Take the 2024 NEAR Industry Survey!

It’s that time of year again!

The New England Automotive Report 2024 Industry Survey opens next month! Every December, collision repairers in the Commonwealth have the opportunity to speak up anonymously on behalf of their shops. The information collected paints a picture of what collision repair professionals deal with day after day. No two shops are the same, but as results have shown in the past, most businesses are dealing with the same challenges, though they may handle them differently.

For example, while last year’s survey results showed that finding good help was still a struggle for most collision repair businesses, it discovered a 40 percent increase of shops finding new employees via word of mouth referrals and a 23 percent increase in online searches, while 16 percent more shops relied on local vocational schools. This showed a big difference over the 15 percent of shops who reported the year prior that they were searching “everywhere.”

When this industry survey first debuted, 52 percent of shops responded that they did not participate in any referrals or programs. Last year, that number grew to 58 percent. It’s expected that trend will continue with the 2024 survey results yielding a higher percentage of shops removing themselves from contract agreements with insurers.

The survey is updated every year with new questions designed to capture the evolving collision industry landscape. Are shops using AI? Are they any more prepared to handle EVs than they were last year? The 2023 survey revealed that 74 percent of respondents believe they are not ready.

Balance billing customers is becoming a common practice with many businesses. It will be curious to see if this year’s survey will reveal a higher number than last year’s 62 percent who reported doing so. Results will be featured in an upcoming issue of New England Automotive Report in early 2025. 

Remember, answers will remain anonymous so there is no fear in coming forward with your wins and woes. The survey will open December 1, 2024. Watch your inbox for details. Your opinion matters, so do yourself and the industry a favor by taking 15 minutes to complete the survey. 

Want more? Check out the November 2024 issue of New England Automotive Report!