MRO Insider is a tech-based SaaS company with a network of service providers across many sectors of business aviation. Using proprietary technology, MRO Insider allows aircraft owners and operators to send out a single request for the type of service they need.
MRO Insider has over 250 provider locations on the network. More than 2500 aircraft are registered using the network to request AOG, fuel, ground handling, detailing and parts – allowing each operator efficiency in their request process and each provider the opportunity respond with dynamic pricing based on capacity in real-time. Requests are only sent to network providers based on capabilities.
The MRO Insider app is updated in real-time, allowing your AOG, Detailing and GSE requests to be pushed to any provider within a 300-mile radius of your request. To know more about this path breaking development in the Aviation MRO Industry, Andy Nixon, President and Co-founder, MRO Insider speaks with MRO Business Today. Read ON!
Q – MRO insider has added 6 FBO’s to the existing 8 FBO’s totaling to 14 FBO’s and this is available in App developed by MRO Insider. MRO insider has plans to increase Fixed base operator or FBO’s to more than 100. How do you aim to increase 100 FBO’s or Fixed base operators in 2022?
Ans – We will accomplish this goal by continuing national and international outreach and educating FBOs on the advantages of quoting through our platform such as utilizing for hangar rental, ground transportation, lav service, and other ancillary services. The MRO Insider model is focused on current market pricing, which proves to be more advantageous to flight departments, service providers, and FBOs. Instead of restricting our platform to one FBO at one airport, our app allows flight departments to ping any FBO within 100 nm of the destination ICAO, thus driving competition based on the supply and demand of ramp space, fuel pricing, fees, and more.
Q – As you have said that FBO’s have suffered for many years due to margin reduction. This is due to an increase in the fuel rates and also the FBO reduces the customer acquisition costs and the administration fees. What are the benefits and disadvantages in opening more FBO’s?
Ans – Obviously, the biggest hurdle would be reaching market saturation, just like any other business. A big threat our team sees is the monopolization of the FBO market, where a couple of large FBO chains will push out the small and medium-sized FBOs. Through our constant feedback, flight departments would rather have multiple options for FBO services, instead of exclusively using the largest of the FBO companies. The customer service and experience that independent FBOs can provide will never be matched by the large chains. We feel it is our duty at MRO Insider to use our technology and level the playing field by allowing open market pricing and third-party reviews of the providers. Since the rise of contract fuel in the 1980s, nobody has looked out for the interests of the FBOs. By teaming up, we should be able to find a middle ground.
Q – The MRO insider app gives information of FBO’s operating with the app. What are the various information developed by the app for FBO’s. Can you describe the details of information provided by the MRO inside app and the FBO’s –Fixed Base Operator?
Ans – Sure. First and foremost, FBO locations are visible and directly ‘pingable’ through our live map within the app. The advantage for FBOs and flight departments is they may be heading to FXE, but the FBO locations located at FLL may have not been on the radar. With our app, the flight departments can quickly login, in and view the FBO profile page that has a list of amenities such as catering, hangar rental, detailing, and more.
Q – The MRO insider Platform provides information to all FBO’s relating to fuel, hangar space, transportation, lavatory services and more within the app. How does the information in the app benefit the FBO operators?
Ans – For the FBO, the flight department provides information such as gallons needed, best contract fuel rate in that area, arrival date/time, departure date/time, and the preferred payment method of that flight department. Putting myself in the shoes of the FBO, I would love to have access to that information so I can price my fuel, ramp fees, and other services appropriately. FBOs have shared with us they do everything in their power to avoid selling contract fuel vs communicating and transacting with a flight department directly. If contract fuel takes .10-.25/gallon and they can avoid that, everybody wins – the FBO due to raising the margin, and the flight department for not paying the built-in fee. If the FBO has the above information, the price can be tailored to win that customer.
Q – How did you manage the Pandemic and Covid times and what was the impact on your business?
Ans – Our business remained in growth mode during the pandemic. It helped our company in one respect because workers started to use more technology and virtual options. The MRO Insider team has always worked remotely, so nothing changed on that front. Today, more and more flight departments are realizing the importance of sourcing multiple quotes for scheduled maintenance, AOG, and FBO service in order to appease the accounting departments. Our app saves hours of labor by dramatically reducing time spent on multiple phone calls, emails, Google searches, and more. Time is money, especially when the industry is running leaner today than ever before.
