Technician efficiency wastes an  hour a day

Audatex has revealed that managing technician efficiency is the biggest challenge (58%) for UK bodyshop and repair businesses.

Through industry research, this pain point was ranked above estimations (46%), parts procurement (44%), invoicing (20%) and workshop task planning (20%).

The An Extra Hour in the Day research of 250 independent and franchised bodyshops across the UK, found that inefficient processes in the workplace are now costing UK bodyshops and repair businesses an average of one hour per day per employee. This marks the launch of the second Insight Paper from the research and focuses on how time can be saved by enabling employees.

Despite the benefits that an automated process can bring to job allocation, such as reduced scope for human error and time saving, the majority of job allocation in the bodyshop (56%) and technicians (60%) is still being done manually. Manual processing of tasks such as job allocation drains valuable time away from repairs and also involves a high risk of human error.

Commenting on the findings, David Shepherd, regional managing director at Audatex UK and Africa said, ‘As the market continues to digitise to remain competitive, one of the most important areas to focus on when getting digital transformation right is enabling employees. The employees in each and every bodyshop and repair business are rightly, the lifeblood of the business, and it is vital that they are well equipped and able to drive the business forward, with the right technology, solutions and skills.

‘Solutions such as bodyshop management, invoicing, vehicle damage assessment software and parts ordering systems can free up ample amounts of time for employees within the repair sector, ultimately streamlining the repair process and reducing key to key times for customers. Combining this with enhanced and dedicated training will ensure that businesses in the sector are meeting customer needs and remaining competitive.’

The independent research was conducted by Coleman Parkes in 2018 with 250 independent and franchised bodyshops across the UK.