Change is difficult. Change is not comfortable. Change means something is going to be done different. Change is construed by many as a dirty word because of these things, but in actuality it is something that is the opposite. As Ray Kroc, founder of McDonald’s said, “When you are green you’re growing and when you are ripe you rot.” In other words, if we choose not to keep growing, learning and changing ,then we are on our way down to a lower level of quality. This is very relevant to the auto collision industry, as it is changing at the speed of light. Some of us, unfortunately, are going to be left behind if we don’t actively take steps to grow and change. We need to be flexible to the many different challenges we face in our industry.
One of these challenges prevalent in the industry are that vehicles are becoming more complex and technology is taking over our industry. These past months I’ve seen several commercials that show some mind-blowing advances on how we can use our vehicle. One showed how a vehicle was unlocked with a wristwatch type thing. Another has an alert when your eyes are not facing forward, informing you of distracted driving. Amazon’s Alexa can now start some vehicles remotely. Folks I don’t know about you, but we must be ready to be up on all these changes.
As shop owners we need to consistently seek out the opportunities for learning in the industry and take advantage of them. The OEMs, I-CAR, paint companies, many different venues offer a wide array of learning opportunities for you to stay up on the latest technologies. These opportunities range from technical training for specific vehicles, production management, paint processes, standard operating procedures, etc. As collision repairers we should be willing and able to send our people for training opportunities. Be sure to budget for this within your business. Having your technicians knowledgeable with the new advances in vehicles in the long run will put your business in line with or possibly ahead of the industry in your area.
I was working with a group not long ago and we started talking about of the things that we need to do to help maintain a smooth seamless collision repair process. Changing the way we communicate is essential to a smooth process. Many times, we write estimates or start repairs that’s that. We need to remember to follow up with texts, emails, or phone calls with our customers and others involved in the collision repair process. Great communication is essential to our changing industry. Communicating on a level that lays out exactly what needs to be done and the possibility of pitfalls that can cause delays will benefit everyone.
If we want to change our industry, we need to start with a good plan at all levels of the collision repair process to achieve great results. Planning means that you have considered all the things that can derail a smooth repair process and know in advance how to overcome these items. Changing to a proper repair plan means being organized and making sure you have the proper tools, equipment, and supplies to provide a complete, safe, and quality repair. At the end of the day, positive changes in thinking and planning business decisions can significantly affect your business success, reputation and alleviate major issues. If you are not adept in changing your current situation that is not working, then CHANGE. Change is not easy but make small steps to better your current processes and be willing to step out and do things different. You will be surprised at the results. You also may realize that change is not such a dirty word after all.
