The automotive aftermarket is one of the most dynamic industries in the world — and one of the most complex. Behind every repair shop and distributor is a massive catalog of parts, often tens of thousands of SKUs, updated daily as models evolve, OE numbers change, and parts get discontinued.
For decades, managing these catalogs has been a painstaking process of manual cross‑referencing. Teams of specialists match OE, aftermarket, and competitor part numbers by hand, a job that is slow, error‑prone, and costly.
But times are changing. Artificial intelligence (AI) is now reshaping how catalogs are built, updated, and trusted — turning chaos into clarity.
The AI Transformation
AI‑powered cross‑referencing is rewriting the rulebook. Instead of relying on static databases and manual matching, intelligent algorithms deliver:
- 99% Accuracy → Validated in live pilots, reducing wrong‑part returns dramatically.
- Real‑Time Lookup → Cutting search time from 15 minutes to under 30 seconds.
- Continuous Learning → Every lookup improves the model, making future matches even more reliable.
- Scalability → Capable of handling millions of cross‑references annually, far beyond human teams.
This is not just an incremental improvement — it’s a leap forward that makes parts catalogs truly dynamic, reliable, and future‑proof.
The Business Impact
For distributors and workshops, the benefits are immediate and measurable:
- Fewer Returns: Each wrong part avoided saves logistics costs, time, and customer frustration.
- Higher Productivity: Cataloging teams can be redeployed to higher‑value tasks.
- Improved Trust: Customers get the right part the first time, every time.
- Faster Growth: With reliable catalogs, distributors can confidently expand into new markets and channels.
In recent pilots, AI cross‑referencing helped reduce cataloging workload by 60% while maintaining unmatched accuracy.
The Future of Catalogs
The global automotive aftermarket is projected to grow from €502 billion in 2025 to €756 billion by 2032. To capture that growth, the industry must leave behind outdated manual systems.
At Obsidian Labs, our mission is clear:
No More Wrong Parts. Ever.
By harnessing the power of AI, we’re turning catalog chaos into clarity — and helping the entire aftermarket move faster, smarter, and with greater confidence.