AASP/MA VENDOR AFFINITY PROGRAM SPONSORS

adasThink is changing the way shops handle calibrations on ADAS-equipped vehicles for the better. adasThink’s estimate intelligence software enables estimators to upload estimates to a system that automatically supplies them with the vehicle’s ADAS feature information, the calibrations that are needed and a link to the OEM service information and requirements for a proper repair.

The Canada-based company launched in November 2020 and is already expanding its customer base throughout North America, including a growing presence in Massachusetts. Nick Dominato, founder of adasThink, started building the foundation for the product in early 2020. Earlier this year, adasThink was acquired by asTech; as a result, it will now operate under the asTech umbrella.

“We are them and they are us,” states Dominato, who now serves as senior vice president of asTech. “What it means is that we will be able to leverage asTech’s knowledge, resources and huge technical reservoir of skill and experience to really improve adasThink and make us a better product.”

Dominato recognized the need for adasThink when he first encountered ADAS-equipped vehicles a few years ago while spending time in body shops as an asTech agent in Canada. As his interest in the technology heightened, he took it upon himself to learn more about ADAS and the calibrations it required.

“I’d ask the body shop managers how many times they calibrated vehicles, and they’d tell me it would be a few times a month. But just by looking at their shop floor, I could see at least three to five vehicles that required calibrations.

“I discovered that these systems needed to be calibrated a lot more often than what was actually happening,” he continues. “Shops were very busy, and repairers were under extreme time pressures. Estimators are often not as skilled as owners would like them to be, and it’s often a transitory industry; staff can be there one day and be gone in two months. It’s difficult with time pressure and labor force issues to train estimators well and have them stick around and have the time to write proper estimates. The body shops needed something that is easy to use, accurate and puts the documentation they need right in their hands.”

Dominato says there is currently a 64 percent calibration-to-estimate ratio in this industry. This means that if 100 estimates were uploaded to the adasThink system, 64 would require calibration.

“It’s a huge number. Fifty Nick Dominato of adasThink percent of most of the makes we run through the system require at least one calibration on the average vehicle, which is model year 2017. We are not even talking about 2021 and 2022 models.”

Dominato advises repairers to take a close look at how many calibrations and ADAS-related repairs they are doing. If their numbers are not close to what adasThink reports, they may need to ask themselves why.

“There is a ton of ADAS-related work on cars, even on those that are four to five years old.”

To further strengthen its ties to the repair community, adasThink recently came on board with AASP/MA as a Gold-level participant of the association’s Vendor Affinity Program.

“We had some big support from the [Massachusetts] area initially, which was a big factor in wanting to support the association. Local body shop associations are the most important organizations for education at the local shop level. For your independent facilities and smaller body shops, associations like AASP/MA are invaluable. We wanted to show our support and appreciation to them.”

To check out adasThink for free, create an account at adasthink.com to try 10 estimates and obtain more information.

PROTECTING CONSUMERS AND THE COLLISION INDUSTRY

Genuine Replacement Parts For the Road Ahead.

Avoid problems down the road that will cost you time, money and customers. Choose Genuine Subaru Replacement Parts, engineered to fit better today, and perform better tomorrow.

For Genuine Subaru Body Parts, contact the following Authorized Subaru Dealers:

Long Subaru 7 Sutton Rd. Webster, MA 01570 800-982-2298 Fax: 508-879-1212 tschube@longauto.com Quirk Auto Dealers 115 E. Howard St. Quincy, MA 02169 Toll Free: 877-707-8475 Balise Subaru 561 Quaker Ln. Warwick, RI 02893 TOLL FREE: 800-992-6220 FAX: 800-254-3544 wparts@baliseauto.com www.BaliseWholesaleParts.com One Call, One Truck for Eleven Brands!

Patrick Subaru 247 Boston Turnpike Shrewsbury, MA 01545 508-756-8364 Fax: 508-752-3691 www.patricksubaru.com jlavalley@patrickmotors.com

MAKING THE CALL:

The Importance of Legislative Outreach

Want to better protect your customers and improve this industry? All it takes is your phone.

With the 2021-2022 legislative session underway in Massachusetts, AASP/MA is already making considerable headway in improving the lives of consumers and repairers alike – but it can’t do it alone. If you’re frustrated over what is (or, more accurately, isn’t) happening with the Auto Damage Appraiser Licensing Board (ADALB) or tired of insurers constantly failing to properly reimburse your customers for the costs of a safe and proper repair, then it’s time for you to call the lawmakers in your area and urge them to support the association’s current legislation.

The first bill, “An Act Relative to the Licensure of Appraisers,” has been filed by Representative Tackey Chan of Quincy. As discussed at length in last month’s cover story, it aims to move the ADALB from the Division of Insurance to the Division of Professional Licensure. It also seeks to expand the size of the ADALB to include two consumer advocates, one appointed from the Attorney General’s Office and the other from a consumer advocacy group, and replace the current Board chairman, appointed by the Massachusetts Commissioner of Insurance, with one appointed by the Commissioner of the Division of Professional Licensure. Additionally, it will set term limits for all ADALB members.

During a special virtual AASP/MA General Membership and Legislative Review Meeting on February 23, AASP/MA Executive Director Evangelos “Lucky” Papageorg noted that passage of this legislation would elevate the protections provided to the Massachusetts motoring public.

“Even if the votes on a particular issue go down partisan lines – the two insurance [representatives] vote one way and the two body [industry representatives] vote the other – the consumer, who that Board was put in place to protect, will now have a voice.”

Despite the ongoing logistical difficulties surrounding COVID-19, AASP/MA has remained active throughout the pandemic, regularly connecting with legislators to set the groundwork for its current push toward the finish line with this ADALB-centric bill.

“Through the whole COVID-19 timeframe, we have been meeting with senators, either in person at shops, via Zoom or teleconference, and talking about this bill,” Papageorg shared during the meeting. “The Senate side is very familiar with it. In some of those in-shop meetings or telephone calls, there were [House] representatives on the line as well.”

The second bill, “An Act to Establish Minimum Reimbursement Rate to Insurance Claimants,” has been filed by Representative Jim Hawkins of Attleboro. The legislation aims to set a minimum reimbursement rate for auto body labor paid by insurers to Massachusetts claimants. This would guarantee that the consumer has a choice and is not being limited to just the amount an insurer is willing to reimburse them for the repair of their vehicles.

The collision repair industry’s efforts in this current legislative session are being strengthened by AASP/MA’s new lobbyist, Guy Glodis. During his presentation to members at the February 23 gathering, he stressed that Massachusetts lawmakers are reactive – meaning that it was up to association members to get these pieces of legislation in front of the right people.

“They react to constituents, they react to media and they react to buzz. There are 6,000-7,000 bills filed every session. There is no

continued on pg. 32