Advance Auto Parts, Inc. is turning to an industry veteran to help give it a digital boost as its new chief technology officer (CTO).

The company named Shweta Bhatia, an industry veteran who has worked in internal technology for several notable retailers, including Dollar General, Walmart International and Kohl’s.

The retailer is one of the largest automotive aftermarket parts providers in the U.S. There, it competes in the same space as rivals AutoZone, O’Reilly Auto Parts and NAPA Auto Parts.

Advance Auto Parts is No. 89 in the Top 1000. The database is Digital Commerce 360’s ranking of North America’s leading online retailers by annual web sales. In the database, Advance Auto Parts falls under the Automotive Parts & Accessories category. Digital Commerce 360 projects that Advance Auto Parts’ 2025 online sales will reach $1.12 billion.

Advance Auto Parts web sales by year

Who is Advance Auto Parts’ new CTO?

Advance Auto Parts lauded its new team CTO in a Jan. 13 announcement.

“Shweta’s history of successfully executing transformational programs that focus on speed, efficiency, and providing quality solutions to customers will greatly contribute to executing our three-year financial plan,” said Shane O’Kelly, president and chief executive officer at Advance Auto Parts. “We welcome Shweta to our leadership team that is passionate about carrying out our decisive actions which will set up Advance for future growth and value creation.”

Bhatia brings over 20 years of retail, technology and operational experience to Advance. Most recently, Bhatia served as senior vice president of technology at Dollar General. There, she led a multi-year, end-to-end technology transformation and modernization to enhance the company’s operational efficiency. Bhatia also served at Walmart International, where she led the company’s core retail technology portfolio. At Kohl’s Corporation, she managed the strategy and implementation of solutions across multiple channels.

Bhatia received her MBA at the Amity Business School and a bachelor’s degree at IT College in India.

Sri Donthi, Advance Auto Parts’ current chief technology officer, will remain with the company to assist in the transition.

Advance Auto Parts did not respond to a request for comment from Digital Commerce 360 about Bhatia’s plans for her new role.

Digital opportunities for Advance Auto Parts

Steve Taplin, CEO of Sonatafy Technology and an expert in retail IT, said that Advance Auto Parts is steering itself in the right direction with Bhatia’s hiring.

“I believe that this move is an opportunity for Advance Auto to supercharge its digital game in a fiercely competitive aftermarket industry,” Taplin said. “Shweta Bhatia’s appointment signals a tech-forward pivot for Advance Auto.”

Taplin said Bhatia can drive significant impact if she focuses on a few key areas:

1. Omnichannel experience

Taplin said Advance Auto should focus on offering true “click-and-collect” convenience, ensuring parts are ready at local stores within minutes of an online purchase.

“With Bhatia’s leadership, they could invest in predictive inventory systems that reduce out-of-stock issues and expedite pickup,” Taplin explained.

2. Leverage data-driven personalization

Taplin said Advance Auto Parts could use machine learning to anticipate when customers need routine maintenance items (e.g., oil filters, wiper blades), then trigger timely email or text-message reminders with tailored deals or recommend parts based on vehicle history or local climate (e.g., snow tires for colder regions).

“This keeps customers engaged and fosters loyalty,” Taplin noted.

3. Modernize supply chain and fulfillment

Streamlining its supply chain by integrating real-time analytics that pinpoint bottlenecks and forecast spikes in part demand would help, Taplin explained.

“This is critical for the large, long-tail inventory typical in the automotive aftermarket,” he said. Moreover, he added that Advance Auto Parts should also expand last-mile delivery partnerships — whether through courier services or crowdsourced delivery.

“This way, high-demand parts get to customers faster than Amazon can promise,” Taplin stated.

4. Fend off the ecommerce giants

Taplin believes Advance Auto Parts should play to its strengths with its new hire. Doing so could position the company to compete with much larger online retailers.

“Bhatia can drive strategic collaborations with automotive forums, mechanic networks, and professional garages, forging an ecosystem that’s harder for generalist ecommerce competitors to replicate,” Taplin said.

In addition, he assessed that by positioning Advance Auto Parts as the go-to resource for both do-it-yourself customers and professional installers, the company can carve out a defensible niche centered on expertise and specialized support — not just low prices.

Advance Auto Parts has been battling consumer headwinds over the past year. As part of a turnaround strategy, the retailer announced plans in November 2024 to close over 700 U.S. locations, consisting of around 500 corporate-owned and 200 independently operated stores. The company has around 5,000 stores in North America.

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