Average Length of Rental for Repairable Vehicles: Q3 2016
Continuing a recent trend, U.S. Length of Rental (LOR) increased by .5 days in the third quarter versus the same period the previous year (11.4 to 11.9) powered by a surge in claims frequency and an escalation of complex repairs. The regional results are very similar to those from the second quarter with the Southwest nearly two days longer than the U.S. average at 13.8 days, an increase of 1.3.
The Importance of Automotive Diagnostics in Collision Repair
Vehicle complexity has exploded in the last decade. Collision repair used to be about sheet metal, headlamp and bumper replacement; now it involves more and more sophisticated electronics. Essentially repairers must be prepared to fix a computer network on wheels.
Corporate Responsibility: How Employee Engagement and Community Engagement Go Hand-in-Hand
Employee engagement is a top priority for every human resources executive, and for good reason. According to a PWC study, employees who are committed to the companies they work for put in 57 percent more effort and are 87 percent less likely to resign. Despite these powerful statistics, Gallup reports that only about one third of U.S. workers are engaged at work.
Top 10 Trends from the Mitchell 2016 P&C Conference
At the 2016 Mitchell Property and Casualty Conference, keynotes, breakouts and everything in between were focused on technology and social trends that are changing the way we interact with one another and do business. From augmented reality to information security, here are 10 of the many trends that were top of mind at the conference.
Five P&C Hot Topics and the Trends Fueling Them
Does virtual reality have practical applications for the P&C and collision repair industries? While it may be too soon to say what the overall impact will be, we are seeing interesting applications that go beyond entertainment. Virtual reality is being used to train doctors, create architectural models, and test the safety of new car models in a virtual setting before manufacturing them. It’s easier to see the potential benefits of augmented reality.
Total Loss Trends: What You Can and Can’t Control
Ah, the holidays are upon us. For me, this brings to mind all the sentiments of the season, like large family gatherings, in-laws, and the occasional antipsychotic. Over the years, I’ve found that the path to maintaining sanity (holidays or otherwise) is having a good sense of what you can and can’t control. And when it comes to total loss, what you definitely can’t control are market forces.
Growth in Special Materials and Its Impact on Estimating
While taking in the OE companies at the NACE and SEMA shows this past year, I was truly amazed to see their increasing use of special materials and construction techniques. I saw General Motors had the Cadillac CT6 cut-away at NACE, while at SEMA, they displayed a Chevy Bolt body shell, highlighting all of the materials, rivet styles, glues, and more.