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(Wednesday 16 February 2022 – 1.30pm)
In this webinARC we explore incident claims processes and repair operations in a bid to unravel just what the current climate means for products, processes, plant, people and programmes (5Ps).
WTW partners with Thatcham Research
WTW and Thatcham Research have announced a new partnership that combines their market-leading data and analytical capabilities to deliver a more comprehensive understanding of the impact of increasingly advanced vehicle technologies on claims risk.
The tie-up will see Variant Code’s vehicle specificity combine with Claim Metrics’ data and analytics to give insurers far deeper, richer insights of emerging trends in claims risks at a granular level in terms of claims characteristics, geography and vehicle type.
Sherwood’s joins Fix in North East
Sherwoods Accident Repair Centre in the North East has joined the Fix Auto UK network.
The latest addition, which is part of the Sherwoods Motor Group, will now operate as Fix Auto Washington and joins following an aggressive programme of investment.
Currently, the operation repairs up to 30 vehicles a week but the senior management held no reservations by admitting their key rationale behind joining Fix Auto UK was to improve on work efficiencies in order to truly maximise the 30,000sqft repair centre and double its capacity.
Motofix secures ADAS training
Motofix Group has upskilled its workforce with a range of ADAS courses delivered by RWC Training.
The courses were delivered at Motofix sites in Yeovil and Northampton, with colleagues from a number of other sites taking part remotely. The training included an ADAS Awareness course for managers and VDAs while MET technicians completed an ADAS course to secure IMI accreditation.
Day’s celebrates carbon certification
Day’s Motor Group has announced that its Swansea accident repair site has achieved PAS 2060 certification.
It has partnered with ECA Business Energy to achieve this, following the agreed methodology of measuring their carbon footprint across all three scopes. As part of PAS 2060, it and has pledged to continuously reduce its carbon footprint across all three fronts.
Repair challenges going nowhere
The NBRA’s first Independent Group Summit of 2022 predicted that the challenges afflicting the sector now will persist for another 18-24 months.
It found that while claims levels have returned to around 85-90% of pre-pandemic levels, repair capacity is only at 75-80%, with fewer repairers, fewer skilled staff, disruptions to the supply chain causing parts delays, and reduced mobility options all having a negative impact on the market’s efficiency.
Vella Group earns VAG approval
The Vella Group has announced that a second site has secured manufacturer approval from the Volkswagen Group. The approval at its Workington site follows VAG approval at its Skelmersdale in Lancashire.
The Vella Group is now certified to repair a growing number of brands including Audi, ŠKODA UK, Cupra, SEAT, Volkswagen Group, and Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles.
Commission calls for Automated Vehicles Act
The Law Commission of England and Wales and the Scotland Law Commission have jointly published a report calling for a new Automated Vehicles Act to regulate the introduction of driverless cars. The new Act would draw a clear distinction between driver-assist and self-driving features, and apportion liability accordingly in the event of a collision.
It proposes that when self-driving features are in use then the technology provider or manufacturer will be responsible if anything goes wrong, and not the driver.
Tractable joins Guidewire PartnerConnect
AI solutions provider Tractable has joined Guidewire PartnerConnect. This will enable Guidewire ClaimCentre users to use Tractable’s technology to accelerate the recovery and claims process for insurers and policyholders.
Tractable’s uses AI and digital images to estimate repairs. Its solutions process over $2bn in year in vehicle repairs and purchases every year and have been employed by more than 20 of the world’s largest insurers.
Bentley announces £2.5bn EV strategy
Bentley is investing £2.5bn in an electrification strategy that will turn its Crewe headquarters into an EV ‘dream factory’ and secure the futures of more than 4,000 employees. It has said its first EV will roll off the production lines in Crewe in 2025, with a new EV model released every year after than until 2030.
Meanwhile, the site itself will transition into an EV hub and the introduction of sustainable practices will make it carbon neutral by 2030.
Road rule changes come into effect
Rules to improve the safety for all types of road users will be updated in The Highway Code from tomorrow (Saturday 29 January 2022).
The changes follow a public consultation which ran from July to October 2020, and received more than 20,000 responses from the public, businesses and other organisations.
Licence Bureau has produced a short video explaining the eight key changes which includes hierarchy of road users; people crossing the road at junctions; and overtaking when driving or cycling.
Cox Automotive predicts further uncertainty
Cox Automotive has warned the industry not to expect a return to pre-Covid-19 norms. In its first AutoFocus of the year, it predicts the problems of 2021 will persist through 2022 and beyond.
It urges the industry to adopt a military acronym, VUCA, which stands for volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity, and prepare to operate in a constantly changing environment. The report also suggests that supply chain disruption will not be resolved this year.
Sustainability catch up…
During ARC360’s most recent webinARC we explored the key themes of sustainability.
Featuring:
- Charlotte Burnige, company secretary, Coachwork Renovations Ltd
- Joe March, head of commercial & network management, The Green Parts Specialists
- Chris Payne, head of networks & engineering – home & motor, LV=
- Stuart Sandell, assistant vice president – sales, UK & Ireland, Enterprise Holdings
Click here to read the overview or watch again.
