Courtesy Subaru

In Reverse with Gary Ledoux

The Advent of the Computer Age (Circa 1980)

In January 1980, BYTE Magazine computers. If you’ve never taken a announced in an editorial “the era of off-the-shelf personal computers has look at these at these smart machines, you’re in for a pleasant surprise.” The OE Shop Certification arrived.” article went on to explain the differ

T andy (RadioShack) and Apple ence between hardware and the new with Gary Ledoux had already been selling computers emerging world of software. for more than a year and the soonAnother trade magazine artito-be ubiquitous IBM PC, which cle looked at three different computwould set the standard for some time er systems designed specifically for to come, would be introduced in August 1981. Individuals’ lives and the body shops. One was called Auto Repair Management Systems. One was OE Shop Certification business world at large would soon made by Kennedy Communications be changed forever. with and sold for $29,900; that’s $79,600 in Stacey Phillips

Beginning around 1982, a lot 2019 dollars. And one was produced of ink was spent within the collision by Triad Systems of Sunnyvale, CA. industry trade magazines addressing The magazine devoted an entire computerization and how and why article to the ADP/Audatex estimatthe industry should embrace this new medium. ing system and how easy and efficient it was. Another article asked “Is Shop Management

One collision industry magaY our Shop Ready For A Computer zine noted, “As we move through the System” and provided a 15-question with Ed Attanasio ‘80s, shop owners around the councheck list to help the reader decide. try are discovering a new tool for getBut the latest in technology came ting and keeping a competitive edge: from a company called Mitchelmatix. A trade magazine article noted shop estimators loved their estimating manual but now Mitchellmatix was going to make them easier to use by inserting a bar code into the book. The bar code was then read when a computerized wand was passed over the strip by the estimator.

The mini-computer was then hooked up to a telephone line, a call made to one of 19 IBM computers spread around the country. Two and a half minutes later, the estimate printed out on a dedicated printer at the body shop.

The cost of doing all that was about $10 per estimate plus the cost of the call—if it had to be long distance. Most calls were said to be local.

ADP also entered the field in mid-1984 with the introduction of “Tele-Estimating,” a computerized estimating system handled over the phone allowing a shop to use computerized estimating without having to buy the computer .

“Simply call a special toll-free number and read off the damage codes from a completed AUDATEX worksheet, and within minutes your estimate is processed, printed and distributed.”

A spot survey conducted by a trade magazine and published in December 1982 indicated that of 600 body shops surveyed across the country, 101—17%—had a computer system. Of those that did not have one, 20% said they were considering buying one, while 80% said they would not consider buying one. Then as now, change comes hard to the collision repair industry.

One respondent noted that he had purchased a computer system to help run his shop but the monthly cost of maintaining the system far exceeded

Auto Body Attorney with Bruce Roistacher

Truck Topics with Gary Ledoux

National Associations with Stacey Phillips

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