Toronto, Ontario — In a recent announcement, Audatex/Solera has reported that changes to its blend refinish threshold are fully implemented.
According to a recent announcement, Audatex/Solera has successfully implemented its shift away from previously defaulted blend refinish formulas within its estimating system, with the aim of giving repairers more flexibility on labour hours charged.
While the previous version of the service automatically calculated blend refinish at 50 percent of Audatex refinish labour, Audatex/Solera has continued to expand.
As of October, repairers using Audatex were able to specify profile settings for blending based on a user-defined percentage of the refinish labour in any value between 50 and 150 percent, according to Solera Industry Relations VP and Interim Head of Claims Sales, Bill Brower and Product Management Senior Director, David Davoodi.
These planned changes to Audatex’s blend formula were first shared as part of a blend study update from Aaron Shulenburg, executive director of the Society of Collision Repair Specialists (SCRS) during a Collision Industry Conference (CIC) Parts and Materials Committee presentation in July.
The blend study was conducted by SCRS in August 2022, in coordination with AkzoNobel Vehicle Refinishes, Axalta Coating Systems, BASF Automotive Refinish, PPG Industries, and Sherwin-Williams Automotive Finishes. The purpose was to study the comparative difference between the time necessary to perform a full refinish on an exterior panel and the time needed to blend the same panel.
The study concluded blending took 31.59 percent more time on average than a full refinish based on results from refinish operations compared on 45 different parts with three colours from five paint and coatings companies.
Late last year, Audatex/Solera began data analysis following SCRS’ recommendation that estimating platforms consider future changes that need to be made to services.
As a result, and in reflection to the changes being made, in the near future, Audatex’s Database Reference Manual will read:
“Audatex refinish labor is based on the use of new and undamaged panels. Audatex Estimating does not provide a standard labor allowance for blended panels as this requires the estimate preparer’s judgment, expertise, and consideration of the unique requirements for each repair. Determination and assessment of labor and materials necessary in the blending process is best provided by the estimate preparer during the estimate preparation process. To assist the user, profile settings allow for customization to enter a specified blend percentage, as necessary.”
Audatex/Solera looks forward to continued future changes as technology continues to shift within the automotive repair industry.
