Repairify Automotive Repair Technology Supplement

SUPPLEMENT 2021 

Automotive 

Repair Technology 

Supplement

Contents 

4 Welcome to MIM from Repairify, Inc 

Philip Peace, Managing Director (SVP) International 

at Repairify, Inc. 

6 

Technology strategy and investment 

Maurice Tuff, CTO at Repairify, INC. discusses the 

strategy, strengths and ambitions for Repairify’s 

continuous use of technological innovation and invention 

in an expanding global network. 

8 From North America to Europe 

Tony Rimas, President at Repairify, discusses the 

company’s successes in the American market, his 

hopes for the ongoing expansion into Europe and 

maintaining Repairify’s overall mission to be recognised 

as the automotive industry’s leading service provider for 

vehicle electronic systems. 

19 

20 

21 

22 

ADAS ready 

The change in repair obligations brought about by the 

introduction of the Insurance Industry Requirements 

(IIR) for the safe repair of ADAS equipped vehicles is 

placing new demands on body repair specialists. 

Is it enough to turn the lights out? 

A view from … Gareth Newbery, Red. 

ADAS top tips 

adasThink: what is coming? 

An interview with Nick Dominato, SVP, Product 

(adasThink founder), Repairify. 

10 

Remote services in practice 

The rise of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) 

to help mitigate the risk of collisions and protect drivers, 

passengers and pedestrians is continuing apace and is 

becoming more and more complex. 

24 

Why total loss when you can repair? 

Identifying and developing new product 

innovations that satisfy the demands of the repair 

sector lies at the heart of Reds commitments. 

12 

14 

Synergistic acquisition: Repairify’s 

European business strategy 

Philip Peace is Managing Director (SVP) International 

at Repairify, Inc. Philip was responsible for supporting 

the acquisition of Red EU during COVID and his 

remit is to nurture international relationships 

(outside of the US and Canada) and identify 

opportunities to deliver Repairify’s continual 

successful growth throughout global marketplaces. 

Keeping pace with technology 

It’s important that companies invest in the right 

areas to enable them to complete the jobs required, while 

also ensuring the sustainability of the business. 

26 

28 

Solid investment underpins world 

class operations 

Building a solid foundation to facilitate 

scale and growth in the UK and Europe is 

fundamental to Repairify’s expansion plans to 

continuously meet the needs and demands of its 

customers from across the globe. 

Red VHC or asTech – which should 

you choose? 

Simply put, the asTech tool provides remote services, 

whereas the Red device delivers an aftermarket 

functionality plus remote services. 

16 

Pay as you calibrate 

Through its Red division, asTech provides 

extensive ADAS services enabling bodyshops and 

SMR centres to benefit from the significant growth 

opportunity presented by these technologies. 

30 

The final word 

What an exciting technology ADAS is for the 

marketplace. 

asTech Supplement | 3

Welcome 

to MIM from Repairify, Inc. 

Welcome to the latest issue of Modern Insurance Magazine and to this special issue 

focused on automotive repair technology. 

It’s no secret that the modern automobile has become much 

safer to drive, but also increasingly advanced and complex 

through the years. It’s estimated that the average vehicle now 

contains 50 computer modules, 50 million lines of code and can 

produce 15,000 different fault codes. Diagnosing the source of 

a given problem through the course of a repair can be quite a 

challenge, just ask any repair technician. 

Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), for example, are 

now present in roughly 70 per cent of vehicles in the European 

car parc, according to one study conducted by LexisNexis Risk 

Solutions (1) . These systems bring added safety with features like 

automatic emergency braking (AEB), blind spot monitoring and 

hill descent control. 

But with added safety comes added complexity, making the 

repair of vehicles increasingly difficult and costly. There are 

now well over 1,000 individual original equipment manufacturer 

(OEM) tools just for diagnostic scanning alone. The same is true 

for ADAS calibration OEM tools. It’s no wonder certified auto 

technicians are in short supply globally. 

At Repairify, our mission is to make modern automobile 

repairs simple for customers using advanced tools and remote 

diagnostic support. Repairify comprises a family of brands 

offering automotive technology and services, including asTech®, 

Red (EU), BlueDriver®, adasThink, Mobile Tech RX, FleetGenix and 

One Guard Inspections. 

In the pages that follow, you will find articles that showcase the 

concepts, technologies and solutions that are helping the collision 

industry become more proficient and efficient at vehicle repair. 

Plus, case studies on how we are working with insurers to ensure 

that they are advocating and supporting the most appropriate 

technology to repair vehicles. Our people understand the 

challenges from both an insurer and bodyshop perspective and 

our focus is on the shop repairing the vehicle properly with the 

relevant technical support to enable the vehicle to be returned to 

the road safely in the quickest possible time. In these pages, you 

will meet the team from Repairify leading the charge for us. 

For example, there’s our Chief Technology Officer Maurice Tuff, 

who founded the company that built BlueDriver, which is now the 

most popular consumer car-side diagnostic scan tool available on 

Amazon. 

Mr. Tuff and his team joined the Repairify family a year ago and 

they’re helping us integrate the best of these technologies from 

across the Repairify ecosystem to fulfill our mission. 

You’ll meet Tony Rimas, President of Repairify. Tony is a wizard 

at recognising trends and new markets, and he has excellent 

perspective on current trends in the automotive technology sector 

and its implications for repairers and insurers. 

Of course, you’ll also learn about our operations and offerings in 

the UK and Europe as well as our global expansion plans, which is 

my role as Managing Director (SVP) of International for Repairify. 

Martin Pinnell-Brown is founder of RED and an expert on 

automotive repair diagnostics and innovations in this market. Get 

a window into Mr. Brown’s mind on page 24. 

There’s also Paul Cunningham, an integral leader who runs the 

Operations team for asTech Europe, a team one might consider 

the heartbeat of our operation here. Learn how Mr. Cunningham’s 

team provides expert knowledge to shops on page 26. 

Speaking of ADAS earlier, Nick Dominato is our Senior Vice 

President of Product Development and founder of adasThink and 

a true expert on the available OEM data for ADAS systems around 

the globe. The offering he has developed brings information and 

insight about ADAS systems into the shops to improve workflow 

efficiency and ensure that ADAS calibrations aren’t missed in the 

repair process. 

In addition to the people running our company, you’ll learn about 

the technology trends we’re helping to shape to make repairs 

easier and more efficient, ideally bringing costs downward. 

For example, the equipment required to calibrate ADAS front-end 

systems can be quite expensive. The teams at asTech Europe and 

Red (EU) Ltd. have come up with a novel pay-as-you-go model for 

ADAS calibrations that make the process simpler and more costeffective. 

We have a feature on this offering over on page 16. 

When repair shops are able to keep vehicles in-house to 

conduct ADAS calibrations rather than send them to 

another shop, it saves time and money. This is how XL 

Motors Accident Repair, MOT & Service Repair has 

found success. By partnering with Red (EU), Ltd. to 

start up its own calibrations business, the company 

expanding its own services in the process. Learn 

more about XL Motors on page 19. 

And in the age of COVID and staff shortages, it’s 

not always possible to perform every service 

in-house. This is where remote services are 

beneficial to keep vehicles under the same roof 

while receiving guidance and diagnostics from 

a certified remote technician. We cover this 

topic on page 10. 

At the end of the day, as the pages ahead 

will show, technology is here to simplify 

the lives of automotive repairers as 

well as the drivers. 

After all, the heart of each and every 

vehicle repair is human, one person 

handing the keys back to the other 

with a promise that the vehicle is 

fixed and safe. 

Yours respectfully, 

Phil Peace 

(1) https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/ 

news-releases/admiral-to-use-adasdata-in-pricing-through-lexisnexisvehicle-build-808829482.html 

4 | asTech Supplement 


From 

North America 

to Europe 

Tony Rimas, President at Repairify, 

discusses the company’s successes 

in the American market, his hopes for 

the ongoing expansion into Europe and 

maintaining Repairify’s overall mission to 

be recognised as the automotive industry’s 

leading service provider for vehicle 

electronic systems. 

You have seen significant success in the American 

Q1market. Why do you think there has been such 

progression in this particular area? Was the US simply ready for 

asTech’s pioneering technology? 

This company made its debut in 2015 by using a unique, 

A patented technology to use a pass-through box to connect 

the vehicle to an OEM tool and OEM-certified technician, almost 

making the car feel like it was out of a franchise dealership. 

That was really uncommon because a lot of the technologies 

being used to diagnose what was going on with the electronic 

components and ADAS features of the vehicle, were what they 

call car-side aftermarket tools. These are great but they depend 

upon OEM data that needs to be procured from the OEMs in order 

to power that car-side experience. And so, sometimes it would 

leave gaps for make-model trends, and that’s where our solution 

would come in. We could actually go and access that OEM 

tool and OEM tech, so we can make sure that the vehicle was 

diagnosed and properly set up for repair. And then obviously, we 

can confirm the repair with that methodology. 

What are your hopes for expansion throughout the 

Q2 European market? 

In the European market, it’s different. In the US, we often 

A think that we’re miles ahead, that’s very naive. In Europe, 

they mandate that heavy trucks actually have front radars. We 

still don’t even mandate that here in the US, which if you’ve seen 

some of our accidents, we should mandate it. In Europe, they’ve 

taken a stance with the insurance carriers for the right reasons, 

saying if you’re going to fix these cars, you need to have the 

correct tools in your shop, and it is your expense to take on. Just 

now, the industry and the insurance carriers are getting on the 

same page, realising that the tools are expensive, but also the 

actual amount of time it takes to diagnose and properly repair 

these vehicles is costly. And I think, there’s this level-set that’s 

happening. 

Whereas here in the US, I think folks did a great job of saying, 

look, these are the features that people use to keep themselves 

safe in the car. The insurance carriers, back in those days, were 

willing to pay for any and all of that. Today, we’re seeing a level-set 

there, wherein certain repairs we have huge differences in price 

points; calibrating the camera on one make model trim in one part 

of the US could be sub one hundred dollars, and in the other part, 

it could be north of eight hundred dollars on the same repair. So, 

you’re starting to see that level-set of the industry here in the US, 

and Europe is actually better positioned for that. 

Presumably there are significant challenges when 

Q3 making the transition across continents? What have 

been the main differences between the two operations and how 

have they impacted expansion? 

In the US, what they call ‘pre-diagnostic repair scanning’ and 

A ‘post-repair scanning’ have been well reimbursed events in 

the industry. Now, the insurance carriers are realising that you 

should be doing a free repair scan on every single vehicle, so you 

could actually set up the repair properly. Basically, making sure 

you have the right blueprint for what you’re going to take down 

and put back together. 

Europe, on the other hand, they were doing that and not trying to 

get reimbursed. And the other thing that was really interesting is 

we went to Europe with one major glass company, so we really 

had just the one customer before we acquired Red Diagnostics. 

We went with one glass company from the US over to Europe, 

where we focused mainly on transitioning from diagnostics very 

quickly over to an ADAS calibration model. And today, we’re doing 

business in 23 countries. We have this unique capability where we 

actually use a chat engine to convert the language real time. Our 

technicians in the UK can do a great job with the customer. 

And you see us expand just from one customer in calibrations, 

which we had through the asTech platform, and then leveraging 

what we purchased in Red Diagnostics, where they have a fiveyear 

agreement with one of the major estimation companies. I’m 

super excited about the future we have in Europe. 

asTech holds a significant global reach. What priorities 

Q4 do you maintain to ensure the asTech mission to be 

‘recognized as the automotive industry’s leading service 

provider for vehicle electronic systems’ is consistent 

throughout? 

We absolutely want to make sure that we are the remote 

A repair partner of choice for any of these car-side repair needs. 

What I mean by that is we’re coming out with an exciting, kind 

of all-in-one device. We’re spending millions of dollars in R&D to 

actually help determine what tool is right for that car-side repair. 

And it could be based on speed, on coverage, or on price. And I 

think that’s going to really set us apart, because today the largest 

investment you have to make is when you have to access that 

OEM tool or an OEM tech, having to get another person involved 

in the repair. 

Furthermore, we’ve got a great, efficient tool in our acquisition 

of BlueDriver. It’s this car-side expedited scan. It is very similar 

to some of the other best-in-class companies that are out there, 

but some best-in-class companies are actually bridging the 

gap between the two examples of the BlueDriver and the OEM 

tool. And we’re spending a lot of time and R&D dollars in order 

to actually determine what is the best tool for that job. We think 

that’s really going to set us apart, because we’re going to truly be 

that remote partner people think about when they need help on an 

electronic component. 

What are the next steps for expansion as part of the 

Q5 European rollout? 

You’ll see us continue to partner with other glass companies 

A that are running leading-edge calibration efforts. That’s 

where we made our entrance, so we’re very comfortable in being 

that remote partner for calibrations. And then, we are going to 

very much leverage with Martin Pinnell-Brown, who’s brilliant in 

the mechanical and repair space. Today, we are leveraging that 

great partnership we have with the leading estimation platform 

in Europe and then taking it from there. In the US, we don’t have 

many insurance carriers that own their own network of shops, 

which does occur in Europe, so pursuing those relationships is our 

near-term path. Including Red, we’re announcing our fifth global 

acquisition next week and I think you could very much see us 

being more acquisitive in Europe in 2022. 

What advice could you give on when the right time is to 

Q6 execute and stage different growth initiatives? 

Our executive chairman has this amazing ability to 

A recognise something as an opportunity. It could be a very 

small company that is just getting started, like when we bought 

adasThink, which in a matter of seconds takes an estimate, a 

diagnostic event and lets that repairer know which ADAS features 

need calibrating. That acquisition really helped our overall repair 

ecosystem. By itself, it may not have been a very big company, but 

when you put that into our ecosystem, it very much completes it. 

That granular example is to say the right time has a lot to do with 

gut and instinct. 

There are other times where an opportunity pops up, like our 

latest acquisition of Mobile Tech RX, where we really needed more 

technicians that were touching cars. The Mobile Tech RX platform 

today is used by a lot of independent businesses to run their 

business. They’re out there fixing wheels and fixing vendors and 

using this software to write estimates and invoices for customers. 

They use it day in and day out. But we looked at it as these people 

are touching millions of cars in the car park versus us seeing them 

remotely with our partners. So, you’re going to see us do a lot 

more with a rifle approach, but every once in a while, there’s going 

to be that opportunistic thing where it just really feels right. 

Tony Rimas 

is President of Repairify, Inc. 

6 | asTech Supplement asTech Supplement | 7

Technology 

strategy and 

investment 

Maurice Tuff, CTO at Repairify, Inc., 

discusses the strategy, strengths, and 

ambitions for Repairify’s continuous use of 

technological innovation and invention in 

an expanding global network. 

How does Repairify utilise data and technology to 

Q1 empower its clients to make better decisions? 

We provide virtual access to a remote library of sophisticated 

A diagnostic tools, including official OEM tools, using 

proprietary patented technology; all on an easy-to-use platform. 

This provides shops with affordable access to expensive bestin-class 

scan tools on an as needed basis versus having to 

purchase and maintain all their own tools. 

urther to that, we have hundreds of certified technicians 

Fthat interpret those scans and then provide clients with a 

comprehensive and actionable diagnostic report, that includes 

code descriptions, repair recommendations, and identifies 

necessary calibrations. The good news is we’re doing millions of 

these scans, which allows us to analyse the data and ensure that 

we’re giving the right information to the customer all the time. 

What are Repairify’s overarching goals when it comes 

Q2 to revolutionising vehicle care? How does a company 

‘driven by Repairify’ differ from its competition in its use of 

specialised technology? 

Vehicles are being revolutionized and becoming more and 

A more complex. You can’t have the vehicles progress in 

technology and not have the technology necessary to fix and 

repair those vehicles advance at the same time. Our primary 

goal is to help our customers master the modern automobile by 

simplifying the repair with technology and our research-based 

expertise. 

We are doing the legwork in R&D to help the automotive repair 

sector stay ahead of the curve. This mission drives everything we 

do, no matter which Repairify brand you’re talking to. 

Beyond that, in terms of differentiating between the competition, 

one of the big things that we do is provide the customer with the 

official OEM report that’s generated by that scan tool. They can 

see what comes out of the OEM tool, and layered on top of that, 

we do the analysis and provide a summary report with expert 

recommendations. This provides customers with an easy-toread 

and detailed report created by Repairify along with the OEM 

report produced by the OEM tool. This is just one example of how 

we demonstrate our commitment to quality and transparency. 

What will a continuously expanding global network or 

Q3 repairers require from a technology strategy, to ensure 

quality and consistency across continents? 

These shops should pick suppliers that they trust and that 

A have experience working globally. Repairers expanding 

into new countries need to know that they’re picking a supplier 

who already understands the technology and the types of 

vehicles that are in that country, so they can ensure the highest 

quality and consistency of repairs from one country to the 

next. Repairify has customers around the globe, and we are 

continuously expanding to more countries, always bringing the 

same high-quality solutions we are known for. 

What have been the most significant challenges in 

Q4 technology investment when looking to increase a 

brand like Repairify’s scope? 

vehicles and the increasing pace of technology innovation 

A happening on the OEM side; therefore, the technology 

necessary to diagnose faults, safely repair and calibrate 

sensors on the vehicle is changing just as fast. Our value 

proposition is in fact staying on top of all the technology 

investment necessary for our customers. While this is a 

challenge for many companies, we have the team and the 

technical and financial resources necessary to do it. With 

rapidly increasing demand for our services, we are constantly 

procuring and adding even more tools to our library. 

You were the founder of BlueDriver, which was 

Q5 acquired by Repairify about a year ago at this point. 

What has BlueDriver brought to Repairify and asTech, and 

how do you feel this combination benefits both automotive 

repairers and the insurers? 

BlueDriver focused on the DIY consumer, primarily selling 

A our scan tool on places such as Amazon. BlueDriver 

enables anyone looking to understand the issues with their 

vehicle and how it can be repaired. They can then decide if 

they want to fix it themselves or bring it to a shop based on 

their own skill level and the complexity of the repair. To serve 

this market, we had to simplify the diagnostic process so 

that you didn’t need to be a trained professional to use our 

product. When we joined Repairify, we complemented a lot of 

their existing efforts, as well as brought more of this ease-ofuse 

strategy. We also really focused on providing exceptional 

customer service, which helped us succeed in a crowded DIY 

market. Repairify shares this customer-centric approach across 

its brands, magnifying our focus on ensuring our clients receive 

the solutions they require. 

Are there any more developments customers can 

Q6 expect to see from Repairify in the near future? 

Repairify is a technology company at heart, meaning 

A we have to continuously innovate and create new 

products to stay competitive and deliver best-in-class 

solutions for our customers. We embrace the fact 

that vehicles are constantly changing, and our team of 

engineers, computer scientists, and data scientists are 

working tirelessly as we continually invest in R&D to stay 

ahead of the curve. 

One of the products that you’ll see coming into the market 

is a disruptive new solution that intelligently selects which 

scan tool, either a local OEM compatible scan, a remote 

OEM compatible scan, or a remote OEM scan, is the safest 

and most cost-effective way to scan any particular vehicle. 

We’re investing in this research, and we will make sure 

that the customer and the insurer are fully aware 

that if we recommend an aftermarket tool it is OEM 

compatible. They can rest assured it has been 

validated to provide accurate results on that exact 

vehicle. Whenever a customer wants an OEM 

scan, however, they can select an OEM scan. The 

choice is always theirs. 

Additionally, we are now developing a system 

to provide a seamless workflow from the 

time the vehicle enters the repair facility. This 

system will ensure that proper diagnostics 

and required ADAS calibrations are identified 

early in the process to return vehicles safely 

to the road. 

Maurice Tuff 

is Chief Technology Officer at 

Repairify, Inc. 



Traditionally, vehicles have 

needed to be booked into a 

main franchised dealership 

to get the work done 

Remote services 

in practice 

The rise of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) to help mitigate the risk of 

collisions and protect drivers, passengers and pedestrians is continuing apace and is 

becoming more and more complex. 

After a collision the ADAS need to be recalibrated to ensure 

the vehicle returns to the road safely, however this can 

lead to an increase in key-to-key times if the repairer is not 

equipped with the correct tools and skills to conduct the work 

on site. Traditionally, vehicles have needed to be booked into a 

main franchised dealership to get the work done, which on 

average can add three days to the job. 

Yet, with the right equipment and training repairers can 

bring ADAS repairs in-house with the high-quality support 

offered by a trusted third party such as asTech or Red. The 

comprehensive remote service is based on first connecting 

an asTech or Red device to the OBD2 port of the vehicle. 

All bodyshop technicians need to do is to 

connect the device to the OBD2 port on 

the vehicle and then to the asTech global 

app or via the telephone to Red 

the asTech global app or via the telephone to Red. This then leads 

to an assigned technician who guides the user through the setup 

position required for the calibrations using target boards to 

ensure they have the right distance and height from the vehicle. 

Once the device is plugged in, the remote technician working on 

the vehicle links it to the relevant OEM tool and completes the 

required service, which increases efficiency as the user does not 

have to search for anything. 

We then use our technology to connect the vehicle over the 

Internet to an OEM tool that performs the functions required 

by today’s bodyshops and service centres. Our technology 

is supported by a fully dealer trained and IMI qualified 

remote technician. We are able to provide full vehicle scans, 

clearing of fault codes and calibrations on sensors, lidars and 

radars. 

This technology means that we can monitor the vehicle and 

the OE tool during the diagnostic sessions ensuring that our 

reporting gathers all the relevant information about any fault 

codes on the vehicle. It also means that the calibrations are 

completely aligned with OEM standards and requirements 100% 

of the time. A full report providing visibility of the stats is then 

signed by the remote technician and sent on completion of the 

job to show exactly what has been carried out. So, if there are any 

issues down the line there is a record of what has been performed, 

aligning with the repairer’s Duty of Care liability, and safeguarding 

the business’s reputation. 

For calibrations, all bodyshop technicians need to do is to 

connect the device to the OBD2 port on the vehicle and then to 

Martin Pinnell-Brown, director of Repairify Innovations 

says, “Recognising that digital ADAS calibration systems 

are here to stay, the opportunity for repairers is to increase 

efficiency and reduce key-to-key times by not moving the 

vehicle to a main dealer, saving them money, and reducing their 

environmental impacts.” 

Philip Peace, managing director (SVP) International, Repairify Inc., 

says, “The need for online access driven by ADAS being installed 

into thousands of new cars means repairers have a complex 

electronic system that requires extreme precision to function 

safely. To ensure the vehicle is safe, a complete repair must 

be carried out addressing any faults that have been highlighted. 

By using an OEM tool to calibrate the vehicle, repairers can be 

confident that the work is being completed as if the vehicle 

is being taken to a main franchised dealership. In addition, by 

trusting a third party such as asTech or Red, repair shops can be 

reassured that they are receiving a consultancy service from an 

engaged and empowered team of qualified technicians, based 

on in-depth knowledge and skills, who are totally focused on 

resolving the repair issue for the bodyshop and getting the car 

back on the road safely and as quickly as possible.” 

The need for online access driven by ADAS 

being installed into thousands of new cars 

means repairers have a complex electronic 

system that requires extreme precision to 

function safely 

Martin Pinnell-Brown, 

director, Repairify Innovations 


Synergistic 

acquisition: 

Repairify’s European 

business strategy 

Philip Peace is Managing Director (SVP) International 

at Repairify, Inc. Philip was responsible for supporting 

the acquisition of Red EU during COVID and his remit 

is to nurture international relationships (outside 

of the US and Canada) and identify opportunities 

to deliver Repairify’s continual successful growth 

throughout global marketplaces. At the same time, 

he is responsible for developing and building on the 

company’s existing teams to provide outstanding 

service and support to its growing customer base. 

What are your prioritised metrics to 

Q1 ensure new acquisitions align with the 

core values of Repairify’s business strategy? 

The key objective within the acquisition 

A strategy is to add businesses that draw 

together different technologies within the 

automotive space, and which focus on 

software innovations, in both the OEM and 

aftermarket sectors. If there are businesses 

that are beneficial, and which we think are 

going to add value to either what we currently 

do, or to our customer base, then we are 

absolutely interested in looking at them. On top 

of that, the future strategy will rely on the large 

amount of data we own as a result of all the 

existing services we provide. So, in the future, 

we will be looking at how we can leverage that 

data within our existing companies, and also 

within any acquisitions. Does the acquisition 

provide additional datasets that we can 

synergise with our own, maximise and add 

value? 

Acquisitions will either: 

n 

n 

n 

help grow our footprint more quickly than 

we can do organically; 

add value to our existing propositions; 

like Mobile Tech RX, be related but not 

core, with the potential to grow in new 

markets or add value to our core offering. 

With six operating companies with customers in 48 

Q2 countries, how has the increase of scale affected overall 

business objectives? Has there been a shift or does the core 

mission of Repairify remain the same throughout? 

When you’re setting objectives two or three years in advance, 

A these objectives evolve constantly, based on decisions that 

you make along the way. Having said that, we are quite specific in 

that the acquisitions that we make must provide some element of 

synergy which we can leverage. 

The only exceptions to the rule are those great businesses 

which stand alone. So Mobile Tech RX is an interesting business 

because whilst it works with a lot of our customers, it’s kind of a 

stand-alone business that adds value. What you’re doing there is 

bringing in a good business, but as a corporate and larger entity 

you’ve still got standard pillars of HR, finance, marketing and legal, 

so you can leverage synergies across these core functions and 

deliver efficiencies from that perspective as well as adding value. I 

think the other benefit to acquiring some really good companies is 

particularly acquiring ones that are innovative. For one thing you’re 

going to obtain good people. We’ve onboarded companies that 

have brought with them people that have now taken senior roles 

within our own business, and we are able to benefit from that. 

How has the European expansion impacted the attraction 

Q3 and recruitment of new talent? 

With the acquisition of good companies, you get good 

A people. However, with COVID we face the same challenges 

as everyone else; a shortage of resources in many sectors. 

Particularly, in looking to recruit the best quality technicians to 

support our proposition. 

I think we’re fortunate however, as we are seen as innovative 

and also slightly different. So, in terms of attracting technicians, 

it’s often historic mechanics who are leading figures in their 

businesses but no longer want to be on the tools, who transition 

to us. 

We’re currently looking at how else we can attract people. Our 

proposition is interesting and because it’s innovative, it does bring 

people to the business that you may not normally have attracted. 

We’re also looking at significant expansion in Europe now. That’s 

enabling us to identify the quality people we need to help us 

deliver our proposition to new (and current) customer bases in the 

target markets. 

How did you initially come to be involved in Repairify? 

Q4 

Initially, I was involved as a consultant to support the 

A acquisition of Red (EU) and that was very successful. It 

was very pivotal, as the Repairify execs weren’t able to travel 

here, so I became the conduit between the businesses. I made 

sure that those deals got over the line from our operational and 

management perspective. 

After that, Repairify evolved and recognised that it needed a local 

head to run the international business. So, it created the role 

of managing director (SVP) of International. The role builds on 

some of my previous experiences operating businesses with an 

internatioanl footprint and expanding into new markets as well as 

drawing in M&A experience gained at a US multinational. 

What have been your most significant strategic 

Q5 successes thus far and how will these impact future 

operations? 

Firstly, the acquisition of Red in Europe, because that 

A significantly increased our customer base. That’s enabled 

the asTech and the Red propositions to continue to grow into 

this sector. We’re really strong in the bodyshop arena, and we’ve 

piggybacked on the Red relationships in Northern Europe to give 

us growth into these marketplaces. 

The second one is through relationships. We’ve successfully 

gained accreditation from an insurer who’s actively promoting our 

ADAS solution and services to its network of repairers, and to have 

a blue-chip insurer endorsement is very positive. For me, this is a 

solid blueprint for future successes. 

Another one is launching a distributor channel. It takes time 

to build up but we’re starting to see the fruits of our labours, 

particularly on SMR (Service, Maintenance and Repair). This 

channel has different requirements to the insurers and the crash 

repair network but by working across both sectors, it opens up the 

market for us. 

Finally, one of the areas I’m most proud of is our messaging. We’re 

really focused on doing the job properly with the right set of tools, 

equipment and knowledgeable, trained staff. I personally believe 

this is absolutely critical in the way that we operate. The key thing 

is that you need to return the car to its pre-accident condition and 

calibrated correctly. In the event that you don’t and that car has 

an accident, where does the liability sit? It’s really important that 

we operate and return that car to its pre-accident condition from 

a calibration point of view and ensure that car is fully calibrated 

and safe for the customer’s customer, fully operational in working 

condition with all the ADAS functions calibrated correctly. We are 

absolutely focused on doing it the right way. 

Your new portfolio company tagline is “Driven by 

Q6 Repairify”, what does a European automotive industry 

“Driven by Repairify” look like to the consumer? 

We do have a consumer offering, via our Blue Driver 

A proposition, which is sold directly to consumers and is the 

most popular diagnostic tool on Amazon. This has seen huge 

penetration in North America and is selling well in Europe. 

But the rest of our business offering is B2B. I think the key thing is 

if we do things right, and the bodyshops and the insurers provide a 

high-quality service, the consumer (our customers’ customer) has 

a great experience. Where we do benefit is if the bodyshop uses 

our technology, it doesn’t have to take the car to an OEM dealer. By 

using our technology, the repairer can calibrate the car when it’s 

in their own bodyshop. And what’s proven by the insurers is that 

if you can manage that customer’s experience as effectively as 

possible, they’re more likely to stay with you. Retention is a critical 

part of an insurance strategy. 

We’re driven by our values of doing a great job with the most 

effective and appropriate tools and fully qualified technicians, and 

the utilisation of data we have to help our customers be more 

informed and make better decisions. 

Philip Peace 

is Managing Director (SVP) International at Repairify, Inc. 


Keeping pace 

with technology 

A bodyshop is a place that experiences constant evolution. As cars become more 

advanced and complex, the technology and tooling required to fix them advances as well, 

and the technicians’ knowledge and skills must keep pace through constant development 

and training. So, it’s important that companies invest in the right areas to enable them to 

complete the jobs required, while also ensuring the sustainability of the business. 

AW Repair Group has long recognised that keeping pace with 

technology with tooling and training are key to a successful and 

expanding business. 

One of the areas it has identified as a beneficial in-house 

capability is the calibration of ADAS, which is becoming evermore 

standard on new vehicle models. 

Steve Hoe, Technical Development and VM Executive at AW 

Repair Group, understands how the business needs to adapt 

to meet this demand. He says, “As a growing bodyshop group, 

we’ve identified these jobs are potential new revenue streams, 

rather than an out-sourced cost, but you must have the right 

tools to access the systems. As we all know there are numerous 

choices out there when it comes to tools to do the job, but it is 

important to do the research and talk to people with knowledge 

of the product and have a clear idea of what you want to 

achieve.” 

For AW Repair Group this meant sitting down with Red (EU) Ltd 

to understand how the company’s knowledge, expertise and 

remote service would benefit the business and be an asset to its 

technicians. 

Steve says, “On top of the information provided by Red I had to 

weigh up if its offering conformed with the IIR requirements that 

were introduced in April this year. After looking more deeply at 

its products and service I was confident it met the requirements 

and would provide us with a more longer term consultancy type 

approach, so we decided to roll out its remote service across our 

group.” 

Red’s roll out included helping technicians identify ADAS systems 

on the vehicles, deciding on calibrating or resetting, and how the 

repair may have affected the ADAS. 

Gareth Newbery from Red (EU) Ltd provided the relevant 

technical knowledge and support to the AW Repair Group team, 

helping them build their confidence when using the product and 

dealing with any issues. 

Steve explains, “We have been very happy with the roll out and 

since the installation our sites have benefited from the products 

in several ways. The first is through improved efficiency because 

we are better equipped and trained to deal with ADAS calibration, 

OE scans, diagnostics and resets, so we do not have to take 

the vehicles to the main franchised dealership or outsource 

the calibration or reset. This, in turn, has reduced our key-tokey 

times, improving throughput. The customer experience is 

enhanced because the vehicle is returned more quickly. Since 

Gareth’s on-site training and the huge range the Red equipment 

covers, we have seen a massive increase in the number of 

internal resets. 

“The second major benefit is that, alongside our VDAs, we now 

have at least one technician at each site that has achieved the 

Level 3 ADAS Qualification. This ensures that the knowledge is 

supported practically and cascaded throughout the business.” 

As a business AW Repair group is forward thinking when it comes 

to innovations and new developments in the marketplace, and 

Steve explains that this is down to quite a simple formula, “We 

pride ourselves on our awareness of developments of the latest 

automotive technology. This then drives us to invest in new tools 

and staff training, so we have the knowledge, skills and tooling to 

handle any job that comes through our doors. This, in turn, leads 

to continued growth and expansion, which is what we are always 

trying to achieve.” 

“From a monetary standpoint Red’s ‘dealer on demand’ solution 

provides us with a lot more scope. This system self-updates so 

there is no additional cost for software or replacement boards 

if the manufacturer makes any changes. ‘Dealer on demand’ is 

simple to use and enables our team to easily search for, identify 

and resolve the diagnostic, electronic, and computer related 

trouble codes resulting from a collision.” 

In addition to its ongoing training and development, AW Repair 

Group has its own Training and Apprenticeship Academy. More 

than 200 young people applied for this year’s apprenticeship 

opportunities. 

Steve explains how the business chose this year’s intake. “We 

read every application and were looking for those stand out 

applicants that showed a real passion for working with vehicles 

and future technologies. From the initial applicants we narrowed 

these down to 46 young people who were then invited to our 

apprentice showcase event, which took place at our newest site 

in Lincoln. The event was run in conjunction with our suppliers, 

including Red EU, with Matthew on hand to demonstrate the 

ADAS equipment and remote diagnostics to the prospective 

apprentices. This allowed us to see how the youngsters interacted 

together as a group and with our suppliers. 

“Those who got involved and asked questions stood out and 

enabled our team to narrow the field even more and in the end we 

added 17 youngsters into our 2021 apprenticeship programme, 

which is two more than we expected to bring on board this year. 

As a forward-thinking business, we believe that the training and 

qualifications they will receive over the next three years will 

provide them with the necessary knowledge and skills to be a 

productive member of our industry.” 

Steve concludes, “Overall, we feel it is important to invest in the 

right tools for the job and the training to increase our team’s 

knowledge and apprenticeships for future sustainability while 

continuing to provide our customers and work partners with a 

quality consistent service across the whole group, no matter what 

size of repair or type of vehicle.” 



Pay as you 

calibrate 

Through its Repairify Innovations division, asTech provides 

extensive ADAS services enabling bodyshops and SMR 

centres to benefit from the significant growth opportunity 

presented by these technologies. These opportunities are 

becoming more prevalent as more affordable cars have 

ADAS systems fitted as standard and insurers need to ensure 

that bodyshops are calibrating the vehicles properly. 

One of the services on offer is the ‘Pay as you Calibrate’ digital ADAS system supported by 

competency training, which saves costs, minimises environmental impacts, reduces key to 

key times, and provides a consistent quality of calibration that meets the demands of the 

new UK-specific Insurance Industry Requirements for the safe and accurate repair of ADASequipped 

vehicles. 

The digital ADAS system offers businesses a simple-to-use tool that can calibrate vehicles in 

as few as six easy steps. It also provides technicians with universal coverage, as the system 

covers nearly every make and model of car and is being constantly updated with the latest 

specs and models to ensure the largest market coverage. 

The system’s patented keystone technology allows the digital display to project manufacturer 

targets specific to the vehicle, which reduces the set-up time for each job and any future 

target boards that are released are just a click away. In addition, the system is adaptive, so 

it adjusts to the surrounding environment and modifies the target image accordingly, so the 

calibration is completed efficiently. 

Martin Pinnell-Brown of Repairify Innovations, says, “Whether businesses are a single site 

operation or a repair group, budgets are always a concern, and adding ADAS equipment into a 

business’s tooling portfolio can be in the region of five figures. Therefore, businesses should 

look at investing in a pay as you calibrate option, so they can access a growing revenue 

stream, while removing upfront costs involved in purchasing ADAS equipment. 

“The benefit to the shop owner is they’re not buying anything up front, so there’s no need 

to spend in excess of £10,000 on a calibration kit. The repairer is moving from a capital 

expenditure to an operational expenditure model, which means they no longer have to worry 

about the depreciating value of expensive equipment and getting to a break-even or ROI.” 

The repairer is 

moving from a 

capital expenditure 

to an operational 

expenditure model, 

which means they 

no longer have 

to worry about 

the depreciating 

value of expensive 

equipment 

Martin Pinnell-Brown, 

Repairify Innovations 

Martin adds, “Instead, with the pay as you calibrate model, the repairer commits to a 

minimum range of two to four calibrations per week at a set rate and agreed profit amount 

for the shop owner. After the fourth calibration, the shop takes all the profit. We’ve found that 

the savvy bodyshops resell the service to partners in the area to build up volume and split the 

profits with their partners.” 

Even though pay as you calibrate has only been on the market for a short while there are 

businesses that are already benefiting from the service. Pete Sadler, commercial director of 

North East Accident Repair, explains how it has been an asset to the bodyshop, saying, “As 

cars are becoming more technologically advanced, they are effectively mobile computers, 

and we have witnessed the rapid increase of ADAS and technological solutions. This is 

highlighted by the fact that in the space of a few years we have gone from doing one or two 

calibrations a month to three or four a week, so it was clear we needed to invest in a solution 

that best suited our needs and requirements. The benefits of asTech’s pay as you calibrate 

initiative are that it enables us to equip the group with the very latest digital technology 

without the need for a large capital investment up front, which is crucial in the current 

environment we all find ourselves in. It has also meant we have increased our revenue, 

reduced our key to key times, and provided customers with the peace of mind to know that 

our technicians are doing the calibrations correctly.” 



ADAS ready 

Low, fixed costs with 

Pay as you Calibrate. 

UK-based, Certified Technicians 

Standardised Vehicle Calibrations & Diagnostics 

Full Compliance with IIR Guidelines 

Contact us at 

queries@astech.com 

The change in 

repair obligations 

brought about by the 

introduction of the 

Insurance Industry 

Requirements (IIR) 

for the safe repair 

of ADAS equipped 

vehicles is placing 

new demands 

on body repair 

specialists. 

The Red calibration 

and diagnostics 

solution has been 

a huge success 

However, for one repairer, rather than viewing 

IIR as a daunting challenge, XL Motors 

Accident Repair, MOT & Service Centre has 

identified the significant growth potential of 

this new repair opportunity and has invested 

in compliant new technology, IMI training 

and remote support from ADAS trained 

and qualified technicians to future proof its 

business and enable it to be fully ADAS ready. 

Operations manager David Lloyd is excited 

by the opportunity for expansion. He says, 

“The vehicle parc is changing dramatically. 

More affordable cars now have safety 

equipment that requires calibration fitted as 

standard. Therefore, the potential for growth is 

considerable.” 

He adds, “Until recently, we were using 

main franchised dealers when we needed 

calibration work to be carried out. However, 

our experience has been that some retailers 

can be unwelcoming and have extensive 

lead times, increasing our key-to-key times 

considerably and lowering our overall 

customer experience.” 

To identify a solution that would enable 

XL Motors to bring its calibration services 

inhouse, the management team spent 

time researching the market for the right 

product with the capability of passthrough 

technology. After contacting Red (EU) Ltd 

based in Dunstable, the repairer was treated 

to a vehicle calibration and diagnostics tool 

demonstration. 

David comments, “Red’s technical 

representative Gareth Newbery was very 

It was clear we were talking to 

the market leader 

open and spent time with us talking through our 

challenges and making recommendations. We 

were really impressed by how much he and the 

remote team of technicians that support the 

ADAS calibration tool wanted to help us. It was 

clear we were talking to the market leader.” 

Since investing in Red Diagnostics, XL Motors 

has seen a 50 per cent increase in calibration 

business, as its VDA and technicians have been 

trained fully by the company on how to identify 

the need for calibration and employ the diagnostic 

tool effectively. 

Critically, after investing in the Red product and 

its remote support services, XL Motors now 

saves four days off a job that requires calibration, 

significantly reducing key to key times, as the 

repairer doesn’t have to move the vehicles to an 

external dealer retailer. 

David says, “The Red calibration and diagnostics 

solution has been a huge success. If we have 

an issue and can’t diagnose the problem, the 

technicians from the remote team really want to 

help us solve it and lead us by the hand to address 

the problem. When you’re getting used to different 

manufacturers it’s reassuring to have Red on 

board to help us find a solution while we’re on this 

new learning curve, as the tool seamlessly aligns 

with all our manufacturer approvals. We couldn’t 

be more pleased.” 


ADAS top tips 

Is it enough to 

turn the lights out? 

A view from … Gareth Newbery, Red (EU) Ltd 

When a car is in an 

accident it will usually 

require calibrating 

and faults will need 

to be identified and 

resolved before it is 

safe for the vehicle to 

go back on the road. 

But is it enough to 

turn the engine dash 

lights out? 

Fundamentally, no. Recently, a colleague took 

a (VW) Touareg into a repairer following an 

accident and aside from not calibrating the 

vehicle when it was returned, the bodyshop 

then offered to pop round and turn the lights 

off. 

In some cases, you can find ways to turn the 

lights out before correcting the fault, but on 

many levels this is wrong. Issues must be 

resolved. Repairify’s objective is always to 

look to rectify the problems and work with the 

repairer to correct the fault, and this involves 

our comprehensive technical support and 

remote services that help the repairer to 

identify what the potential issue may be. 

We recently heard from a large bodyshop 

group that its repairers were very 

uncomfortable about using mobile providers 

that calibrate vehicles in the car park. We 

agree. In our view, this is not appropriate when 

you are dealing with high value assets and the 

safety of customers. 

If a repairer is calibrating a radar, for example, 

it does need to be calibrated on level 

ground, with the vehicle tyre pressures set 

to specification and either a full tank of fuel, 

or simulated load using weights. It is also 

important that the vehicle geometry has been 

checked and the steering angle sensor is 

calibrated. 

Our focus is on helping the bodyshop identify 

the issue correctly and getting the vehicle back on 

the road properly by repairing it to its pre‐accident 

condition and ensuring it is calibrated back to 

OEM standards. This protects the bodyshop as 

the insurer’s agent, as we know the repair has 

been carried out properly because the Thatcham 

IIR compliant calibration report we produce 

reinforces the repair has been completed correctly 

and is fully indemnified. 

In addition, by working with asTech or Red as 

a trusted third party, we are helping to protect 

the insurer because ultimately the motorist is 

the insurer’s customer. So, if there’s a problem 

with the car after the repair, the vehicle owner’s 

first port of call will be with the insurer. Granted, 

the insurer will then deal with the issue through 

the bodyshop that is liable, but the customer 

experience remains with the insurer and it’s the 

insurance company’s reputation that we are also 

aiming to safeguard. 

Our commitment is always to ensure quality 

and transparency, so rather than turn the lights 

out, we’d advocate to shed more light on the 

opportunity that repairers and insurers can 

benefit from through the proper handling of ADAS 

calibration, OE scans, diagnostics and resets. 

And that means working with a partner that is 

totally focused on investing in best‐in‐class tools, 

training and service solutions that ensure the 

highest quality and consistency of repair. 

Gareth Newbery 

is ADAS and Diagnostic Specialist at Red (EU) Ltd. 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

Always check if the vehicle has had a geometry alignment and has a 

report. 

Make sure both the car and the calibration equipment are on level ground. 

Make sure the calibration area is clear of reflective objects i.e. toolboxes 

or trolleys. 

Always visually inspect the component to be calibrated and make sure it is 

fitted correctly and not blocked or dirty. 

If a new ADAS component has been fitted, check if the component 

requires coding prior to calibration. 

Ensure the vehicle is at the correct tyre pressure. 

If the vehicle has an empty load, use weights to simulate a full tank/load. 

Always make sure the steering wheel is in the horizontal position and the 

wheels are straight. 

If the component is non-adjustable, always check if the bodywork that it is 

fitted to has been replaced. If so, it requires calibration. 



Questions for Nick Dominato, 

SVP, Product (adasThink founder), 

Repairify 

Q 

As the founder of the startup adasThink, acquired by 

Repairify d/b/a asTech in the last year, tell us what ADAS 

technology is and why they are important? 

A 

Advanced Driver Assistance Systems, or ADAS, are any of 

the many sophisticated systems on vehicles designed to 

make driving safer and more convenient. These are things like 

autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, and 

lane departure warning. We’ve had driver assistance systems 

for a long time – think anti-lock braking systems and electronic 

stability control – but what makes ADAS fundamentally different 

is that the car is capable of monitoring the conditions of the world 

around it, not just its internal parameters. ADAS systems use 

short- and long-range radar, cameras, ultrasonic sensors, and 

laser scanners to “sense” and react to the world around it. 

Study after study has proven that the biggest benefit that ADAS 

systems provide is improving safety and saving lives on our 

roads, where more than 90 per cent of road crashes are the result 

of human error or condition. By way of example, we can examine 

rear-end collisions, which account for about 75 per cent of all 

bodily injury claims in accidents. In two separate studies from 

Euro NCAP and Thatcham, autonomous emergency braking was 

found to lead to a 38 per cent reduction in rear-end crashes and 

45 per cent lowering of third-party injury claims overall. Little 

wonder that LexisNexis found a 14 per cent reduction in loss ratio 

on ADAS-equipped vehicles. 

Q 

How does Repairify leverage OEM data and technology 

to empower clients to make better decisions specifically 

around ADAS calibrations in the repair workflow? 

A 

We know the benefits that ADAS systems bring to public 

safety. At the same time, these systems rely on one or 

several sensitive sensing instruments located towards the 

exterior of the vehicle that are liable to be jolted, shifted, and 

damaged in a collision. Where the challenge for repairers lies 

is that every vehicle is different in terms of which types of 

ADAS sensors are equipped on the vehicle, and the calibration 

requirements for them. A vehicle involved in a rear-end crash may 

require 0, 1, or 3 ADAS calibrations, depending on the automaker 

and what sensors are equipped. 

This gap in knowledge between the OEMs publishing ADAS 

specifications on new vehicles and the shops not knowing that 

the information is available is where we come into play. It’s also 

the core value that Repairify saw in the adasThink tool. 

Through the acquisition of adasThink, Repairify and its family of 

brands can now help collision, tire and glass shops stay on top of 

these ADAS trends by giving them a way to quickly determine the 

ADAS equipment, required calibrations and documentation based 

on the repair estimate for a given vehicle. 

This is another way that Repairify helps its customers demystify 

the complexity of the modern vehicle, by giving them fast access 

to a rich data resource so they can safely and quickly find the 

right repairs and required ADAS calibrations. 

Q 

Tell us about the ADAS calibration process; why is it 

so important when considering the repair of today’s 

increasingly complex, modern vehicle? 

A 

We know the public health and safety benefits that ADAS 

systems can bring to the public. 

The fundamental issue on the repair side is that ADAS sensors 

only work if they are properly calibrated, and the slightest 

deviation can cause them to completely fail. Case in point: a 

study done on a 2016 Honda Civic by the Insurance Institute for 

Highway Safety in the United States. In that study, researchers 

examined the functioning of a camera system responsible for 

automatic emergency braking. Under normal conditions, the 

camera system worked flawlessly – researchers drove the vehicle 

at 40 km/h and tested the autonomous emergency braking; 

the vehicle stopped by itself well before the target. But when 

the researchers turned the camera in its bracket a marginal 0.6 

degrees, the vehicle struck the target at 32 km/h from it’s 40 km/h 

baseline – a complete system failure from the tiniest deviation. 

And at the same time, there’s no doubt that vehicle owners trust 

and rely on ADAS in their everyday driving. Half of the people 

who I talk to who own a vehicle with blind spot sensing no longer 

perform a shoulder check, content to rely on their vehicle to tell 

them if an object is in their blind zone. And how many drivers are 

quick to pick up their cellphone as soon as their adaptive cruise 

control is turned on? Rightly or wrongly, the driving public has an 

expectation on these systems to work properly – an expectation 

built on many millions of advertising dollars from the automakers 

themselves. 

When we think about the safety promises that ADAS can 

bring and the reliance the driving public already puts on these 

systems, along with the sensitivity of the sensors themselves, 

the importance of ensuring a properly calibrated vehicle is selfevident. 

Q 

A 

Why do you think ADAS calibrations are so frequently 

overlooked? 

While these sensors are complex, it’s important to 

understand that they’re still not that smart. These sensors 

have hard-coded presumptions built into them – that they’re 

located at a certain spot on a vehicle, and pointing in a particular 

direction. In many situations, a camera or radar won’t register if 

it’s bent or pointed skywards or straight down at the road. The 

vehicle systems often cannot tell the difference between a radar 

sensor bent skywards, or one pointed in the right direction that 

simply has no objects in front of it. That’s why malfunctioning 

ADAS sensors will typically not register fault codes or trigger 

a warning light on the dash – they don’t “know” that they’re 

misaligned. 

And as sometimes happens, technology advancements are 

outpacing the trends in insurance policy coverage. New ADAS 

features are being added to vehicles every year. In fact, based on 

North America data, we estimate that approximately 60 percent 

of model year 2021 vehicles that came in for repair need at least 

one ADAS system calibration. This is up from just 3 percent in 

2013. Given that European vehicles are ahead of the Americans 

in ADAS safety requirements, we can assume these figures are 

much higher here. 

On top of the increasingly well-fitted vehicles being introduced 

on today’s car, there are the myriad of automaker calibration 

requirements that vary between makes, models and years 

produced. 

When we look inward at our collision repairers, repair shops 

often lack sufficient tools and data to be alerted when an ADAS 

calibration is required. Some of the third-party diagnostic tools 

that shops use to build repair estimates do not include the latest 

OEM build data that would alert them to the need for the proper 

calibrations. 

Q 

A 

How does the combination adasThink into the Repairify 

family benefit both automotive repairers and the insurers? 

adasThink is a platform that uses OEM build data and repair 

procedures to automatically identify ADAS systems that 

require calibration before the final key handoff, all based on the 

vehicle’s VIN and repair estimate. By using adasThink during 

the estimation process, collision repair shops can get ahead of 

the ADAS systems that will need calibration and help reduce or 

eliminate the risk of returning a dangerous vehicle back onto the 

road. 

The adasThink product is available through multiple Repairify 

offerings or as a subscription to shops as the tool will integrate 

with existing estimation tools available on the market. 

Q 

A 

What can we expect from Repairify in terms of the 

adasThink offering in the near future? 

We have a number of exciting new developments in the 

works for early 2022. Chief among them is a much-enriched 

data set for repairers. We will soon be able to tell a repairer not 

only whether they need to perform a calibration, but what type of 

calibration it is, whether and what types of special tools they need, 

and if the vehicle requires an alignment or other type of service 

before the calibration is even ready to be performed. 

In other words, we will shortly be able to provide a repair shop all 

the information they need when it comes to ADAS. 

Nick Dominato, 

SVP, Product (adasThink founder), Repairify 


Why total loss 

when you can 

repair? 

Identifying and developing new 

product innovations that satisfy 

the demands of the repair sector 

lies at the heart of Red (EU) Ltd’s 

commitments. 

Within the Repairify group sits Red (EU) Ltd, a specialist 

equipment supplier and diagnostic repairs company that has 

been providing the automotive aftermarket with advanced 

diagnostics tools, technical support solutions and in-depth 

knowledge for the past 20 plus years. 

A key offering for the insurance market can also be found at Red 

Autocentres, which provide access to specialist repairs. This 

means that vehicles don’t need to be written off just for the sake 

of a loom repair. 

Martin Pinnell-Brown, director of Repairify Innovations, explains, 

“We have identified that insurers are writing off cars because 

there is a long lead time to replace a small part like a broken plug 

that’s impractical and expensive putting the insured motorist in 

a like-for-like courtesy vehicle. Our specialist repair centres take 

vehicles in with electrical wiring issues and repair them, ensuring 

the cars are returned to the customer within 24 hours, when 

possible.” 

One such repairer is LV, which has been delivering its vehicles to 

Red Autocentres for the past 24 months. Cars including Range 

Rovers, which don’t supply replacement plugs and don’t sell 

wiring loom repair kits, are being repaired by Red Autocentres for 

a fixed cost. 

Martin says, “Over 90 per cent of bodyshops are experiencing a 

skills shortage in these specialist works. By utilising the services 

offered by our specialist repair centres, insurers can save 

time and money and keep their customers happy by returning 

their vehicles safe and roadworthy as quickly as possible, 

safeguarding their reputations.” 

Vehicle Health Check 

The major changes to the BSI accreditation for vehicle damage 

assessors mean engineers must now identify the automated 

driver assistance systems (ADAS) components on cars requiring 

repair. To meet this requirement, Red has developed a new 

module, which it operates for Audatex Solera called a Vehicle 

Health Check. This service helps vehicle damage assessors 

by identifying the ADAS components that need repairing after 

they have scanned the car and highlights the requirements in a 

specialist report. 

Martin Pinnell-Brown explains more, “Audatex has more hardware 

in bodyshops than any other provider in the industry. By aligning 

our specialist knowledge and service solutions with the software, 

Martin says, 

Based on the success of our equipment and service 

solutions in the UK we are expanding our supply into 

Europe. Red is one of the largest suppliers of diagnostics 

equipment in Holland, and Germany and Spain are 

currently testing our products. We are confident we 

will continue to innovate and expand our network in the 

coming months. 

we can assist the repairer in meeting the new standards safely and 

responsibly.” 

Bodyshops simply purchase the diagnostics equipment, plug it 

into their Audatex system and the scanned information is loaded 

into the cloud and embedded into the vehicle estimate. 

To support the repair of the vehicle, the team of UK-based asTech 

dealer-trained and IMI-qualified technicians perform remote 

diagnostics to ensure all the electrical and electronic systems 

on the cars that need programming, resetting, or calibration at 

the time of the refitting are completed to a high quality and safe 

standard. 


Solid investment 

underpins world 

class operations 

Building a solid foundation to facilitate 

scale and growth in the UK and Europe 

is fundamental to Repairify’s expansion 

plans to continuously meet the needs and 

demands of its customers from across the 

globe. 

Part of this strategy is to appoint the very best talent to the group, 

and the recent appointment of Paul Cunningham to asTech as 

head of operations in the UK has secured the opportunity for 

the company to focus on standardising operating practices, 

improving operational efficiencies and introducing new 

operational innovations that will enhance the asTech experience 

for all customers and business partners. 

Paul, who has over two decades of industry experience acquired 

through several industry roles, from systems architect to head 

of EU, UK and Antipodean regions for Hollander (Solera), has a 

wealth of knowledge in change and transformation, which will 

equip him to lead on all operational requirements for the wider UK 

operation. 

Paul Cunningham explains, “There are two clear strategic pillars 

to ensure asTech’s accelerated growth. The first is a robust, 

process‐driven infrastructure. The second is a commitment to 

lifelong learning and continuous improvement.” 

To amplify asTech’s market penetration, Paul is focused on 

five key areas. Initially, he will oversee the effective merging of 

all the best‐in‐class service offerings from Red (EU) Ltd, which 

Repairify acquired in March 2021, and the high‐quality automotive 

solutions from Repairify UK. 

At the same time, the business will be reviewing and developing 

its ISO industry standards to ensure it is outperforming the 

requirements for the 9001, 14001, 27001 and BSI PAS2060 

certifications. 

Aligning the company’s quality management tools and processes 

with ISO9001 ensures the business is constantly monitoring, 

managing and improving the quality of its products and services 

to meet customers’ expectations and regulatory requirements. 

The focus on the business’s environmental impacts and those 

of its supply chain are particularly important as asTech heads 

towards its commitment to carbon neutrality to align with 

the UN’s Race to Zero campaign, an alliance of 120 countries 

committed to achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050 at the 

latest. 

Furthermore, as cyber security breaches become more common 

place, managing information security and safeguarding 

stakeholders’ data is a critical component of asTech’s continual 

investment in the latest IT technologies. The company will shortly 

be migrating the UK tool stack to a Tier 2 datacentre which will 

secure 24/7 managed services, increased bandwidth and a fully 

scalable solution with failover and disaster recovery services. 

As a customer‐driven organisation, customer retention is critical. 

Investment in a centralised CRM system to provide focused 

account management and sales opportunities is being supported 

by additional centralised systems to automate customer 

notifications, OEM outages, software updates and to assist in 

the amplification of service offerings that will empower asTech’s 

customers to expand their income streams. 

Paul explains, “We want to deliver automotive proficiency 

combined with operational excellence. Providing a high‐quality, 

expert, specialist service is our key priority, and we are confident 

that the class‐leading investments we are introducing to the 

business will ensure we continue to enhance our user experience.” 

The second strategic pillar focuses on lifelong learning and 

continuous improvement, with a commitment to a training 

academy that incorporates both internal employees and external 

customers. As the business continues to expand, training and 

development will be essential to ensure a consistent and highquality 

service to the marketplace. 

All UK technical staff are trained in the highest ADAS 

competencies, certified to IMI 230, ensuring they are Thatcham 

IIR compliant. In addition, staff are scheduled to achieve Level 

2 IMI EV certification to meet the new demands of the electric 

vehicle market. 

The creation of multi‐language user guides to deliver on‐the‐job 

tool translation and the adoption of all OEM workshop manuals 

will ensure all technicians are at the top of their trade. While the 

development of an internal Wikipedia to facilitate knowledge 

sharing and training is already underway, optimising on the 

knowledge and skills that exist within the organisation. 

Paul comments, “I joined asTech at a time when the UK operation 

is expanding its market penetration both at home and in Europe. 

I’m passionate about assisting the company in achieving its 

global ambitions. The business’s commitment to significant 

investment and continuous improvement to the benefit of the 

customer and the wider automotive industry is testament to its 

dedication to be the leading industry player in the ADAS related 

calibration and diagnostics solutions sector.” 

Paul Cunningham, 

Head of European Operations, asTech Europe 



Red VHC or 

asTech – 

which should 

you choose? 

Simply put, the asTech tool provides remote services, whereas the Red device delivers an 

aftermarket functionality plus remote services. 

To put this into context, the majority of non-franchised dealers 

plug into aftermarket scan tools based on aftermarket data fed 

from various sources via software updates, which are held in the 

devices. The repairer plugs the device into the vehicle, waits for 

the scan and reads what needs doing to resolve the issues that 

are presented on the car. However, the data isn’t completely upto-date 

and generally over 10 per cent of relevant data is missing 

pertinent to the latest cars. 

In a mechanical repair situation in a non-franchised environment, 

this isn’t usually a problem, as most people take their cars aged 

under three years to a franchised dealer to fix their mechanical 

issues. But with crash repair, a new car can be in an accident as 

soon as it leaves the dealership, so there is a gap between the 

aftermarket tool a repairer utilises and the cars the bodyshop 

needs to repair. There is a rapidly rising number of vehicles in 

the bodyshop that need to be calibrated as cars are equipped 

with more and more complex ADAS technology, so repair shops 

require an OE tool to satisfy this requirement. 

So, if a repairer is currently happy using an aftermarket diagnostic 

and calibration tool, it is often missing the data for the very latest 

cars and, therefore, is having to take these vehicles to a main 

franchised dealer to plug the gap. This is where the asTech 

remote services solution can provide the answer. asTech enables 

the repairer to connect the vehicle (via either the Red or asTech 

devices) to an OEM tool remotely and diagnose, calibrate, or 

programme the vehicle. It means the car doesn’t need to be 

moved, saving money, minimising environmental impacts, and 

reducing key to key times by an average of three days. 

In summary, the asTech device provides purely the functionality 

for providing remote services. The Red tool incorporates both 

an aftermarket device and a remote device providing total 

functionality. 

Importantly, both solutions are supported by fully dealer trained 

and IMI qualified technicians based in the UK, who are totally 

committed to helping the repairer get the car back on the road 

safely, as quickly as possible. 

n 

n 

n 

n 

n 

n 

n 

n 

All-in-one tool comprising a comprehensive database 

of information to support the diagnosis, calibration and 

programming of 90% of the vehicle parc 

Services include: 

- Camera calibration 

- Radar and Lidar calibration 

- Control module programming 

- Diagnostic scans pre and post completion of work 

on the vehicle 

Rough and rugged cover ensures the tool can be used in a 

workshop environment 

Simple to use with touchscreen tablet enabling access to the 

most appropriate service 

Customers can access Dealer-on-Demand service, which 

provides the OEM tools to fix the issue from their location 

Key connections: 

- Remote diagnosis VCI 

- Compatible with DoIP 

- PassThru VCI J2534, D-PDU and RP-1210 

Supports both passenger and light commercial vehicles 

Local diagnosis VCI (Euro PRO 5 Link, EURO TAB II Link) 

n 

n 

n 

n 

n 

n 

The vehicle is calibrated or reprogrammed at the 

bodyshop generating revenue stream 

Uses Original Manufacturer Equipment 

No movement to main dealers saving time and money 

No main dealer charges 

Conforms with IIR Guidelines 

Reduces key to key times 



The final 

word 

What an exciting technology ADAS is for the 

marketplace. 

Over the course of producing this supplement with Modern Insurance 

Magazine, we’ve heard from so many business partners and colleagues 

about the opportunities ADAS presents their businesses. It delivers new 

income streams for repairers and provides reassurance for insurers that their 

customers will receive the highest levels of service to enhance their customer 

experience. 

As a global company with a ground-breaking technology strategy, we hope this 

publication will motivate and inspire more organisations to see the potential 

of ADAS for their businesses and to take a step closer to collaborating 

with our knowledgeable and skilled people as well as adopt our 

best-in-class diagnostic and calibration tools and service 

solutions. 

As the legislative environment continues to evolve, our 

hope is that our specialised technology will ensure all 

stakeholders in the marketplace can be confident of 

complying with these changes. 

By working with a trusted partner such as Repairify, 

we want to assure all our partners that our proven 

technology can be relied upon to produce the highest 

quality and consistency of repair in relation to ADAS. 

As vehicle technology continues to advance, our 

commitment is to stay ahead of the industry by 

anticipating what innovations are around the 

corner and to invest in new solutions, new 

acquisitions, the best people, and marketleading 

services that will enable us to meet 

these head on. 

What is clear is this is a dynamic and 

vibrant industry and one we are 

proud to be part of. As we continue 

to innovate and forge our path 

in the marketplace there is one 

fundamental core pillar that 

underpins everything we do; to 

help the repair industry get their 

customers’ vehicles back on the 

road, safely repaired to the highest 

standards, as quickly as possible. 

We hope you’ve enjoyed reading 

this supplement and it has provided 

you with some thought-provoking 

and useful insight into the exciting 

world of ADAS. 

We also hope you will join our 

passionate, highly trained and 

committed people on this incredible 

journey, as we continue to provide 

the very best in ADAS technology 

and services for many years to come. 

30 | asTech Supplement

Repairify Automotive Repair Technology Supplement

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