At its spring board meeting, the Alliance of Automotive Service Providers (AASP) voted to establish an industry grant program and added two new offerings to its menu of member benefits. Held in San Diego, the meeting also included a tour of the headquarters of Mitchell 1 and Mitchell International.
AASP board members approved a proposal to make grants available to fund initiatives having the purpose of improving or advancing the collision and mechanical repair industries. Acknowledging that there is no lack of good intentions and great ideas for projects that will enhance the industry, AASP determined to facilitate the funding necessary to bring them to reality. With the help of AASP dollars, industry members will realize the benefit of select programs and initiatives that might not otherwise have been implemented. Grant requests will be accepted through Oct. 8 and reviewed at the AASP Board of Directors meeting in November.
In other business, AASP announced that Help I Crashed My Car, a digital marketing system that includes mobile phone apps and a complete customer service, sales, marketing, advertising and communication platform will be available to all AASP affiliates and members as a special member benefit. Summit Mobile Solutions will offer members a special, discounted price for the Help I Crashed My Car subscription, allowing them to incorporate 21st century digital marketing tools into their marketing plan.
Mitchell International’s RepairCenter TechAdvisor Repair Standards module was also added to the AASP benefits arsenal. TechAdvisor provides collision technicians access to the critical OEM repair data and procedures they need to safely and properly restore today’s complex vehicles to pre-accident condition. AASP members will enjoy a 15 percent discount on TechAdvisor Repair Standards packages.
“These are great opportunities for our industry that can only be made possible by harnessing the total membership of our state affiliates,” said Rick Starbard, AASP president. “I look forward to hearing some of the ideas that the grant program brings about. I am also excited that we are now able to offer our collision members a national discount program on Mitchell International’s Tech Advisor program. This type of program has been used for many years by the mechanical industry through our long-standing relationship with Mitchell 1 and is very much in need for the collision industry. I am equally excited that we can offer our members a benefit that allows them to take advantage of the new smart phone application craze. This product will allow repairers to take control of the claim process from the scene of the accident before an insurer has an opportunity to steer the consumer.”
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