Southeast Edition Florida Georgia Alabama Mississippi
29
YEARS
www.autobodynews.com ww ww.autobodynews.com
Allstate Announces ‘Process Changes’ Designed to Improve Network Cycle Time Back on July 11, Allstate Insurance Company announced to its DRP participants that shops will be required to honor completion dates or assume all related costs, expedite estimate and upload completion times, and extend their hours of operation, when necessary, for the convenience of Allstate customers. Now Allstate’s customer service initiative for 2011 has been expanded. The new program requirements were introduced to shops in a series of cycle time web conferences held recently. Those unable to view the web conferences are encouraged by the
company to contact their local performance managers.
by John Yoswick
contract. The shop owner, who asked that his name and the provider’s not be used, said he purchased a complete package—hardware and software—from the provider, but realized shortly after he did so that he did not intend to the use the shop management module of the package. “We’re not a large enough shop to benefit from the time I’d have into using it,” the shop owner said. While he wants to continue using the company’s estimating system, as his shop has for more than 15 years, the information provider has refused to accept any changes to the 40-plus months that remain on the shop man-
Tracy Tramm, Allstate Claim Service Manager, announcing process changes via video
Allstate is making “several key process changes” within its Good See Allstate Process, Page 30
Shop Owners Share Frustrations Renegotiating Contracts with Information Providers The experiences of a number of shop owners around the country serve as a reminder to make sure you always understand the terms of any contract you are signing. Failure to read the fine print—or negotiate clauses for additional rights to end even something as seemingly innocuous as a software contract—have cost some shops tens of thousands of dollars. A shop owner in California, for example, has been disappointed in the response he has received from one of the Big Three information providers to his requests over the past 18 months to renegotiate his software
See Contract Frustration, Page 14
VOL. 2 ISSUE 6 AUGUST 2011
Georgia Collision Industry Association Hosts Consultant at Monthly Meeting The Georgia Collision Industry Association (GCIA) July meeting was held on July 14th at the Crowne Plaza Perimeter Atlanta NW. Patrick Delaney from Summit Consulting International was the night's guest presenter. The presentation centered on how to improve performance in your collision shop. Delaney’s presentation covered how to measurably improve the processes that impact the most vital areas of your business—profitability and customer loyalty. Delaney spoke about Production Management Foundations, Measuring in Order to Manage and Making an Impact. He also discussed how to set up production controls to address the following four areas; customer interaction, managing repairs, pro-
duction processes, and administrative processes. He explained the impact each area has on the production process and how these area can affect the repair planning process. Summit Consulting has a computer program to help shops with their production management. Refreshments and food began at 6:30 pm. The group also discussed the upcoming 15th Annual GCIA Golf tournament and the Property and Casualty Insurance Stakeholder Advisory committee meeting scheduled for Wednesday, August 10th at 1:30PM in Atlanta (Location yet to be determined). Please visit www.summitci.com for more information about Summit
REGIONAL ARTICLES in this issue...
See GCIA, Page 11
Former San Diego Car Dealer Found Dead In FL Home . . . . . . . .p. 4 Kia Hires 1,000 New Employees for Georgia Plant . . . . . . . . . . . .p. 4 Sikes & Stowe Downtown Collision Celebrates 85th Anniversary .p. 6 Hyundai-Kia Supplier Bringing Jobs to Alexander City, AL . . . . .p. 8 Gunder’s Files Appeal With the United States Supreme Court . .p. 8 Auto Angels Up to Speed for 2011 Car Giveaway . . . . . . . . . . . . .p. 10 FL Gov Signs Deregulation Bill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .p. 11 Gunder’s Auto Center Alleges State Farm Altered Prevailing Rate Surveys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .p. 15
NATIONAL ARTICLES in this issue...
Chevy Cars Get Highest Brand Share in 20 Years, GM Says . . . .p. 13 Companies Working to Expand Natural Gas Vehicle Options . . .p. 20 Groupon Offers First New Car Deal With Detroit Auto Dealership .p. 31 Hyundai and Kia Both Raise 2011 Sales Forecasts . . . . . . . . . . . . .p. 31
COLUMNS in this issue...
Attanasio — Prestige Imports, a BASF Waterborne Advocate . .p. 12 Williams — What Makes A Dealership Distinctive? . . . . . . . . . . .p. 16 Schroeder — Carl Owen’s Paint and Body in Tyler, TX . . . . . . . .p. 17 Chess — Are Your Repair Methods Ten Years Out of Date? . . . .p. 18 Gonzo — How to Keep Your Cool With HVAC Diagnostics . . . . .p. 21 Yoswick — State and Federal Governments Consider New Insurance Regulations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .p. 22 Horn — Devil in the Details: Measuring Metrics Properly . . . . . .p. 29
Change Service Requested
P.O. BOX 1516, CARLSBAD, CA 92018
Presorted Standard US Postage PAID Ontario, Ca. Permit No. 1