Toronto, Ontario — CIECA founder Erick Bickett says collision repairers can expect to witness unprecedented industry changes in the post pandemic era, including bodyshop segmentation and explosive franchising.
During a June 30 CIECA webinar, Bickett, who has also served as past CEO and co-founder of ACAB Automotive Group and Fix Auto USA, said he predicts the number of small independents operating in the U.S. will dwindle post-pandemic.
“Single shop operators on their own in a metro market will not survive,” said Bickett. “And, on the insurance side, I believe insurers will only refer repairs to those who are certified and verified to have the equipment, training to perform repairs.”
Bickett also says he expects to see more bodyshop segmentation, whether that be by vehicle brand or specialized repair verticals.
The webinar also touched on evolving technology in the industry—especially collision avoidance systems. Bickett says the technology could begin to stifle collision frequency in the next five to 10 years, but there will continue to be work for the industry.
“Humans will override [automotive] systems regardless,” said Bickett, referring back to the features on his Tesla. “Tech may eliminate a large percentage of collisions, but we’ll always have the small stuff.”
