CIC AT SEMA 2022: CLASS IS IN SESSION

NATIONAL FEATURE

CIC AT SEMA 2022:

CLASS IS

Now that kids have been in school for a little over a month, it’s almost time for automotive professionals around the world to follow suit as they pack their bags and head to the 2022 SEMA Show to learn more about the industry’s latest products, innovations and trends – both in the education rooms and on the trade show floor at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

But collision repairers eager to stay in the know will be heading next door to the Westgate Resort & Casino on Tuesday, November 1 for a crash course in all things collision via the Collision Industry Conference (CIC). This year’s meetings have been jam-packed with relevant discussions and networking opportunities, and the final CIC of 2022 promises to maintain that momentum.

“The industry and vehicle technologies are changing faster than ever before, and CIC is the best place to learn what is current in regards to processes and issues that repairers contend with,” shares CIC Chair Darrell Amberson (LaMettry’s Collision). “We have lots of informative, interesting and compelling presentations lined up, and I’m looking forward to learning something new.”

Although every presentation at CIC is sure to be engaging and serve to elevate the industry, the Data Access, Privacy and Security Committee plans to build on discussions held during this summer’s industry meetings in Pittsburgh, combining three separate presentations into a single impactful message for attendees.

Committee co-chairs Dan Risley (CCC Intelligent Solutions) and Trent Tinsley (Entegral) are excited to share insights on consumer privacy rights, ensuring attendees have the prerequisite knowledge to benefit from the following discussion on chain of custody as it relates to data and agreements.

“For the past year, we’ve invited industry leading companies that require the use of EMS and/or BMS data from collision repairers to present during our committee’s allotted time. Companies such as Enterprise, CCC, Entegral, Car-Part, Mitchell and others have used this time to explain how their company uses EMS and/or BMS data and specifically what data fields they need,”

IN SESSION!

Risley explains.

“Collision repairers need to understand their EULAs (end user license agreements) with all of their partners and how the data could potentially be shared intentionally or accidentally with the companies they do business with,” he continues. “This sets the stage for a discussion on the data chain of custody.”

During the most recent CIC, Society of Collision Repair Specialists (SCRS) Executive Director Aaron Schulenburg shared “some disturbing information relative to a company selling collision repairers data including PII,” Tinsley recalls. “Understanding how this company acquired the data and where the breakdown in the chain of custody occurred would be helpful in preventing this in the future. In addition, there will be a presentation from two collision repairers who will share their stories of data being shared – and likely sold – to vehicle history reporting companies without their authorization or knowledge.”

Consumer privacy concerns extend beyond the shop. “This isn’t just important to the collision repair industry, but to all industries,” Tinsley points out. “But as an industry, we need to find solutions before the government assists us in defining those solutions. Several states have elected to take a proactive approach to protecting consumers’ data. The collision industry needs to take notice, especially in light of SCRS’ bombshell announcement. Data is being aggregated and sold on an individual claim basis with PII. That should be enough to make this one of the most important topics for all of the stakeholders in the collision repair industry because it impacts everyone. This issue should remain at the forefront until there is a resolution.”

“CIC is the one place for the industry to come together to discuss these extremely sensitive topics,” Risley stresses. “In fact, the CIC mission statement embodies the work of this committee: a forum where collision industry stakeholders come together to discuss issues, enhance understanding, find common ground and communicate possible solutions to the industry. The committee is still discussing and unearthing issues and is laser focused on helping the CONTINUED ON PG. 31