Customers Win When Insurers, Body Shops Work Together
March 2nd, 2010
G&R Body & Paint is proud to have been a part of the recent Re-Writing the Future of Auto Claims symposium hosted by VeriFacts Automotive in Newport Beach.
About 350 people from the auto insurance and collision repair fields attended. I think all of us were a little wiped out by the end of a full day of workshops and panels that included presentations from experts in the fields of auto insurance claims and auto body collision repair—but there was so much great collaboration and sharing of knowledge that the work we put in there was definitely worth the trip!
We heard from large several body shop owners about business models they use to maximize efficiency, work quality and customer satisfaction.
Tricia Griffith, president of Claims for Progressive Insurance, spoke about a change in the corporate cultures of insurance companies that is improving the working relationship between insurers and body shops.
Wayne Sharrah, chief claims officer for online insurer Esurance Insurance Services, gave a presentation that was fascinating for anyone who trying to reach an online audience, providing great statistics on Internet use and its expected impact on the auto claims industry. It was the first time I had heard the term “Net Generation”—the 88 million or so kids who have grown up with a computer mouse in their hands. Esurance is another company that supports a closer, more collaborative relationship between insurers and the collision repair industry.
An Allstate representative gave a presentation on how that company works to provide claims services even for motorists and collision repair shops in remote locations, such as rural Alaska.
Capitalism, small business and the tough economy were hot topics of discussion, both in the formal presentations and during networking time. At the end of the day, I think all of us recognized that insurers and body shops have much in common, and that’s exactly why VeriFacts put this symposium together. All of us are trying to succeed despite a rough economic environment. We serve the same customers and have the same goals, including top-quality repair workmanship and timely service. When insurers and collision repair shops are able to work together as trusted partners, our customers are ultimately the winners.
For more about G&R’s collision repair and auto body and paint services, visit http://grbodyshop.com.