The white papers within look at the various sides of our business from the repair to the collision side and look at everything from the state of the industry to best practices within a collision or a repair shop. See why shops rely on shop management systems or how the collision industry is ever-evolving.
The automotive industry has undergone a significant shakeup… for the better! New cars are more reliable than ever before. And that’s despite the fact that they are also more complex than ever before. The thing about technology is that it feeds on itself. Innovations build on each other and changes come faster and faster. Today, it seems as if new technologies occur with every new model year.
Online holiday shopping went through the roof this past season. On Black Friday alone, 50 million Americans visited online retail sites, an increase of 35 percent over last year.* What does that mean to you? It underlines what has been obvious for a long time. People are doing business online.
March 20, 2012Michael Colantonio - ASE Certified Master Technician, Automotive Repair Industry Veteran, Writer
Most independent automotive repair shops struggle with how to mark up their parts purchases. Many shops use a “double-the-cost” strategy. For a majority of the parts they purchase, they simply double the price they paid and charge this to the customer. While this is a widely accepted practice in the automotive repair industry, it may actually hurt a shop’s gross profit margin (GPM) for part sales.
March 20, 2012Dan Espersen - ALLDATA Collision Senior Program ManagerAnnette Mullin - ALLDATA Marketing Manager
State of the collision industry today
In an industry where demand is two-thirds of supply, where relations with insurers are challenging, and where technology is playing an ever increasing role, collision repair shops must step up their game in order to stay in business. The state of the collision industry and its future was the focus of a round table discussion at the 2009 International Autobody Congress & Exposition (NACE). The discussion was led by Jason Stahl, Editor of BodyShop Business magazine (a Babcox publication).
Hybrid technology helps reduce emissions and oil dependency. The United States imports nearly 60% of its oil needs, and hybrid cars, trucks and SUVs can consume up to 50% less fuel than other vehicles. Several manufacturers have developed hybrid vehicles with more on the way. Hybrids incorporate high-voltage batteries, electric motors and traditional internal combustion engines. The battery is recharged onboard via a regenerative braking system.
In today’s heavily regulated and highly competitive marketplace, automobile manufacturers share many common concerns: greater vehicle safety, improved fuel economy and lower manufacturing costs, among others. One approach to help resolve these issues has been to develop structural materials that are lightweight, while still offering strength and flexibility.
Shop Management Systems (SMS) are software programs, which assist automotive repair shop owners to efficiently and profitably manage their overall businesses. Most systems are designed to make the write-up process fast and easy, and to handle basic tasks usually perceived as chores:
Every vehicle that enters your service bays represents an opportunity to better serve your customers with comprehensive vehicle inspections and recommendations for necessary component replacement. The amount of effort you expend promoting and providing regular vehicle maintenance may make the difference between having a solid database of loyal, lifetime customers or an endless stream of sporadic, one-time coupon shoppers.
According to the latest statistics published in Nielsen’s NetRatings, January 2007, 210,080,067 people or 69.4% of the population in the United States are using the Internet. Over the last seven years, the growth rate has been a staggering 120%. Millions of people are going on-line daily to perform a multitude of tasks, from searching for information and services to purchasing a massive amount of products and even managing their finances.
Whether you work on your own vehicle or not, there will come a time when you need to take your four-wheeled friend to a repair shop. Searching for a competent automobile technician can be similar to finding a doctor. The person you choose to diagnose and treat your car has to be both professionally qualified and trustworthy. After all, this is a family member – right?
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