Recent Columns
- Toby Chess Shares Best Practice Documents for Collision Repairers
- Collision Repair Industry Thought Leaders Share Innovative Ideas During IDEAS Collide Showcase: Part 2
- National Survey of Auto Body Shops Finds Revenues Going Up but Concerns Rising as Well
- Do Automakers, Insurers See Auto Body Shops Meeting Both DRP and OEM Certification Requirements?
- Fully Automated AI Collision Repair Estimating ‘Not There Yet’
Columns
Toby Chess Shares Best Practice Documents for Collision Repairers
Written by Toby Chess
This is the first installment of Toby Chess's newsletter, in which he will share more than 100 Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for auto body shops, tools, trends in repair and anything he thinks could help shops improve.
Collision Repair Industry Thought Leaders Share Innovative Ideas During IDEAS Collide Showcase: Part 2
Written by Stacey Phillips
Total losses, the Database Enhancement Gateway, computer vision and sustainability were some of the topics discussed during the IDEAS Collide Showcase held during the 2021 SEMA Show.
National Survey of Auto Body Shops Finds Revenues Going Up but Concerns Rising as Well
Written by John Yoswick
A national survey of collision repairers in the final two months of 2021 found well over half of shops (58%) expected their full-year sales to outpace 2020, with nearly one in five shops predicting they would end 2021 with a year over year increase of 20% or more.
Do Automakers, Insurers See Auto Body Shops Meeting Both DRP and OEM Certification Requirements?
Written by John Yoswick
A panel during the Collision Industry Conference (CIC) in November included representatives of two automakers and two insurance companies addressing a topic that repairers and others discussed at a previous CIC: can an auto body shop participate both in direct repair and OE certification programs, and meet the requirements of both?
Fully Automated AI Collision Repair Estimating ‘Not There Yet’
Written by John Yoswick
A panel discussion at the Collision Industry Conference (CIC) in Las Vegas in November included representatives from a number of technology companies touting the potential benefits---for auto body shops and insurers---of artificial intelligence (AI) estimating, but also acknowledging some of its current limitations.
Auto Body Shop Owner Steps into World of Consulting
Written by Ed Attanasio
I was at a California Autobody Association (CAA) meeting recently and I couldn’t help but notice a well-dressed man at the front table.
From the Desk of Mike Anderson: Can You Meet Collision Repair Shop Customers’ Changing Expectations of Service?
Written by Mike Anderson
I recently had the opportunity to meet in person with many of my 20 Group clients, and one of the things that came up was collision repair customers are not as patient as they used to be.
Author/Teacher Trains and Mentors the Collision Repair Insurance Adjusters of the Future
Written by Ed Attanasio
Some auto body shops appreciate insurance adjusters and their role in the collision repair industry, while others don’t necessarily feel the same way. But all seem to agree it’s a necessary job.
Collision Repair Industry Thought Leaders Share Innovative Ideas During IDEAS Collide Showcase
Written by Stacey Phillips
Thought leaders from across the collision repair industry had the opportunity to share innovative ideas at the IDEAS Collide Showcase held during the 2021 SEMA Show.
Gandrud Parts Center Works Hard on the Wholesale Side
Written by Ed Attanasio
It’s called wholesale and if you’re not wholly dedicated to doing it yet, it can lead to a whole lot of headaches and lost revenue.
More...
Industry Veteran Establishes Pet-Rescue-AutoShop.com
Written by Ed Attanasio
Steven Schillinger of Reno, NV, has worked as a collision repair industry consultant in different capacities for more than 40 years, as a compliance expert focusing on permits, license protection and record keeping.
From the Ford Model T until the 1970s, dents were a two-sided operation. You would push from the inside with a dolly and hammer on the outside until you had a semi smooth panel.
Retired Tech Looks Back at 67 Years in Collision Repair
Written by Ed Attanasio
Over the years, I have interviewed a lot of collision repair professionals as they retire from the industry. If someone can work in this business for 30, 40 or even 50 years, it’s obviously an impressive run.
Auto Body Shop Billing Practices Related to Total Losses, Not-Included Procedures
Written by John Yoswick
Disconnecting and later reconnecting a vehicle’s battery during collision repair work is no longer the simple operation it used to be---and auto body shops are increasingly understanding the need to research the OEM procedures for doing so, and seeking to be paid for the labor entailed.