The evolution of the automotive aftermarket is not slowing down, with every repairer having to reassess processes and priorities to future-proof their businesses. Here, partners Enterprise Rent-A-Car and Repairify share their insights into how the changing landscape is impacting the sector in terms of technology, training and partnerships.
Nick Sweetman, AVP Vehicle Repair & Service Operations for UK & Ireland at Enterprise Rent-A-Car:
“The past few years have seen a new generation of repairers come to the fore and it bodes really well for the future. It will be exciting to see how the industry progresses into 2024 and beyond.
“Bodyshops, whether independents or groups, are more willing than ever to move consistently forward and accept the changes of a shifting industry. There’s a wealth of new information and technology out there that will help them fix vehicles more efficiently and they’re willing to embrace it all.
“In our own repair network, we’ve upgraded our requirements for vehicle scanning and diagnostics pre- and post-repair, and our partners are more than willing to access OEM technology over Wi-Fi and Bluetooth and work to OEM standards.
“This has led to a change in the skills the businesses are looking for during recruitment. Although every repairer still needs paint sprayers and panel beaters, many also now look for technology and programming skills. These capabilities help technicians with calibrations and for dealing with increasingly complex vehicles with an array of sophisticated onboard technology.
“We’ve also seen how repairers know what they want to be and are increasingly willing to specialise. Rather than trying to do it all, we’ve seen bodyshops focusing on particular areas such as manufacturer-approved repairs, insurance repairs, cosmetic repairs and even EV-only repairs. It’s helping them build a more focused and higher-quality skillset.
“The new generation is equally thoughtful in their approach to mobility. With the challenges facing the traditional courtesy car model, many repairers are looking for new approaches that make the process better while still maintaining the quality of the customer experience. New initiatives such as access to hourly automated rental are gaining more interest.”
Martin Pinnell-Brown, Managing Director, Repairify Innovations:
The successful repairers of the future will be those who embrace technology and training for staff to address the skills shortage.
Employers have to invest in apprenticeship programmes and training to attract young people to the industry and in training and incentive schemes to look after and retain their employees.
Management will also need to value staff more to retain employees. Technicians will need to be computer literate, while specialist, dedicated EV technicians will be commonplace in the future as EVs will dominate the car parc.
When it comes to technology, bodyshop owners needs to follow manufacturers’ developments and vehicle technology trends. Ten years ago it was aluminium, tomorrow it could be composite materials.
Today, they need to embrace advancements in ADAS technologies and hybrid and electric vehicles. They need to invest in suitable equipment to perform calibrations correctly to OEM standards. At Repairify, we are working closely with collision and repair centres to help them understand the opportunities presented by ADAS repairs. Where they have not yet made the investment, we are introducing them to our choice of mobile and remote services, which will enable them to perform complex tasks at an affordable investment that will allow them to retain profitable business inhouse.
We are also aiming to increase the number of mobile technicians in our network that visit shops to advance our technology and help them to maximise the business opportunities presented by ADAS.
