Solid equipment, technology and staff investments require a number of considerations…

Every day, in our shops, we see the relentless march of technology. For us to be viable for the long term as collision centres, we need to ensure that we are taking steps to stay ahead of the curve and that our facility and our staff are properly equipped to perform vehicle repairs safely and efficiently.

At Budds’ Collision Services, being owned by a franchise dealer group gives us an advantage, namely in having open dialogue with OEMs and knowledge regarding new product coming into the market. This enables us to create a blueprint and prepare ourselves for these vehicles coming into the shop, allowing us to stay ahead.

Essential part

Whether you’re a dealer collision centre or an independent, the fact is that OEM procedures are an essential part of repairing late-model vehicles correctly, efficiently and safely. For independent shops that aren’t tied to specific OEMs, it’s always a good idea to consult your refinish partner and suppliers, since they are a good resource to keep you abreast of current trends and technology happening within the industry. Joining a performance group with other shops or networks, or even groups organized by refinish suppliers, can also provide valuable insights into what’s coming in respect to repair procedures and OEM requirements.

Linked programs

It’s also important to consider that the OEM Certifications you either have or are looking to obtain, can link with each other, and enable the use of equipment and technology across multiple different vehicle types and brands as per those OEM Certification requirements.

Not only does this lessen the burden on the shop in terms of equipment purchases and training; it also lessens the learning curve for those technicians that will be using it. When making these kinds of investments and working with multiple OEM certifications, you also want to ensure you consult your most experienced and trusted technicians, because the last thing you want is to make these extensive investments, only to have that equipment ending up gathering dust in the corner of the shop.

Understanding your employees

Another consideration when it comes to keeping up with technology and ensuring long-term viability of your business, is properly understanding your employee roster. Much in the same way you want to create a blueprint for purchasing equipment and technology, you want to do the same when it comes to your employees. You need insights into which employees contribute the most and which are most likely to stay long-term with your business. This will help in making decisions around which employees you want to invest in and there needs to be an open line of communication between you and them, particularly when it comes to your technicians.

Understanding the investment

They need to understand the investment you’re making in them and most of the time, provided the communication is open, they will understand and want to become certified. That means that they will be willing to take the courses and training required to achieve that certification. This may mean they will need to take training and development programs after hours or during breaks and that they may be away from the shop for days at a time.

While in the short term, this might take away their ability to produce, from a management perspective you need to understand that it is about playing the long game, and that investing in technology, training and staff development is a marathon, not a sprint.