Being Safe - But Definitely Not Sorry

It is hard to complain about safer cars and passenger protection. After all, none of us want to think about the possibility that family members or friends could be potential car crash fatality statistics. How can anyone fail to praise automobile manufacturers for their efforts to make safety a huge priority in vehicle design?

Well, our Collision Repair Industry is in a somewhat ambivalent position about this issue. After all, those crashes that advanced technology is trying to prevent are our bread and butter. Our feature this month takes a look at the current state of vehicle technology, technology that is aimed not only at passenger safety during collisions, but at crash avoidance. Of course, no amount of technology, at least so far, will eliminate all accidents, but in a market that already faces declining claim frequency, collision repair facilities will have to work smarter than ever to thrive.

Working smarter means covering ALL the bases. Anticipate the future. Chart your course to get there. You are reading here that there will be less vehicles for repair in the market. How are you planning (NOW) to still grow your marketshare?

Your list of goals must contain the word “best” over and over again - best equipment, best technicians, best estimators, best marketing, best customer service, best office systems, best efficiencies. Settle for nothing less than BEST.

Speaking of best, NACE 2004 will be underway in Las Vegas when this issue arrives at your desk. For once, I hope you don’t read it immediately, because you should be at the convention, sharing ideas, looking at cutting-edge products, and sitting in on great classes and seminars.

Our December issue will provide a thorough report of the NACE activities and awards.

With Thanksgiving coming, the entire INSIGHT staff says a big “Thank you” to all our readers. Happy Turkey Day!