Leveraging Technology to Lighten the Workload and Narrow the Skills Gap

While not a revelation, while at the SEMA Show in early November I was struck by a common theme of the week's events and meetings I'd attended.
While not an instant fix, a partial solution to the problem of a shortage of technicians and other staff could lie in leveraging technology. It can be used to lighten the workload of experienced staff or allow less experienced people to take on more complex tasks. 
It could be something as simple as random-orbit polisher from 3M (or other companies, but that was the one being demoed) instead of a rotary, a topic we've explored in recent years in FenderBender and ABRN. Or it could be as complex as Kinetic's AI-powered vehicle scanning for repair planning/estimating or DataTouch's P-Pages AI. 

Look for more from us on these topics in the future, but at a top-level overview, a simple tool such as a random-orbit polisher is more forgiving in the hands of a less experienced detailer, not only negating the need for an extra step of polishing to remove swirls but avoiding "burning through" the paint on the edge of a panel.

Kinetic's AI-scanning uses robotics, 18 cameras capturing high-definition images, and computer vision to scan a damaged vehicle. The first system was a roundtable. The latest version from Kinetic uses a robotic arch that looks similar to an automatic car wash that moves over the stationary vehicle. Using the detailed images, the system acts as an automated tram gauge to measure multiple points, including under the vehicle. It can then generate a detailed estimate of what repairs are needed.

DataTouch's P-Pages AI, as demonstrated to FenderBender by Managing Director Pete Tagliapietra, takes some of the workload off an estimator/repair planner/blueprinter by interpreting and applying "not included" operations. It imports the digital estimate from the estimating system using the EMS Export function and then applies those not included operations that are identified (but not automated) in the procedure pages for each estimating system. And for each not included operations it applies on the DataTouch estimate, it provides a link back to the correct section of the Collision Estimating Guide Procedure Pages for verification and documentation by the insurer.

Again, these are not cure-alls but do point to some advances that can help lighten the workload and improve profitability. If you've learned of some other aids, please drop me a line so we can explore them together.