On May 19, 20 and 21, Diane Chaîné, Progi’s president, attended held IBIS 2014, the International Bodyshop Industry Symposium. Her overall impression is clear: “Technology will dominate the future of the industry.”
Throughout the conferences, the First Notice of Loss (FNOL) stood out as a critical moment, for which various stakeholders are positioning themselves through technology. Manufacturers, for example, use on-board assistance systems (e.g. OnStar) to quickly establish communication with the driver after an impact; this approach allows them to appropriate a portion of the market by immediately directing clients to their local dealer. Since vehicle integrated sensors instantly provide a damage appraisal, manufacturers aim to have the required repair parts on order right away via their OEM parts counter. To moderate this competitive advantage, certain European countries require manufacturers to disclose the information collected by the vehicle’s on-board system to concerned parties.
Following this trend, some insurers are considering a no appraisal process. One American company wishes to test this approach by allocating an average amount per repair to collision shops; the objective is to reduce fees related to the estimating process. The implementation of this method will need to be followed closely in order to observe results and determine best practices.
In brief, the collision industry is evolving, and Diane Chaîné can see how “Progi solutions are still very current”. She foresees that “ProgiSync, which is used at the First Notice of Loss, will gain more importance” especially with the introduction of its “app” version for vehicle owners. ProgiParts, which helps lower the cost of parts by offering a global view of purchasing options, will also be a key tool by allowing shops to lower their fees. Ongoing discussions on Key Performance Indicators (KPI) also confirm the importance of these analysis tools, which are integrated into many Progi solutions.
The Symposium was a great experience, in regard to networking opportunities as well as exchanging ideas. Progi will continue to be inspired by the industry’s trends to design innovative products that will support their clients’ growth.