URG: Data, AI, and Trust Will Define Recycled Parts Growth

URG CEO Kristi Werner says recycled parts growth will depend on stronger data, buyer trust and practical use of digital tools. As vehicles become more complex and online purchasing expands, recyclers must improve fitment accuracy, imagery, service and cybersecurity while using platforms such as Auto Part Search to sell more profitably.

Kristi Werner, CEO of URG, discusses data, AI and trust in recycled parts growth. — Kristi Werner

Kristi Werner, CEO of United Recyclers Group (URG), discusses the operational and commercial priorities facing professional auto recyclers, from evolving vehicle technology and workforce development to data quality, AI, cybersecurity, and online sales of recycled OEM parts. She also explains how URG’s Auto Part Search platform aims to improve visibility, trust and profitability for recyclers.

Technology, talent and the next digital shift

We see the three key challenges facing auto recyclers today are adapting to rapidly evolving vehicle technology, attracting and developing the next generation of talent, and ensuring businesses can keep pace with the rapid advancement of technology, data, and artificial intelligence.

Vehicle technology is changing faster than ever. Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), electric vehicle components, complex electronics, and manufacturer-specific technologies are becoming standard across nearly every vehicle entering the marketplace. For recyclers, that means continuously investing in training, equipment, and processes to ensure parts can be identified, dismantled, tested, and sold safely and accurately. Access to repair and calibration data is also becoming increasingly important as vehicles become more sophisticated.

Workforce development remains another major challenge. Today’s recycling facilities are highly technical operations that require a diverse range of skills, from inventory management and logistics to vehicle technology and customer service. Attracting new talent while retaining experienced employees continues to be a priority across the industry. It is also important to continue changing outdated perceptions of automotive recycling and showcasing the technology, innovation, and career opportunities available today.

Education plays a critical role in addressing both of these challenges. The pace of change within automotive recycling has never been greater, and industry events such as the URG Conference w/Team PRP, the ARA Convention & Expo, and ongoing training opportunities are essential for helping recyclers stay current with technology, operations, sales strategies, regulations, and emerging trends. Continuous learning and collaboration are essential if recyclers are to remain competitive and continue raising industry standards.

The third challenge is ensuring recyclers can successfully navigate the next wave of technology. Artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, data protection, digital marketplaces, automation, and system integrations are rapidly changing the way businesses operate. Organizations like URG play an important role in helping recyclers understand, adopt, and benefit from these advancements while protecting their businesses and customer data. Whether it’s data and cybersecurity initiatives, AI-powered tools, advanced integrations, or platforms like Auto Part Search, our goal is to ensure recyclers have access to the technology they need to remain competitive, efficient, and profitable in an increasingly digital marketplace.

Auto Part Search, the complete parts platform

Without question, the most significant development on our roadmap is the continued rollout and expansion of Auto Part Search.

For years, recyclers have been forced to work across multiple systems, websites, integrations, marketplaces, and communication channels just to sell parts online. Inventory lives in one place, customer communication happens elsewhere, payments happen elsewhere, and fulfilment is managed through another system entirely. It creates inefficiencies, increases costs, and makes it harder for recyclers to compete in an increasingly digital marketplace.

Auto Part Search was built to solve that problem.

We describe it as The Complete Parts Platform because it brings the entire online parts-selling process into a single ecosystem. Search, fitment confidence, customer communication, ordering, payments, fulfilment, account management, and customer relationships are all connected through a single platform designed specifically for professional auto recyclers.

For recyclers, that means greater visibility, access to more buyers, stronger control over customer relationships, fewer barriers to selling online, and a better overall customer experience. Rather than simply listing inventory on another marketplace, recyclers are participating in a platform built by recyclers, for recyclers, with their needs at the center of every decision.

Success won’t be measured solely by transaction volume. We’ll be looking at buyer adoption, account creation, repeat purchasing activity, conversion rates, recycler participation, and overall marketplace growth. Just as importantly, we’ll measure whether recyclers are selling more parts, reaching more buyers, reducing friction in the sales process, and strengthening their online presence.

Another key measure of success is profitability. Auto Part Search was built to help recyclers keep more of what they earn through some of the lowest transaction fees in the industry. As sales volume grows, we want to see recyclers save money on fees, improve margins, and make more profit on every part they sell. If our members are selling more parts and building stronger relationships with buyers, that’s a win for both URG and the industry as a whole.

Building trust in recycled OEM parts

The buying journey for recycled OEM parts will become significantly more transparent, intuitive, and trustworthy over the next year.

Historically, buyers have faced challenges in finding the correct part, confirming fitment, understanding the part’s condition, and trusting what they are purchasing. Many still associate recycled parts with outdated perceptions of “junkyards” rather than the highly professional, technology-driven operations that exist today.

This is exactly why platforms like Auto Part Search are so important. Features such as VIN decoding, detailed part descriptions, multiple high-quality images, standardized grading, secure online checkout, order tracking, warranties, and return policies all work together to build buyer confidence.

The industry is also taking significant steps to create greater consistency and trust through certification. ARA and URG have recently introduced CARE (Certified Automotive Recycler of Excellence), a new joint certification program that recognizes facilities that meet a documented, audited quality standard. Built on existing certification and quality programs, CARE establishes clear benchmarks around grading, warranties, customer service, operational processes, and quality assurance.

For buyers, it creates another layer of confidence that they are purchasing from a professional recycler that meets rigorous industry standards. For recyclers, it provides a clear pathway to demonstrate quality, consistency, and credibility in an increasingly competitive marketplace.

Trust remains the industry’s biggest opportunity. Buyers want assurance that the part will fit, arrive as described, and be backed by a reputable supplier. The more transparency recyclers provide through accurate data, clear imagery, strong communication, and consistent customer service, the more confidence buyers will have in choosing recycled OEM parts.

Ultimately, the goal is to make buying a recycled OEM part as easy and predictable as purchasing any other product online.

Data quality, visibility and conversion

Visibility today is driven by much more than simply having inventory available.

Accurate OE references, interchange data, part grading, detailed descriptions, and quality imagery all play a critical role in helping buyers and procurement systems identify the right part. Clean, complete data improves both search visibility and buyer confidence.

However, even when a part appears in a workflow, selection often comes down to three things: delivery speed, supplier reputation, and confidence in the quality of the part being purchased.

If I were advising recyclers on the three most important actions they can take, they would be:

Invest in data quality. Ensure OE numbers, interchange information, grading, and descriptions are accurate and complete.
Add multiple high-quality images whenever possible. Buyers are far more likely to purchase when they can clearly see the part and its condition.
Focus on responsiveness and customer experience. Fast quote response times, proactive communication, shipment visibility, and reliable fulfilment all contribute to higher conversion rates and repeat business.

As more purchasing moves online, transparency and trust will increasingly separate high-performing recyclers from the rest of the market.

Where AI can deliver practical value

The most realistic near-term value for AI in auto recycling is productivity.

Recyclers are managing enormous amounts of information every day: inventory data, VINs, interchange, OEM numbers, images, part descriptions, customer inquiries, pricing, shipping, warranties, vehicle acquisition decisions, and internal workflows.

AI for our industry has the potential to help teams work faster, reduce repetitive manual tasks, improve accuracy, and make better use of the data they already have. We’re also beginning to see opportunities for AI to assist recyclers in evaluating and previewing vehicles before purchase, helping identify inventory opportunities, estimate part values, and make more informed buying decisions before a vehicle ever enters the facility.

Improving customer service is one opportunity, but it is only one piece of the puzzle. We are seeing much broader opportunities around smarter part search, image recognition, automated part descriptions, quote support, inventory merchandising, internal knowledge banks, workflow automation, and data-driven decision making. Image AI in particular has significant potential as recyclers look for ways to identify, grade, describe, and market parts online more efficiently and consistently.

AI will also play an important role in the future of Auto Part Search. Smart search automation, reducing friction in part lookup, and using VIN and OEM data to pre-fill information and guide buyer decisions are all areas where AI can improve both speed and confidence in the buying process.

The caution is that AI cannot replace strong data, good processes, or human expertise. If the data going in is incomplete or inaccurate, the output will be too. Recyclers need to be thoughtful about cost, accuracy, cybersecurity, data protection, and change management. AI should be used to support people, not replace accountability.

The recyclers who will benefit most are those who start learning now. They do not need to overhaul their entire business overnight, but they do need to begin experimenting, training their teams, and identifying where AI can save time, improve consistency, and help them buy smarter, operate more efficiently, and ultimately sell more parts.