Whenever you drive by a gas station or mini mart with a carwash, chances are it’s an in-bay wash. Historically, this type of eash has been the best choice for many gas stations, multi-use sites, and anywhere that space has been limited.
For years, little changed about their design, resulting in many older models operating to this very day. However, new options with serious advantages have entered the market in recent years. This has left many in-bay automatic operators wondering if they’re past due for an upgrade.
Modern in-bay automatics offer efficiency and visual appeal utterly out of reach for older models. Even more impressive, though, are the mini-express tunnels. These tunnels are doing what was once thought impossible — packing all the benefits of a tunnel into an in-bay automatic-sized footprint.
Consider, for example, the options now available from Ryko. The SoftGloss Mini-Express tunnel requires just 25 inches more length than its smallest SoftGloss MAXX wash bay model while allowing for three times the vehicle throughput, multiple express arches, and lucrative tire shine services. In other words, if you have two feet to spare, you could be selling three times the washes you are now with a single upgrade.
So, if change has been on your mind lately, you’ve come to the right place. We’ve laid out 12 reasons why upgrading your in-bay car wash is the right choice, right now. From standing out from the crowd to reducing costs or even boosting your business valuation, there’s a good reason out there for why you should consider switching.
1. Expand Your Wash Menu
In-bay automatics have long been touted for their flexibility, but that only applies to the space they require. When it comes to add-on services, they restrict wash owners from fully exploring their options or adapting to new contactless car wash trends. Their roll-over arch design just doesn’t leave much room for anything else.
When you upgrade to a mini-express tunnel, a whole new world of car wash tools and desirable add-ons becomes available. Wheel cleaning and tire shining services, for example, either aren’t available or come with serious logistical challenges for in-bay washes. With a mini-express tunnel, they’re easy to install, operate and upsell.
2. Improve Wash Quality
The all-in-one nature of in-bay car washes has always meant a less thorough wash. Their all-purpose fixtures can’t offer the same level of specialization per phase as a tunnel car wash. This dip in quality is a deterrent for some of the highest-spend customers – those willing to drive a little further and pay a little more for the best possible results.
Now, by upgrading to a mini tunnel, even space-limited locations can provide the same high-quality wash as larger tunnel facilities. An upgrade will allow you to turn those high-spend customers that once drove farther afield into satisfied customers, returning to your business time and again.
3. Reduce Wait Times With Upgraded Equipment
One of the biggest pain points for in-bay car wash operators has always been their low rate of cars per hour. Some have argued that their attendant-free, always-in-operation model makes up for their glacial speed. However, the hard reality of most markets is that there aren’t enough customers seeking a car wash at two in the morning to make up for the losses during peak times.
An upgrade to a mini-express tunnel wash radically increases the cars per hour a facility can handle. A well-tuned Ryko SoftGloss Mini-Express, for example, can handle as many as 50 cars per hour, more than three times the 10 to 15 cars per hour rate considered typical for in-bay automatics.
4. Increase Energy Efficiency
The better the energy efficiency of the car wash equipment, the higher the return on investment is going to be. Energy-efficient operations mean less spend on electricity, water, and other utilities without sacrificing wash quality or customer experience.
Just upgrading from an older in-bay automatic to a modern one supports energy efficiency, particularly if the older model never had variable-frequency drives (VFDs) installed. VFDs adjust the motor speed on equipment to match current load requirements. They generate substantial energy savings by reducing motor speed during low-activity periods.
There are even more energy-efficient features when in-bay automatic washes are upgraded to mini tunnels. The right tunnel controller can fine-tune water and chemical application to within one inch before and after each vehicle, reducing energy, water, and chemical consumption. It can also look back to see when another vehicle is approaching shortly after the current one and keep equipment running. In these scenarios, it uses less energy to keep the equipment on than to power it down and up again.
5. Lower Your Maintenance Costs
This one’s fairly self-explanatory — older equipment costs more in maintenance. High-quality car wash machines can last 10 years or more, but even the best-maintained systems will require more maintenance with age. Upgrading is the best way to address rising maintenance costs, pure and simple.
6. Appeal to Eco-Conscious Consumers
Major improvements to energy efficiency and water recycling are all but guaranteed when replacing an old in-bay automatic. That’s nice for the planet, of course, and good for the bottom line when it means saving on utilities. However, it can also be a strong differentiator to help you attract eco-conscious customers.
Climate anxiety is a real problem, and it’s rising. Customers facing daily concern for the well-being of our planet are extremely unlikely to patronize a business they think is wasting water and burning through fossil fuels. Upgrading your facilities to something state of the art, designed with conservation and efficiency in mind, gives you a strong message to draw these customers back.
7. Attract a Wider Customer Base With Diverse Service Offerings
We’ve already established that running an old in-bay automatic means fewer offerings and minimal flexibility to tap into trends. Upgrading to a new system, particularly a mini-express tunnel, is an excellent way to begin capitalizing on emerging ideas and growing your total revenue per wash.
Integrating emerging ideas can attract new customers. Folks who haven’t seen the appeal of paying for a car wash service before just might be convinced by new protections and services coming down the pipeline.
8. Keep Up With Industry Trends
Of course, there are more reasons than just attracting customers to keep up with new trends in the car wash process. If your in-bay automatic is particularly old, you’ve probably already realized that once enough industry trends have slipped by, your establishment will begin to seem outdated by comparison.
In this situation, the challenge shifts from attracting new customers to retaining your current ones. Even loyal patrons can be tempted away if you don’t keep up with what competitors provide. Installing modern, more flexible equipment is the fastest, most comprehensive way to ensure your automatic touchless car wash or full-service wash business doesn’t get left behind.
9. Use Unique Features to Stand out in the Market
Finding a new marketing angle is a tried and tested tactic to increase sales. However, it’s not an easy feat when everything is just business as usual. Upgrading your facility unlocks a world of compelling angles to make your operation stand out.
We already touched on improved sustainability as one quality to feature. The modern appeal of a new mini-express tunnel is another exciting angle to lean into. Now you’re the business providing all the services of a state-of-the-art tunnel but in a space that previously was impossibly small to house such an operation effectively.
The best angle to promote your upgraded offerings will depend on your market and the competition within it. However, even if it’s just a matter of reaffirming your quality and dependability, replacing an outdated in-bay sends the right message.
10. Reduce Water Usage
Water conservation is a major source of concern for many customers these days. Fortunately, updating your old in-bay auto car wash is all but guaranteed to result in water savings. That means both a lower water bill and a bona fide gold star for your business’s environmental footprint. Newer systems are built with water reclamation in mind, allowing for easy adaptation to new or existing recycling systems.
11. Meet All Safety Standards
Safety standards and regulations are always evolving. The older your equipment, the higher the likelihood you’ll wind up on the non-compliant end of the next ordinance. Retrofitting old equipment is sometimes an option, but these fixes rarely offer the same level of efficiency and reliability as a system built to exceed modern standards in the first place.
Of course, upgrading an outdated in-bay automatic car wash costs money and time. However, those costs are always worth it if they mean keeping your business open and in good standing.
12. Boost Your Business Valuation
Finally, there’s the inherent value of cutting-edge equipment to consider. For both financing and future sales value, there’s no substitute for having an updated, modern facility. Upgrading your outdated in-bay automatic car wash is perhaps the most valuable move you can make as a business owner besides your initial investment.
Take Your In-Bay Car Wash to the Next Level
Dreaming of a seamless transition to a mini express tunnel carwash? National Carwash Solutions offers Ryko equipment that can make that dream a reality. With over five decades in the field, we have the tools, equipment and expertise you need to bring your business into a whole new era of success. Contact us today to get started.
