Car repairs become a sensor job

Modern vehicles make even supposedly simple body and paint repairs significantly more demanding. After an accident or bodywork, cameras, sensors and assistance systems often have to be recalibrated so that safety and comfort functions work correctly. Chris Raus, Director of Group Aftersales at Amag Import AG, presented this development as a central change for the industry at the Totalrepair event in Sursee in front of more than 100 participants: customers would continue to expect safe, transparent and uncomplicated solutions after damage.

Network grows, costs rise

According to Amag Import AG, the Totalrepair body and paint competence network has grown in three years from 36 to 139 partner businesses in Switzerland. The network supports businesses with training and with meeting rising quality and sustainability requirements. At the same time, the economic conditions have become tougher: damage costs are said to have risen by 21 percent since 2019. This creates a conflict of objectives, because customers and insurers want body and paint repairs to be as inexpensive as possible, while technical complexity and parts prices are increasing. Totalrepair therefore stresses that savings must not be made on safety-related or professionally necessary work steps. At the same time, repairs appropriate to a vehicle’s current value should help avoid economic write-offs for older vehicles.

Sustainability and digital processes

Alongside costs, resource conservation is becoming more important for body shops because insurers and fleet operators are increasingly paying attention to how damage is repaired. Roger Allenspach, Senior Market Manager ADM at Amag Import AG, pointed to disposal and recycling concepts as well as the “Way 2 Zero” initiative. It is intended to support businesses with regulatory requirements and CO₂ reduction. Accordingly, 89 Totalrepair businesses have already created a data basis for a CO₂ balance sheet and can derive concrete starting points in their own operations from it. The new label is also intended to make it visible to drivers that a business works more sustainably.

AI to shorten turnaround times

Artificial intelligence is also playing a growing role in the body and paint sector. Alexander Grimm, CEO and co-founder of Aspaara AG, compared predictive operational planning with navigation systems that automatically calculate a more efficient route in traffic jams. According to his calculation, turnaround times are 20 percent longer without AI-supported planning, and every fourth delivery deadline cannot be met. AI is intended above all to help make better use of the paint booth, which is often a bottleneck. In addition, Totalrepair relies on a 24/7 online damage reporting tool: damage can be recorded around the clock, allowing businesses to order spare parts and prepare work before the accident vehicle arrives. The development shows that body and paint repairs are becoming more digital and more technical, while the goal for customers remains unchanged: after damage, the car should return to the road properly repaired, safely and as quickly as possible.