Bodyshops find industry information fragmented

Three quarters (75%) of UK bodyshops and repairers believe industry information is fragmented and disparate, according to new research released by Audatex.

The findings have been announced alongside the launch of Audatex’s fourth and final eBook Technology, Knowledge and Supplier Relationship which explores the services that bodyshops are currently receiving from suppliers, what they would actually like to receive and how technology can enable suppliers to share knowledge and information with bodyshops more effectively.

As the vehicle repair industry rapidly advances and consumer demand for quicker repairs increases, it is vital that bodyshops have direct access to up-to-date, relevant vehicle repair information in a centralised location. The research findings demonstrate a clear desire for this amongst repairers, with three quarters (74%) stating they would subscribe to a central information hub that consolidates this data.

With most bodyshops heavily relying on outsourcing, for some resets and recalibration, the ability for repairers to capitalise on these technologies to facilitate quicker and more efficient repairs is wholly dependent on a seamless supplier relationship. However, findings suggest a disparity between the amount of information bodyshops currently receive and what they would like to receive; nearly all bodyshops would like to receive technology updates (99%) and vehicle repair information (98%) from suppliers, yet less than half are receiving it (44% and 50% respectively).

Despite the need for a seamless overall supplier relationship, there are certain sectors in which bodyshop end users prefer varying levels of interaction, with some requiring more attention than others. For example, over three quarters of bodyshops and repairers want to interact with their bodyshop management system provider on a monthly basis, compared to 70% who would prefer to interact with paint suppliers every few months.

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