Harnessing technology

Bodyshop Systems


The increasing sophistication of today's computer software and hardware for the bodyshop means there is a bewildering array of options available. Management systems can include estimating, digital imaging, scheduling, job costing, parts processing (costing, invoicing, ordering, receiving and returning), payroll management, marketing, production management (including employee allocations, work orders and vehicle status monitoring), payment processing (accounts receivable and payables), accounting packages, CSI and online capabilities. Some products claim to do all of the above and more, other specialise in one area. As time goes on, the different standards for communication between these disparate functions, will amalgamate into one, but for now, it is important to chose a system or systems that is flexible and will work with other systems, including insurers'. Paint & Panel looks at some of the options available.

PPG Access Business Manager
PPG Access Business Manager provides bodyshop operators with a highly effective tool to accurately and efficiently monitor and control their business and the costs associated with it. .
A successful bodyshop can still lose profits if it is not well controlled. Good business control relies on systems that accurately measure the costs, efficiency and profits generated on each job.
PPG Industries offers a complete computerised bodyshop management system that allows for easy and effective bodyshop control. Business Manager has been developed using well established and proven technologies which have operated successfully in the Australasian market for a number of years.
PPG Access is a fully integrated business management system for the smash repair industry which uses the Windows-based Paint Manager and Business Manager programs to deliver to the bodyshop owner complete control and a platform to improve business profitability.
PPG's Business Management Services Group was established to offer products and services relating to the information technology and business management needs of the smash repair industry.
PPG backs up its product offering with expert advice to get the most out of the system or to deal with any problems that may arise.
In line with current industry trends, PPG has incorporated and successfully implemented electronic quoting. This involves transmitting images of the damaged vehicle, together with a quote electronically to the insurer for approval. This results in faster turnaround times for approvals.
PPG brings to its customers a coordinated approach, employing not only the expertise of the Business Management Services Group but also the expertise of the highly successful MVP Program. The ability of these two teams to work together enables PPG to offer its customers highly efficient and effective tools to enable bodyshop operators to get the most out of their businesses.
PPG Access Business Manager enables operators to integrate data with other well known accounting packages, enabling customers to get the best of both worlds.

Enquiries, tel: 1800 627 798.

New estimating and management system launched
Motex Australia commenced operations earlier this year in Melbourne and is set to launch its new its new graphics-based estimating and communications system -- EasiEst by early 2002. UK-based Motex has been developing software for over 24 years culminating in EasiEst, one of the easiest, quickest and most cost-effective vehicle damage estimating systems available. The system also has the added advantage of collective purchasing for parts, a fully functional bodyshop management system operated by bar-coding and also a fully programmed accounting package.
The main objectives behind the design of the system were to enable all sides of the industry to communicate in the same language with minimum intervention and to also bring the benefits of computer-based estimating and e-commerce to all sizes of the vehicle repair industry including those who have, hitherto, found the financial cost of entry difficult to justify.
EasiEst have no long-term contracts, no hidden charges and no large initial outlay (just $750.00 per quarter plus GST).
The data used within the EasiEst system is compiled by Motex's own panel of experienced engineers, which helps keep costs to a minimum. However, if a bodyshop would rather use repair data from other sources this is also available. Motex is currently in discussions with various industry bodies with the objective of establishing a widely accepted real time system.
After entering the details of the damaged vehicle in the EasiEst system, a The EasiEst system covers all volume vehicle producers including motorcycles and will continue to incorporate more vehicle types such as heavy goods vehicles and agricultural equipment as the data becomes available.

Enquiries, tel: (03) 9556 5477, fax: (03) 9556 5478, email: lockhart@connexus.com.au, web: www.motexeasiest.com.

New: AutoIntegrity Assessing Software
AutoIntegrity's new assessing software, released in March at the Institute of Accident Assessors, is billed as the complete solution for vehicle assessors. Built on internet technologies, it speeds up office work dramatically using single form entry, adaptive data entry and automatically assisted calculations.
The system has been designed for one to 1000 users, meaning it is ideal for everyone from independent assessors to major insurance companies.
Adding information to the assessor's report is easily done from a single form which automatically copies through to other reports such as the authority.
Emailing assessor's reports to the insurer with Up to 12 Reporting is just one mouse click: Assessors report, Authority, Images of Vehicle, Invoice, Assessors Instruction Sheet and Day Sheet.
AutoIntegrity provides a high level of support from the installation through to onsite training, customisation and seven-day telephone support with all its systems.

Enquiries, tel: (02) 9487 7781 mob: 0415 879 901, email: chunter@autointegrity.com.au, website: www.autointegrity.com.au.

DNS: focused on cutting costs
"What sets QuotePlus V8 apart from the rest?" asks DNS director Steve O'Brien. "It will increase your shop's profit," he answers. QuotePlus allows for better repair decisions, saves time, allows shops to market their business and includes provision for incentive schemes -- all adding to the bottom line, says O'Brien.
As QuotePlus was converted to the Windows platform in 1995, DNS has been able to focus all its development team over the last 12 months on addressing the critical issues of increasing marketing and cutting costs for bodyshops.
To improve marketing, a Customer Relationship Management or CRM module has been built into QuotePlus which incorporates a Windows Word Processor and access to a shop's entire database of customers, debtors, creditors and teledex by category and date. Keeping in touch or sending promotional material is very easy.
A popular way of cutting costs at the moment is through incentive or bonus schemes attached to a job costing system to increase productivity on the shop floor and paint shop. These schemes are very popular in Europe and America and have proven very successful over many years. After much industry consultation QuotePlus now incorporates similar schemes but with an Australian focus.
In conjunction with QuotePlus, the DNS online parts ordering system, SmashLink, can also cut costs through saving time. "As an exercise, mentally add up all the time you and your staff spend pricing parts, ordering parts and receipting parts -- now imagine not doing all that work. Use SmashLink to its full potential and all that time will be saved," says O'Brien.
While preparing an estimate SmashLink can display your exact dollar profit on each part -- supply new, repair or used is now an easy choice because the bodyshop is are fully informed.
QuotePlus has also been involved from day one with the IMA Online Repair Management system.
Other areas of cost cutting focus on the questions of 'do we use too much paint', 'is our wages bill too high', 'is our estimating too high or low', etc. QuotePlus focuses on these questions through a range of reports and 'Internal Benchmarking' plus access to an Australia wide benchmarking service.
"Times are tough, but by spending an hour exploring what QuotePlus can do to increase your profitability might help you through," concludes O'Brien.