A Michigan dealership body shop who contributed “census” information to aid SCRS’s industry health care initiative was rewarded with a free asTech scan tool, the organization said last week.

The drawing was open to any company who had shared details about their workforce demographics to the Society of Collision Repair Specialists as of Sept. 30. Kyle Kuzdek, body shop director for the White Lake and Waterford, Mich., Szott M-59 Collision Centers took home the asTech prize, which was sponsored by SCRS member Auto Body Hawaii.

SCRS’ need for industry data didn’t end with the drawing. Collision repairers should take the association’s announcement Nov. 21 as a reminder to submit information as well. You’ll be helping the industry and possibly yourself too.

Necessary details include sex, birthdate, ZIP Codes for the employee’s home and their workplace, hire date, position and status (such as full- or part-time). Employee privacy is preserved; no names are requested.

SCRS seeks this information so it and partner Decisely can ultimately create a health insurance plan for an industry still largely made up of small businesses. The idea is that the combined buying power of multiple SCRS members will produce a more affordable health care option than shop owners might be able to obtain going it alone.

SCRS says the details will help “communicate the market potential.” (Similar to car insurance, a health insurer needs to know a little about what they’re insuring to offer a quote.)

“We get told a lot by shops that one of the biggest things that SCRS can do for the industry is develop a healthcare solution, but we continue to find it challenging to get collision repair businesses to help by sharing their census data,” SCRS Executive Director Aaron Schulenburg said in a statement. “I think the point of the giveaway was really to help develop data points that will assist in creating healthcare solutions that are important to repairers; the biggest way everyone can help right now is to submit employee data directly in the online form found at https://decisely.com/census/scrs/.”

Kuzdek called the asTech win “so exciting for us,” according to SCRS.

“We are working diligently to make sure we are properly repairing cars and this tool will help us in reaching that goal, especially with OEMs that are not part of our lineup,” Kuzdek continued, according to SCRS. “While we have 6 different brands in our SZOTT Auto Dealer group, that still leaves a large number of vehicles that we may not own the proper equipment to scan those vehicles; and this helps to expand our in-house coverage. It should also help us be more effective in our production, knowing we won’t have to transport cars to service departments, or have any delays in repair, due to things needing to be scanned to complete the repair process. This really is awesome, and I really appreciate all of SCRS’ hard work for the industry to create solutions, and bring opportunities like these.”

“Kyle has been an active user of SCRS and industry resources for years, and it’s great to see this go to a facility that will put it to great use,” Schulenburg said in a statement.

Though SCRS and Decisely are still working on the health care plan, SCRS members can use another association employee benefit option today. Check out the SCRS Benefit Center to learn more about the association’s 401(k) plan, which like the health care initiative allows businesses seeking to offer such a perk to employees to potentially get a better deal on it.

The 401(k) has been open to SCRS members for months; learn more about it here and with this July webinar replay.

More information:

“Michigan Body Shop Director Wins asTech® Remote Tool from SCRS Census Raffle”

Society of Collision Repair Specialists, Nov. 21, 2019

SCRS health care “census” form

SCRS Benefits Center webpage

“Understanding the Benefit of Retirement Solutions for your Business” webinar

Society of Collision Repair Specialists, July 18, 2019

A Szott M-59 facility. (Provided via Society of Collision Repair Specialists)