Mechanicsville, Virginia, October 21, 2024 – The Society of Collision Repair Specialists (SCRS) recognizes BASF Automotive Refinish as the longest running supporter of Repairer Driven Education (RDE), marking 15 years of consecutive support. BASF is a sponsor of both the RDE series and the OEM Collision Repair Technology Summit, being held during the SEMA Show in Las Vegas, Nevada.

To register for RDE at the SEMA Show, visit www.scrs.com/rde.

“BASF is exceptionally proud to work with the team at SCRS to facilitate continuing education opportunities for the businesses and industry we serve,” shared Jim Reddy, Head of Marketing Americas for BASF. “We believe there is a great deal of value in finding opportunities to lift the industry up through knowledge acquisition, and the RDE series has always placed such an emphasis on developing thoughtful interactions for speakers, and businesses who are hungry to advance the way they serve their own customer. We feel very connected to the work the association is doing to be impactful for the industry, and grateful that we are in a position to help support the ongoing development of an already amazing educational platform.”

Jeff Wildman, Expert, Automotive Aftermarket Industry and Phil Knapp, Consulting Solutions Manager at BASF Automotive Refinish will be leading a session from 2:30 – 4:00pm on Tuesday, November 5 on Revolutionizing Collision Centers: The Impact of Interconnectivity, Data, and Innovation Inspired by the NFL.

The NFL’s emphasis on interconnectivity, data, and technology is improving player safety, player performance, and an understanding of every facet of the game.

That interconnectivity aims to create a better football experience for fans, players, and teams.

The session will explore similarities in how the automotive industry is undergoing a transformation with the integration of connected automobile technologies, contributing to enhanced vehicle safety and an increasingly interconnected world that improves passenger experiences.

These innovations significantly impact every aspect of a collision center, underscoring the importance of data-driven decision-making. In a collision center, informed choices based on real-time information, such as analyzing data on repair times, customer satisfaction, and resource allocation, become crucial. This approach enables collision centers to optimize operations, enhance efficiency, improve customer experience, and elevate overall performance & profitability.

Register for the session online at www.scrs.com/rde.

“Phil and I are looking forward to sharing insights with our audience that I believe can help with relevancy and adaptation to market changes,” added Wildman. “It’s a snapshot of how industries are adapting, and how that translates to our ability to build a more resilient and successful business within the collision repair experience.”

BASF will be at the SEMA Show, touring the “Techs for Tomorrow” scholarship winners around the Show.

“Techs for Tomorrow” winners will get the chance to walk the floor at the industry-only SEMA show event, and network with a BASF Refinish team member as well as custom vehicle builders to meet and engage with industry experts. The award also includes a $2,500 scholarship to continue their education in the collision repair industry. The five finalists will get a $500 scholarship.

“One of the biggest challenges facing the collision repair industry in the next few years is a labor crunch. We need to find talented people to fill the pipeline as jobs open up,” said Joel Johnson, BASF’s vice president of Refinish Coatings. “’Techs for Tomorrow’ is our way to get the next generation excited about the refinish industry, with its opportunities for high-paying, stable careers as painters and body shop technicians.”

To register for RDE at the SEMA Show, visit www.scrs.com/rde.

The 2024 Repairer Driven Education series is made possible with additional support from 3M, AASP, AirPro Diagnostics, AkzoNobel, BASF, Car-O-Liner and John Bean, CCC Intelligent Solutions, Enterprise Mobility, KECO, PPG, Reliable Automotive Equipment Inc. and W+S, REVV ADAS, Southern California Collision Equipment, Spanesi-Americas, Toyota Motor North America, and SEMA.