At Everard, we pride ourselves on delivering innovative and effective solutions that enhance the operations of automotive businesses across the UK. One of our recent projects involved the installation of the Bodyguard system, an advanced vehicle inspection tool manufactured by BL Innovare, at Fix Auto Leicester. This state-of-the-art system has transformed how Fix Auto Leicester manages vehicle inspections, bringing significant improvements in efficiency, accuracy, and customer satisfaction.
The Challenge
Before the installation of the Bodyguard system, Fix Auto Leicester faced challenges in documenting vehicle conditions upon arrival. According to Kev, the manager at Fix Auto Leicester, their team would manually walk around each vehicle, recording videos on handheld devices in an attempt to capture every detail of existing damage. “It’s a lot of time wasted just walking around doing that with the camera,” Kev explains. Unfortunately, this manual process often resulted in missed details and low-quality footage, particularly when zooming in on minor chips or dents, which would become pixelated and unclear.
The Solution
Recognising the need for a more efficient and accurate solution, Fix Auto Leicester turned to Everard for the installation of the Bodyguard system, a cutting-edge product from BL Innovare. The Bodyguard system offers a 360-degree video recording of each vehicle as it enters and exits the site, capturing high-resolution images that remain clear even when zoomed in. This upgrade has been a game-changer for the team at Fix Auto Leicester. “With this, I think it solved it, because you’ve got a 360 video of the vehicle coming on site and leaving, so you can see exactly what condition the vehicle’s coming and gone away in,” says Kev.
Real-World Impact
The Bodyguard system’s benefits quickly became evident in real-world applications. In one instance, a customer questioned a scratch on their vehicle, claiming it wasn’t there before. Using the Bodyguard system, the team at Fix Auto Leicester was able to review the footage frame by frame and confirm that the scratch was present when the vehicle arrived. This clear, indisputable evidence not only resolved the issue promptly but also saved the business from potential financial losses. “It saves us money, saves us time, and then potentially could generate more revenue going forward,” Daniel Line, Director of Operations noted.
Building Trust with Customers
Beyond resolving disputes, the Bodyguard system also plays a crucial role in building trust with customers. Vehicles often arrive at the body shop in a less-than-clean condition, making it easy for existing damage to go unnoticed. However, once the vehicle is returned, cleaned, and polished, any pre-existing marks become more visible. The Bodyguard system provides detailed, timestamped footage of the vehicle’s condition upon arrival, which Fix Auto Leicester can share with customers, ensuring transparency and fostering trust.
“When it comes in for repair, if it’s got extra damage, you can say, well, that wasn’t there before, or was that part of the accident? So it’s definitely a very good thing to have,” explains another team member.
Customisation to Meet Specific Needs
Every body shop has its own unique requirements, and Fix Auto Leicester is no exception. Understanding the need for a tailored solution, Everard worked closely with the team to customise the Bodyguard system. Given that Fix Auto Leicester frequently handles vans and vehicles on recovery wagons, we installed an extra-high setup to ensure the entire vehicle could be captured, even when elevated on a truck. Protective bollards were also added to safeguard the system from potential damage, ensuring it remains both effective and secure.
Conclusion
The Bodyguard system, manufactured by BL Innovare and expertly installed by Everard, has proven to be a vital addition to Fix Auto Leicester’s operations. By automating the vehicle inspection process, enhancing documentation accuracy, and building stronger customer relationships, the system is already delivering substantial returns on investment.
As Kev from Fix Auto Leicester puts it, “If you record every vehicle that comes on site, the system’s gonna pay for itself in no time. From a cost element, it’s worthwhile.” For any automotive business looking to improve their vehicle inspection process, the Bodyguard system installed by Everard represents a forward-thinking solution that drives efficiency and trust.
Want to see how the Bodyguard system can benefit your business? Contact Everard today to learn more and explore tailored solutions for your operations.
