTnered Solutions

Founded by Chris Daglis, an entrepreneur, adviser and speaker serving the automotive recycling industry for over 30 years. Auto PARTnered Solutions is on a mission to bring the automotive recycling industry into the future, without disrupting the way you already work. As an AI pioneer and outsourcing specialist for the industry, APS helps recyclers save time and boost profits by streamlining Operations, Sales, and Marketing with easy-to-deploy tools, expert teams, and smart processes. Whether it’s answering every call with Ari, optimizing bids, cataloguing and pricing inventory, or sharpening your online presence, our solutions are built to work fast, work well, and grow with you. If you’re ready to make every missed opportunity an opportunity answered, APS is here to partner with you.