OVERLAND PARK, KS--(Marketwire - Mar 28, 2012) - As the auto body repair industry continues to evolve, requiring increasing levels of sophistication, it is driving the need for better technology to capture, analyze and report on the key metrics needed to be successful in today's repair businesses.
CARSTAR Auto Body Repair Experts has developed a proprietary store management system that integrates CARSTAR's technology solutions with the Mitchell RepairCenter™ Shop Workspace to deliver important technology tools to its store owners. The CARSTAR Solution is the culmination of significant technical investments to realize the vision of a tightly integrated system that will significantly improve CARSTAR store performance. It is the foundation that enables the capture, processing and delivery of key data elements and metrics to help stores better manage their Key Performance Indicators. Below are several benefits of the new technology platform:
- Single application eliminates dual entry in separate systems.
- Data is captured automatically through integration with RepairCenter, thus eliminating duplicate, manual entry of store data.
- Data maintained in the corporate data warehouse drives defensible key performance metrics. The CARSTAR Solution enables rapid and accurate reporting of operational metrics through its Business Intelligence/Analytics system.
The CARSTAR Solution will also provide the information required to forge strategic industry partnerships, bringing more value to CARSTAR shops, which in turn allows the shops to be more competitive and successful. Reporting to support both insurance relationships and purchasing will be a huge benefit to the CARSTAR network.
"The information gathered by using the CARSTAR Solution Software and the reports available are invaluable to our store and to the entire CARSTAR network in helping analyze our numbers and in selling to our local and national markets," said Jan Combs, of Auto Body Specialists CARSTAR in Billings, Montana. "One of the best features that our customers and insurance contacts get real excited about is the 'Web Status' area of the program. This allows us to update the customer or insurance contact on the status of the repairs as they are completed, by an automatic email."
"Mitchell is delighted to deepen our long-standing relationship with CARSTAR and to help CARSTAR build a great workspace based on Mitchell RepairCenter and CARSTAR's unique store management solution. As the solution is rolled out to the stores, it's very rewarding to partner with them to deliver a cutting-edge business management system to help them meet their strategic business objectives," said Jim O'Leary, Mitchell's Vice President of Repair Solutions.
To date, more than 80 stores have implemented the CARSTAR Solution, with another 65+ currently in the queue for final implementation and training. CARSTAR expects to have the CARSTAR Solution up and running in all U.S. stores by year-end.
"We are always looking at the tools, resources and support we can provide our independent store owners to help them build and manage their businesses," said David Byers, CEO of CARSTAR Auto Body Repair Experts. "The CARSTAR Solution is a great example of collaborative development with our partner Mitchell and select store owners to create a powerful technology platform that will benefit the entire organization."
CARSTAR Auto Body Repair Experts offers high-quality, reliable repair service in 31 states and 10 Canadian provinces. CARSTAR is already North America's largest auto body repair MSO (multiple store operator), and a newly expanded business development team will accelerate its growth across the U.S. and Canada. For more information about franchise opportunities with CARSTAR Auto Body Repair Experts, visit http://carstarinvestment.com/ or call 1-800-999-1949.
About CARSTAR
CARSTAR Auto Body Repair Experts is the largest group of branded collision repair facilities in North America with nearly 400 locally owned and operated locations in 31 states and 10 Canadian provinces. CARSTAR is committed to providing consistent quality services to our customers and insurance partners and has repaired more than 2.5 million vehicles since it was founded in 1989. Our technicians and front office staff receive ongoing training to ensure they are qualified to work on any vehicle. Customer satisfaction is our number one priority as we consistently lead the industry in customer satisfaction ratings.
About Mitchell
Mitchell empowers clients to achieve measurably better outcomes. Providing unparalleled breadth of technology, connectivity and information solutions to the Property & Casualty claims and Collision Repair industries, Mitchell is uniquely able to simplify and accelerate the claims management and collision repair processes.
As a leading provider of Property & Casualty claims technology solutions, Mitchell processes over 50 million transactions annually for over 300 insurance companies/claims payers and over 30,000 collision repair facilities throughout North America. Founded in 1946, Mitchell is headquartered in San Diego, California, and has 1,700 employees. The company is privately owned primarily by the Aurora Capital Group, a Los Angeles-based investment group. For more information about Mitchell, visit www.mitchell.com.