Business As Usual At Ai Automotive Solutions
20 Mar 2009
Jim Monteith, Automotive Director, Ai Claims Solutions, reports that Ai have no plans to change the existing commercial terms with its repairer network, despite the recent high profile contractual changes being talked about and implemented elsewhere within the sector. Ai’s payments terms remain 30 days.
Geoff Peacock, Repair Network Manager, commented that Ai continues to deliver tangible cost savings to its business partners by proactive cycle time management. “Insurers and our other customers demand quality repairs at a fair price, and Ai works with its repairers to ensure that the repairs are carried out both efficiently and cost effectively. Ai’s Repairer Network is a stable one with few changes taking place throughout the year. Ai works closely with its Repairer Council to ensure a frank two way interchange of views brings about positive benefits to both parties and to our customers. Ai was nominated recently by its repairers as a finalist in the prestigious Bodyshop Awards as Accident Management Company of the year, something we are very proud of”.
It’s an unfortunate fact that we will have to lose some repairers from our network in the near future, those that are not showing any tangible evidence of obtaining the BSI Kitemark which we notified them we were looking for them to achieve more than 12 months ago. Those that are taken off will quickly be replaced by repairers that are contacting us daily to come on to our network. Some of the other companies that operate in our sector are changing their terms of payment for their repairers, which must be worrying for the industry as a whole particularly given the current economic climate”.
Sean Harper who has been working closely with the MVRA to help repairers achieve their Kitemark status quotes commented “we are pleased with the progress of the network and it shows our association with the MVRA is reaping rewards for the repair network. The feedback from the network is very positive and demonstrates a clear synergy”.
Alex Green of New Platt Motors confirmed ““New Platt Motors take great pride in providing our customers with the highest level of customer service and has always operated to the highest quality standards the industry has. The Thatcham BSi Kitemark now gives us a real opportunity to prove this. We are pleased to see that Ai Claims Solutions, as one of our key customers, is putting equal importance on the Kitemark scheme by making it a requirement for the approved repairer network. Additionally, it was nice to see they haven’t just issued a ‘mandate’ but also implemented a suitable support mechanism to help repairers achieve this by linking in with MVRA, we have chosen to take this route as opposed to using a so called ‘consultant’ as MVRA have the dedicated resource and expertise, combined with their own experience of body repair standards, they have provided me a practical support which has been invaluable in my journey towards achieving the Kitemark”
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