Environment, Insurance, People, Salvage, Supplier, Technology, Vehicle Repair and Words
Copart UK has announced the acquisition of Hills Salvage and Recycling – The Green Parts Specialist.
The full acquisition includes the Hills UK’s Skelsmerdale headquarters, a new site in Scotland and a Gloucestershire parts hub, as well as the transporter fleet and specialist technology systems.
Ian and Lucy Hill and the rest of the Hills team will remain in place and Copart has said that all existing customer relationships will continue without interruption.
Copart’s UK CEO Jane Pocock said, “I am excited to welcome the Hills team to the Copart family and looking forward to extending our range of services that give our sellers the very best choice around their Cat S and Cat B damaged vehicles and engaging with the bodyshop networks to provide parts with provenance.
“When you combine the strength of our salvage solutions, both in the volume and capability sense, with Hills’ world class green parts service and progressive inventory platform, we really can offer an unrivalled nationwide service.”
Ian Hills said, “Hills Salvage & Recycling and The Green Parts Specialist are recognised leaders in the UK recycling industry. Combining our parts solution with the infrastructure and vehicle inventory of Copart opens up a tremendous opportunity to offer an unparalleled service to the UK insurance and repair industry through our circular recycling process.”
He added, “Save for rebranding to The Green Parts Specialist, I don’t expect any changes about how we do things at Hills. Our strategic goal has always been to offer the UK’s largest inventory of quality assured Green Parts on the shelf, available for next day delivery. Combining our infrastructure with Copart has simply accelerated that process for which our customers will benefit hugely.”
Car Rental, Environment, Insurance, Mobility, Salvage, Supplier, Technology, Vehicle Repair and Words
Presenting to delegates on the showcase stage at the inaugural ARC360/ILC Motor Claims Showcase event, Commercial Manager Kevern Thompson explained the integral role CAPS plays in the motor claims journey, and offered a glimpse into what further developments it is working on.
Headline sponsored by Enterprise Rent-A-Car, along with fellow sponsors EDAM Group, Control Expert and Procurato, the Motor Claims Showcase featured keynote presentations, panel discussions, partner showcases and interactive displays from 30-plus exhibitors.
CAPS (Common Automotive Platform Standard) has established itself at the heart of motor claims. Using the latest security standards to exchange data without storing it, it is the only industry agnostic platform that connects bodyshops, work providers and insurers.
Easily adopted, it requires no license fee, no training and no software installations, and the numbers back up its value to the industry:
Meanwhile, to ensure CAPS remains at the cutting edge of innovation and continues to deliver for a fast-evolving industry it has trusted future developments to its National Advisory Council, which comprises industry leaders from insurance companies, bodyshops, vehicle manufacturers, supply chain companies, claims management companies and independent organisations like Thatcham Research and NBRA. They meet quarterly to ensure CAPS meets the needs of the industry going forward.
On that front, Kevern revealed that the next generation platform (V3) will provide even more transparency and efficiency.
He said, “The CAPS platform provides seamless communication between insurers, work providers and bodyshops, ensuring data is fast, accessible and accurate, removing friction and increasing efficiency. But V3 will go even further, providing enhanced data facilitation among disparate supply chain workflows.”
The benefits of this horizontal development are myriad: improved workflow; a seamless and transparent process that eliminates double-keying; a fully connected supply chain; and automatic translation of status codes and definitions to provide clarity.
Kevern said, “It offers unparalleled innovation and future system configuration flexibility.”
He concluded by suggesting that the value of CAPS will only increase as the industry and consumer demand even more digitalisation, while increased regulation the proliferation of data sources makes transparency, efficiency and accuracy even more critical.
He said, “CAPS provides complete control over who sees your information and uses the latest security encryption to exchange data. It keeps everyone up to date in real time, delivering a single version of the truth.”
ILC would like to thank its motor Corporate Partners: AkzoNobel; Audatex; Autoglass; CAPS; Carpenters Group; Copart; Davies Group; e2e; Entegral; Enterprise Rent-A-Car; Gemini ARC; GT Motive; The Green Parts Specialists; IAA; Innovation Group; S&G Response; Sherwin Williams; and thingco.
ARC360 would like to thank its Corporate Partners: Audatex; BASF; BMS; CAPS; Copart; EMACS; Entegral; Enterprise Rent-A-Car; Innovation Group; Mirka; NWVA; S&G Response; and Sherwin Williams, as well as Partners asTech; The Green Parts Specialists; Indasa; and Prasco UK.
Environment, Insurance, Mobility, People, Technology and Words
Insurance, liability and legislation are all being left behind by the rising usage of e-scooters.
That was the message during a showcase presentation delivered by Davies Group at the inaugural ARC360/ILC Motor Claims Showcase event, which took place on Wednesday 29 June at the CBS Arena, Coventry.
The event, headline sponsored by Enterprise Rent-A-Car, along with fellow sponsors EDAM Group, Control Expert and Procurato, sought to elevate standards within the accident damage sector by sharing best practice across the supply chain through a full agenda of keynote addresses, presentations and panel discussions.
Some 400 delegates attended the event, which also featured over 30 exhibitors and networking opportunities.
Speaking on the showcase stage, Dr Richard Ellwood, GBB (UK) began by explaining the current legislation around e-scooters. He said that trials of 23,000 e-scooters are currently being held in 31 regions in the UK. These trials are due to end in November, after which the government will hold a public consultation addressing safety issues, benefits and public perception, with a view to legalising their wider usage.
However, he revealed that the illegal use of e-scooters is rising dramatically with estimates suggesting there are now as many as 750,000 on UK roads, most of which do not meet legislative requirements while many others have been modified to exceed the typical 15-20mph limit. Some, he said, can now reach speeds of 50mph.
The consequences can and have been severe. Although accurate statistics are difficult to obtain, provisional data suggests that there were 1,280 collisions in 2021 – up from 460 in 2020 – with 1,359 casualties. Of these, 390 were serious, with nine fatalities.
He revealed that nearly 20% of injuries were head injuries due to the low rates of helmet use.
But as e-scooter drivers are uninsured and untraceable, unaccountability is a genuine concern.
To better understand the causes and consequences of these collisions, and to raise safety standards around e-scooters, Davies Group has called for fuller investigations post-incident.
Firstly, Ellwood said that the vehicle itself needs to be examined more forensically. That includes assessing the mechanical condition of the vehicle, such as brakes, tyres and tyre pressure. Investigators must also establish if modifications have been made to speed settings and bodywork, as well as checking for marks and paint transfer.
He also urged investigators to carry out an incident reconstruction, using evidence from the scene, from video footage and witnesses, to gain a deeper insight into the behaviours of e-scooter drivers.
ILC would like to thank its motor Corporate Partners: AkzoNobel; Audatex; Autoglass; CAPS; Carpenters Group; Copart; Davies Group; e2e; Entegral; Enterprise Rent-A-Car; Gemini ARC; GT Motive; The Green Parts Specialists; IAA; Innovation Group; S&G Response; Sherwin Williams; and thingco.
ARC360 would like to thank its Corporate Partners: Audatex; BASF; BMS; CAPS; Copart; EMACS; Entegral; Enterprise Rent-A-Car; Innovation Group; Mirka; NWVA; S&G Response; and Sherwin Williams, as well as Partners asTech; The Green Parts Specialists; Indasa; and Prasco UK.
Environment, Insurance, People, Supplier, Technology, Training, Vehicle Repair and Words
The VBRA has created a new standard for accident repair in the commercial vehicle industry.
Appropriate for trucks, buses, coaches, trailers and large vans, the Elite Truck & Van Body Repair Standard will utilise the certifications from the IMI and other bodies to identify competency of technicians in this complex repair sector.
The standard consists of several grades of membership:
Elite Truck & Van Body Repair (structural with Cab and chassis repair)
Elite Truck Repair (structural with cab and chassis repair)
Elite Van Repair (structural with chassis repair)
Elite Truck & Van (non-structural no cab or chassis repairs)
Repairers must undergo a full audit and inspection before being granted membership. Their details will then be held on the ITA platform, enabling work providers to assess their qualifications, equipment and capabilities.
Meanwhile, as part of the standard, the Elite member will also be expected to ensure an independent inspection of completed work over a cost threshold to provide ongoing quality control.
Bodyshop, Car Rental, Environment, Finance, Insurance, Mobility, Supplier and Words
CEO of the EDAM Group Simon Gallimore told delegates at the inaugural Motor Claims Showcase event that the industry has reached a crossroads and the time for change is now.
Headline sponsored by Enterprise Rent-A-Car, along with fellow sponsors EDAM Group, Control Expert and Procurato, the Motor Claims Showcase event took place on Wednesday 29 June at the CBS Arena, Coventry.
Some 400 delegates attended the event which, through a series of panel discussions, partner showcases and interactive displays from 30-plus exhibitors, examined best practices across the accident damage supply chain.
Speaking on the showcase stage, Simon focused his attentions on the credit hire sector and explained that not only is fundamental change necessary to put the consumer back at the heart of the process, but also that the social and economic environment is being influenced by a range of factors that mean change is critical for businesses in the industry to optimise profitability.
He pointed to issues such as the semi-conductor shortage, the lingering impact of Covid-19, the conflict in Ukraine, rising energy prices, continued disruption to the supply chain, inflation and the challenges businesses across all industries are facing around staff shortages – all of which are putting strain on operations.
However, with greater collaboration between insurers and credit hire companies, he said the industry could work together to:
put the consumer back at the heart of the process
remove unnecessary friction
reduce unnecessary costs.
Simon also called for a wider reform to the General Terms of Agreement (GTA). With the focus still on keeping the consumer front and centre of the process, he urged key industry stakeholders to support the tightening of GTA governance through the delivery of independent oversight and regular reviews, while also ensuring there are genuine consequences for non-compliance from either side.
“If ever there was a time for change, it’s now,” he said.
Edam Group is the largest privately owned credit hire and post-accident services provider, operating its own fleet.
ILC would like to thank its motor Corporate Partners: AkzoNobel; Audatex; Autoglass; CAPS; Carpenters Group; Copart; Davies Group; e2e; Entegral; Enterprise Rent-A-Car; Gemini ARC; GT Motive; The Green Parts Specialists; IAA; Innovation Group; S&G Response; Sherwin Williams; and thingco.
ARC360 would like to thank its Corporate Partners: Audatex; BASF; BMS; CAPS; Copart; EMACS; Entegral; Enterprise Rent-A-Car; Innovation Group; Mirka; NWVA; S&G Response; and Sherwin Williams, as well as Partners asTech; The Green Parts Specialists; Indasa; and Prasco UK.
Bodyshop, Environment, Insurance, People, Salvage, Supplier, Technology, Training and Words
Reimagining the relationship between insurers, repairers and salvage operators could cut claims times and costs, while also delivering a better customer experience.
Speaking to delegates at the inaugural ARC360/ILC Motor Claims Showcase event, which took place on Wednesday 29 June at the CBS Arena, Coventry, e2e CEO Jim Loughran said that moving from a linear relationship to a triangular one with data flowing freely between all points can unlock efficiencies, reduce costs and cut carbon emissions at the same time.
He said that with external pressures being exerted on the sector, now is the right time to make this shift and he identified two key areas of opportunity: reclaimed parts and integration.
Both, he believed, could help the industry overcome the challenges around capacity and slow key-to-key times caused by supply chain disruption. Underlining the extent of these challenges, he revealed that motor claims accident damage inflation had increased by more than 8.2% in the first six months of last year, while parts supply issues now mean a quarter of jobs are held up by more than a week.
A consequence of these logjams is that in February the NBRA reported that 10,000 vehicles were waiting to be brought in for repairs. This is neither sustainable for repairers, profitable for insurers or satisfactory for customers.
Laughran said, “So what can salvage organisations do about these logjams? Feeding reclaimed parts back into the insurance repair cycle helps unblock the parts logjam. As the largest UK-wide network of independent salvage operators, e2e has access to well over five million quality-graded warranty-assured reclaimed parts ready to be delivered overnight.
“Access to them has a multitude of benefits: it reduces the number of vehicles declared as a total loss due to being uneconomical; more policyholders retain their vehicles; key-to-key times are reduced; and credit hire and motor claims costs are reduced.
“So what’s blocking all these benefits becoming standard practice?”
Laughran suggested the problem was threefold – relationships, IT and processes.
He said the industry needs to move towards a tripartite relationship between insurers, repairers and salvage operators in which all three parts are joined together and data and information flows seamlessly between each. The result would be quicker order fulfilment, reliable inventory levels, and detailed parts information shared consistently and in real time between all those parties.
In terms of processes, he revealed that 30% of revenues are lost across all industries due to inefficiencies. He said this happens because processes are established to meet customer needs, those needs evolve and new processes are added on top of old one. In an industry with many process and applications, the scale of the problem is compounded.
“What’s required is a shift in attitude and a willingness to integrate systems, processes and thinking. Imagine what the reclaimed part system could look like with a tripartite approach: a seamless end-to-end process where the insurer, the salvage agent and the bodyshop are able to access real time, reliable, accurate, consistent data.”
He said this would improve underwriting, help bodyshops manage parts supply while also helping to detect fraud.
“Surely the time has come to collaborate and by improving our integration we will be able to offer policyholders and a more seamless and swift customer experience.”
The Motor Claims Showcase event was headline sponsored by Enterprise Rent-A-Car, along with fellow sponsors EDAM Group, Control Expert and Procurato.
ILC would like to thank its motor Corporate Partners: AkzoNobel; Audatex; Autoglass; CAPS; Carpenters Group; Copart; Davies Group; e2e; Entegral; Enterprise Rent-A-Car; Gemini ARC; GT Motive; The Green Parts Specialists; IAA; Innovation Group; S&G Response; Sherwin Williams; and thingco.
ARC360 would like to thank its Corporate Partners: Audatex; BASF; BMS; CAPS; Copart; EMACS; Entegral; Enterprise Rent-A-Car; Innovation Group; Mirka; NWVA; S&G Response; and Sherwin Williams, as well as Partners: asTech; The Green Parts Specialists; Indasa; and Prasco UK.
Environment, Insurance, Mobility, People, Salvage, Supplier, Technology, Training, Vehicle Repair, vehicle sales and Words
Construction has begun on Thatcham Research’s new UK centre of excellence at Retford (Gamston) Airport.
The multi-million-pound development will see Thatcham Research create a UK centre of excellence around vehicle technology testing and safety research that will attract future investment as well as employment and skills development in the area, while securing a long-term future for aviation.
The initial construction work started on 20 June 2022, with the first phase focused on ensuring the continued safe operation of aviation with upgrades to the main runway, markings and runway lighting, as well as development of part of the site for vehicle technology testing and safety research. Construction work is expected to be completed in September 2022.
During this period, the airport will be closed to all visiting aircraft. Businesses and private flyers based at Gamston will continue to be able to operate using an alternative runway (14/32).
Jonathan Hewett, chief executive at Thatcham Research said: “We are extremely excited to begin to realise our ambition of creating a UK centre of excellence for vehicle technology research and safety assurance testing, as well as securing a long-term future for aviation at Gamston.
“We have ambitious plans around employment and skills development at Gamston. We will be looking to create 30 jobs in this first phase, through the recruitment of key engineering and support roles from across the area, as well as transferring some of our staff from Berkshire to Gamston.
“We are also exploring opportunities with Bassetlaw District Council on extending the training and skills development that we already undertake for the automotive repair industry, with more than 3,500 technicians and apprentices benefitting from our training every year.”
Environment, Insurance, People, Salvage, Supplier, Technology, Vehicle Repair and Words
Solera Audatex and Ireland’s leading car history check and automotive data solutions company Cartell have launched a new solution to help insurers in the country comply with imminent amendments to the Road Traffic Act.
The upcoming amendments will require vehicle insurers to notify the Department of Transport’s National Vehicle Driver File when a vehicle is written off.
The new automated service will simplify the notification Category A or Category B inspections by using Audatex’s AudaEnterpriseGold to generate a daily total loss report, which Cartell will then use to check the status of each vehicle.
Once verified, a summary of all Category A and B vehicles will be submitted to the Department of Transport automatically.
Tom Hart, Head of Client Relations for Solera Audatex, said: “The Total Loss solution offers insurers a comprehensive and intuitive workflow, anticipating their needs and providing them the automated tools to ensure consistent and best value outcomes in line with the very latest legislation.”
Nicola Aherne, Commercial & Operations Director for Cartell, said: “It’s essential for insurers to work within the regulations without unnecessary admin or cost. Products such as the Total Loss Solution make legal compliance fast and efficient. Our vehicle database expertise combines well with Audatex’s insurance and bodyshop solutions to ensure that vehicle status can be updated easily, and that history is then available to the trade and the public.”
Bodyshop, Environment, Insurance, Mobility, Technology, vehicle sales, wellbeing and Words
Motor Claims Showcase sets the standard
ARC360 in association with ILC delivered the next level in live events with the inaugural Motor Claims Showcase event, which took place on Wednesday 29 June at the CBS Arena, Coventry.
Combining keynote addresses from leading influencers in the sector, wide-ranging panel discussions, partner showcases, interactive displays from 30-plus exhibitors, a next-generation ‘meet and greet’ session as well as extended networking opportunities, the event turned the spotlight on best practices across the supply chain, and specifically the accident damage sector.
GM announces EUeye investment
General Motors has announced new investment into UVeye, which provides advanced vehicle diagnostic systems.
The two companies will now work on vehicle-inspection technology projects, while GM will also explore to expansion of UVeye’s automated high-speed systems into its 4,000-plus dealerships.
Repair costs calculated
WTW in conjunction with Audatex has released a new solution that predicts the impact inflation will have on repair costs.
By combining repair data from Audatex with machine learning and historical data analysis from experts at WTW, the solution is able to predict repair inflation for different vehicle categories and fuel types.
The most recent releases showcase the paths of two Vehicle Damage Assessors, Neil Harmston, who joined the company 22 years ago in part procurement, and Radu Barcaru, who has been a VDA for four years after a previous career in Romania as a lawyer.
By incorporating data from an even wider pool of sources, it will help insurers to accurately calculate the pre-accident value of a vehicle and offer settlements that are up-to-date and in line with Financial Conduct Authority policies.
RED EU and RED Autocentres will be consolidated under the brand name Repairify, while the asTech remote solution will continue to be leveraged as a diagnostic brand name, driven by Repairify.
Tom Kelsall also suffers from Type One Diabetes but is determined to overcome these obstacles to inspire others and prove that it’s possible to achieve your dreams regardless of the challenges in front of you.
Ben launches new wellbeing platform
Automotive charity Ben has launched a new wellbeing platform to help employees and employers alike assess their emotional and physical health.
BenWell is an insight-led app and web portal which encourages employees to answer questions across six key personal wellbeing areas, and five management areas. Once completed, their personal dashboard gives a real-time view of their wellbeing and offers tailored support and guidance.
Gemini celebrates apprentice successes
Gemini has announced that its first cohort of apprentices have now passed their end-point assessments. After five, Covid-interrupted years, 22 apprentices have graduated to become multi-skilled apprentices.
Meanwhile, 60 more Gemini apprentices are now working towards the same outcome.
Fisher appointed to drive data proposition
Percayso Inform has appointed Kieran Fisher to drive its vehicle data insight proposition. He joins from Cazoo Data Services, where he was Head of Insurance.
His appointment is part of the company’s investment into creating a one-stop-shop vehicle data platform enabling customers to predict risk, identify quote manipulation and supply chain issues and understand high repair costs.
Wejo unveils engineering academy
Wejo has launched its first ever Wejo Data Engineering Academy. Working in partnership with Generation UK & Ireland, the new 10-week academy programmes have been introduced to broaden delegates’ knowledge and help enhances their futures as Wejo data engineers.
However, in these transient times neither can be set in stone. Adaptability and flexibility have been among the key buzzwords following Covid-19, and that applies not just to the way businesses work, but also what they’re working towards.
Meanwhile, production of battery electric vehicles increased by 108.3%, while 22.6% of all cars built last month was alternatively fuelled, up from 19.3% last year.
In this webinARC we speak to some of the key figures in the sector to find out what is impacting the supply chain at the moment, and how they are adapting.
