Carwash Analysis: Express Exterior vs. Flex-Serve

Since labor avoidance, or at least finding ways to minimize labor, continues to be a hot topic of discussion among carwash owners and investors, it might be helpful to compare and contrast the two most enticing operating platforms available to conveyorized carwash operators today — express exteriors and flex-serve operations.

Express Exterior

The express-exterior concept of carwashing is not new to the industry, except for the advanced technology that enables customers to manage transactions and cash control through an automated teller. Currency and credit card transactions are conducted in a self-serve format, thus requiring high-volume facilities to utilize multiple automated-teller kiosks to handle simultaneous processing.

Everything else about the express-exterior model is pretty much a natural evolution of exterior carwashing since it was introduced in the late 1960s, including advancements to washing and drying processes. In addition, the advancement of add-on, push-button services continues to remain commonplace to all automated washing processes.

However, one convenient marketing twist implemented by many express-exterior operations, is providing customers with the option to use free, do-it-yourself vacuums. Customers who wish to vacuum the interiors of their vehicles can go to a designated area for complimentary, no-time-limit vacuuming.

This concept is a distinct departure from the original exterior carwash format that relied on the revenues from coin-op vacuums to enhance profits. Instead, many express operators forego those coin-op profits and instead use the vacuum as a value-added feature of the wash to induce repeat business.

The main feature of the express exterior concept is the ability to render the enhanced speed and capacity of a conveyorized wash to the utility of a self-serve transaction format requiring no or little labor. Previously, that feature was limited to in-bay automatic washes. This model could become a boon for motor fuel companies and big-box retailers as an ancillary profit center and robust traffic generator due to the format’s ability to virtually operate around the clock without a staff of attendants.

Flex-Serve

Reputed as the quintessential automatic carwashing platform and originally designed to replace the full-service format, flex-serve offers the same unique benefits of express-exterior washing, as well as two additional service components designed to optimize consumer choices: self-serve vending and vacuuming, as well as a comprehensive array of rapid-delivery, hands-on detailing services called express after-care. The three flex-serve components operate independently and free of individual time constraints. The self-serve component is a 24/7 entity, while the carwash and express after-care activities remain reactive to marketplace demand, weather limitations, labor availability, and other operator preferences.

The flex-serve exterior (sometimes called the ultra wash) has the added protection of self-branded, push-button products and services and can be optimized with innovative point-of-purchase merchandising and in-tunnel product presentation. With this model, service advisers interact with customers for maximized sales performance and typically manage transactions and monitor overall quality. However, since this platform is formulated for adaptability, some flex-serve operations opt for the blended choice of switching to after-hours, automated teller services for ultra-wash activities.

An important distinction between all other carwash platforms and flex-serve is the express after-care component. This is where all “hands-on” activities occur, implemented by teams of two cross-trained staff members who work in ergonomically enhanced, high-performance production areas. Unlike other carwash platforms, all after-care services are considered detailing activities and benefit from that professional process distinction.

All hands-on labor is centralized in the express after-care area. The cross-trained staff provides an effective balance of an operator’s labor resource, even when workers are occasionally absent. This staff agility offers valuable stability during very busy volume surges.

There are two basic express after-care models:

1. Static, drive-through modular production cell
2. Conveyorized, moving-floor, ultra-high-performance line

The static production cell modules can be stacked laterally or in tandem, with each workspace remaining essentially independent of adjacent spaces and self-contained for greater efficiency.

The conveyorized, moving-floor operation is conceptually similar to a conveyorized carwash model, except the speed of the process is considerably slower and calibrated to the pace of the services being performed. Nevertheless, the capacity of a moving-floor production area is considerably higher and capable of producing even greater efficacy in high-yield venues.

Unlike a fully automated express-exterior operation, flex-serve is based on utilizing people in key profit areas. Accordingly, those strategic labor resources remain infinitely scalable and can adapt to limited space requirements and grow exponentially in direct proportion to demand and operator preference. Essentially, a staff of two can operate a very profitable express after-care facility and immediately double an operation’s production capacity by utilizing the flex-serve process.