TRENDS & INSIGHTS DRIVING YOUR BUSINESS FORWARD 2022 ISSUE 21 THE ISSUEAs an IACET Accredited Provider, I-CAR offers IACET CEUs for its learning events that comply with the ANSI/IACET Continuing Education and Training Standard. 5 Learning Game-changer 8 Business Tools & Tips: Technology adoption Curve 10 Charged Up! 12 Calibrating the Future 14 Remembering a beloved industry giant 16 Celebrating 25 Years of Platinum Recognition 20 Guest Editorial: Time to Embrace and Collaborate on Technology 23 26 Fueling I-CAR’s Vision and Mission What’s New at I-CAR In This Issue The I-CAR ® Collision Reporter™ magazine is dedicated to helping navigate the rapid changes happening within the collision repair industry by providing exclusive insights, resources and solutions. EDITOR Nick Notte CONTRIBUTORS Brad Battershell Bill Brower Brandon Eckenrode Dan Hogan Dan Kilpatrick Dave Luehr Mike Mertes Mike Muller Nick Notte Andy Powell Codey Sanders Jeanne Silver Frank Terlep Jake Tucker SUBMISSIONS Collision Reporter welcomes story ideas helpful to advancing topics and learnings within the collision repair industry. If you would like to share a story idea, please e-mail Editor@I-CAR.com. Collision Reporter is published four times a year by the I-CAR Marketing Department, 5125 Trillium Blvd., Hoffman Estates, IL 60192. EDITORIAL POLICY Collision Reporter accepts no outside or third-party advertising, sponsorships or endorsements. Opinions expressed in Collision Reporter are not necessarily those of I-CAR. ABOUT I-CAR Founded in 1979, I-CAR is a not- for-profit education, knowledge and solutions organization designed to support the evolving needs of the Collision Repair Inter-Industry. I-CAR is focused on improving the quality, safety and efficiency of auto collision repair for the ultimate benefit of the consumer. 2022 ISSUE 21 2 I - CAR COLLISION REPORTERFrom Improbable to Reality The ancient Greek philosopher Heraclitus was on to something when he proclaimed that “Change is the only constant”. While it’s unlikely he was envisioning the far distant vehicle collision repair industry, it certainly rings true today. We are in the midst of seismic automotive change and development, in which an entire industry is being redefined before our very eyes. NICK NOTTE Vice President, Sales & Marketing FUTURE CALLING And technology is leading the course, in ways that our industry’s pioneers never could have imagined. Who could have dreamed there would be a “drowsiness monitoring system” – one of the newer ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance System) options – to help drivers stay out of the danger zone? Then again, I suppose it’s possible, considering The Jetsons cartoon accurately predicted the future of video calls some 60 years ago. And while they may not be personal jetpacks, there are now more than 10 million electric vehicles (EVs) on the road worldwide, according to IEA (International Energy Agency), with constant announcements of new models coming to the market. Additionally, 92.7% of new vehicles in the U.S. have at least one ADAS feature.* CONTINUED ON PAGE 4 > *Source: AAA 3 THE EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES ISSUERIDING THE TECHNICAL TSUNAMI™ Those once improbable, futuristic ideas are now becoming reality. In fact, never before has the collision repair industry had to ride a “Technical Tsunami” of such sweeping technological change. This term was coined by I-CAR nearly eight years ago, when the influx of ADAS was just beginning to accelerate, and has even greater significance today. These state- of-the-art electronic features designed to enhance driver safety have essentially rendered vehicles “computers on wheels,” making even a simple fender bender much more complex to repair given the layers of sensors lurking behind the scenes. MEETING TECHNOLOGY WITH TECHNOLOGY Today’s collision repair shops and organizations must adapt to entirely new procedures, processes, tooling and equipment required to repair today’s highly sophisticated vehicles. Adoption is not a one-size-fits-all approach or timeline; there’s a wide continuum of technology adoption – in fact, we lean on Mike Muller with SEMA Garage Detroit to help shed some light on the “science” behind how individuals warm up to new technology. For more insights and inspiration on emerging technologies, we’ve curated a great mix of stories to help take your technology game to the next level: • Newly-elected CIC Chair and author Frank Terlep initiates a call to action for the collision repair industry to embrace and collaborate on technology solutions and initiatives. • As I-CAR’s Platinum™ recognition program turns 25, we hear from technicians, coast to coast, who are leaning on advanced training to bolster their knowledge and skills base for the new era of technology. • Mike Mertes, I-CAR’s Learning Innovation and Technology Manager, is helping to “Fuel the [I-CAR] Mission” with his passion for next-level collision repair training, leaning on lessons from the gaming culture and augmented and virtual realities. • Brad Battershell, Technical Development Specialist with Penske Collision Repair Training Center, gives a first-hand account of participating in I-CAR’s new EV Hands-On Skills Development course. • And Watts & Volt share a little comedic relief in the debut of the new cartoon “Stay Out of the Dark.” NAVIGATE TOGETHER Regardless of where you fall in this evolving landscape – whether you have a dedicated EV center in an urban environment or you cater to pick-ups favored in a rural community – education is more important than ever before. I-CAR is committed to supporting you, every step of the way, developing and delivering next-level educational programming and technical information and services based on the latest advancements while also working to eliminate barriers to training. And while change can be daunting, it also brings exciting opportunities to learn and grow. Here’s to embracing change and navigating together for a bright future. REALITY CONTINUED 4 I - CAR COLLISION REPORTERCONTINUED ON PAGE 6 > Future Technicians Reap Lessons in Estimating, 3-D Style BILL BROWER Vice President, Industry Relations CODY SANDERS Autobody Instructor JAKE TUCKER UCCTC Graduate Jake Tucker, a recent graduate of South Carolina’s Union County Career & Technology Center (UCCTC), is counting down the weeks until he completes his orientation with a local collision repair shop in Spartanburg, South Carolina, and moves into an official repair position. 5 THE EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES ISSUEWhile most of his vocational training has been on the front lines of everything from diagnostics and calibrations to MIG welding and brazing, Tucker and his former classmates also gained a solid understanding of the role of estimating in the repair process, thanks to a cutting-edge 3-D software called Qapter. Qapter, a breakthrough solution in claims estimating, is an offering of Solera, the global leader in vehicle lifecycle management. Solera recently worked with the Collision Repair Education Foundation™ (CREF) to donate more than $3 million in subscriptions of the Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based software to scores of vocational and technical schools across the country. GAME-CHANGER CONTINUED “This is the video game generation... 3-D, highly visual and interactive software like this just grabs students’ attention and interest a whole lot better.” – Codey Sanders, Autobody Instructor UCCTC LEADING EDGE “It’s a small way we can help schools stay on the leading edge, engaging students with tools and resources that make them career ready,” explained Bill Brower, Solera’s Vice President, Industry Relations. The bright, eye-catching graphics replace traditional estimating guides, illuminating an intuitive, step-by-step, color-coded, and easy-to-learn repair process. Students can even rotate vehicle features and parts to get a better sense of their construction, size and scale. “This is the video game generation, and I think 3-D, highly visual and interactive software like this just grabs students’ attention and interest a whole lot better,” explained Codey Sanders, Autobody Instructor at UCCTC. Tucker, who hails from a three-generation family of car repair and racing enthusiasts, couldn’t agree more. “I think it brings some realities into this generation more,” he said. “The 3-D approach really helps you know what’s hiding behind things, including sensors ranging from distance sensors to parking sensors. It reads through the bumper and side of the car where a lot of these sensors are located but hidden from common view.” GAMING CULTURE Added Sanders: “Showing them 3-D pictures of the car with information about approximate repair time and costs is so much more understandable versus following a line item in a book. It’s a piece of technology, a virtual reality type deal that they can see and be a part of. Some have said how it reminds them of video game 6 I - CAR COLLISION REPORTERfeatures, which is the world these future techs live in. Anything that is relatable to them, in their terms, can only help. It also makes estimating concepts easier to teach.” “It’s more realistic and that translates into safer repairs,” Sanders said. “Students can see a camera behind a bumper and how that needs to be recalibrated. These are matter of life and death issues for the customers.” “Our industry is changing every day and is fixing to change even more. Estimating and repairs will continue to change, and we’ll be ready.” Brandon Eckenrode, CREF’s Managing Director, says Solera’s decision to invest in educational tools and resources says a lot about where the company is headed and its dedication to promoting future technicians’ interest in rewarding collision repair careers. “Solera’s been a longtime champion of supporting future technicians, and we couldn’t be happier with this significant donation of 3-D estimating software,” he said. SEE QAPTER IN ACTION SEE QAPTER FOR YOURSELF This video is included at no extra cost in Solera’s Qapter/Audatex estimating software for shops and insurers. In partnership with I-CAR and the Collision Repair Education Foundation, Solera has donated estimating software with 3-D graphics to many trade schools to help students learn this industry. “I often hear from folks new to the collision repair and estimating space that our 3-D graphics are a huge benefit to help them visualize how cars are constructed to make estimating easier. Solera is the only estimating software company that provides 3-D graphics in our estimating software suite of solutions,” says Brower. 7 THE EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES ISSUEOk, admit it: you were one of the first among your friends to nab an Apple TV with its snazzy A15 bionic chip, are a longtime pro at Venmo, and may even be on your second or third EV. If that’s you, congratulations! You’re part of an elite group of the population (a whopping 2.5%) known as “Innovators.” At the other end of the spectrum are those referred to as “Laggards,” those individuals (about 16% of the population) who kick and scream their way toward technological change. Think moving beyond a flip phone, clinging to “Antenna TV” programs, and having zero interest in stepping a digital toe onto a social media platform. Neither of these sound familiar? There’s plenty of middle ground, but it pays to understand the range. ADAPT & REACT These descriptors are more than labels; they represent two of five categories of human behavior which comprise the “Technology Adoption Curve.” The curve represents a well-established sociological framework that shows how different people adapt/react to new technologies and innovations: • Innovators(2.5%) • EarlyAdopters(13.5%) • EarlyMajority(34%) • LateMajority(34%) • Laggards(16%) BUSINESS TOOLS & TIPS TECHNOLOGY ADOPTION CURVE MIKE MULLER ADAS Engineer 8 I - CAR COLLISION REPORTER2.5 % INNOVATORS In the inter-industry’s era of accelerating technologies, including the proliferation of ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems) and Electric Vehicles (EVs), it’s interesting to observe the wide variances in how individuals and companies embrace these advanced technologies. The Technology Adoption Curve demonstrates that there is not a one-size approach to fit all. SELF-DESCRIBED “AUTOMOTIVE TECHNOLOGIST” Mike Muller, SEMA Garage Detroit’s ADAS Engineer, has been fascinated with technology and adoption patterns for years. In fact, Muller, a self-described “Automotive Technologist,” also appreciates learnings from the Gartner Hype Cycle, a maturity life cycle of new technologies divided into five phases: Innovative Trigger, Peak of Inflated Expectations, Trough of Disillusionment, Slope of Enlightenment and Plateau of Productivity. “Any technology takes time to progress,” he said. This insight has helped him appreciate consumer acceptance/interest in ADAS features, in particular. While some technologies take years or even decades to evolve, others develop over a shorter duration. Case in point: Most of the ADAS features that are standard on today’s new vehicles, like adaptive cruise control and lane-departure warning systems, were limited to luxury vehicles just a few short years ago. “You can’t fight progress,” said Muller. WEIGHING OPTIONS, OUTCOMES The bottom line for collision repair businesses? Know that embracing new ideas, including investing in ADAS and EV repair, involves planning and a commitment to your business’s future, explained Muller. “While technological adoption of an idea, product or service can range from ‘all in’ to sitting on the sidelines, in today’s environment, there’s a cost to jump in first and a cost for being late to the party. Businesses need to determine where they are, where they want to go, and make plans to reach those goals.” 13.5 % EARLY ADOPTERS 34 % LATE MAJORITY 16 % LAGGARDS 34 % EARLY MAJORITY TECHNOLOGY ADOPTION CURVE 9 THE EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES ISSUENext >