Blog

Notes from the parts trade.

We’re writing about what we’re learning — cross-referencing, supplier networks, fleet downtime, dismantler economics, and what makes a good parts API.

Cross-reference · Featured

Why your aftermarket part number search is wrong half the time

Most parts catalogues are flat lists. We dig into why a graph beats a list — with worked examples on a Mk7 Golf MAP sensor and a Transit brake disc.

22 May 20263 min read

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Fleet

The hidden cost of a vehicle off the road

A practical model for VOR cost — from missed deliveries to driver utilisation — and how parts-sourcing time fits into it.

15 May 20264 min read

Dismantler

A used wing mirror is also a new wing mirror

Why the cross-reference graph turns a single donor vehicle into matches across five model variants — and what that does to inventory turn at an ATF.

8 May 20263 min read

API

What we learnt building the Parts Resolve API

Designing a parts API for trade buyers: handling fuzzy part numbers, attaching evidence, and choosing between batch and stream endpoints.

1 May 20264 min read

Industry

A field guide to UK part-number formats

OEM, supersession, brand-equivalent, regional. A practical guide to what the dashes, leading zeros and trailing letters actually mean.

24 April 20264 min read

Engineering

How we score confidence on a cross-reference

A walk through the inputs, weights and edge cases of our match-confidence model. Plus the cases where we mark a match as needing human review.

17 April 20265 min read

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