The Database Enhancement Gateway (DEG) has announced that Arthur Harris has been hired as the new DEG administrator. The DEG Joint Operating Committee (JOC) selected Harris from a large pool of well-qualified applicants.
With 23 years experience in the automotive field and a passion for technology, Harris was viewed as an ideal candidate for this position, according to the DEG. He has been hired as an independent contractor to administer the DEG project and oversee the operations of the website, while interacting with the information providers and estimating end-users.
“With as long as I’ve been working with estimates in the repair facilities I’ve worked for, I know how many challenges are faced during the estimate process as vehicles become more complex. The estimate data is such a critical component in the overall repair process, and I’m excited at the potential the DEG has to bring real world feedback from the shop floor to the information providers,” Harris says.
Along with processing submissions and driving increased use of the website, Harris will be responsible for the “brand image” of the project and to build awareness of DEG’s goal, which is to achieve more accurate data, and to do this by applying knowledge derived from actual repairs in progress and providing an easy-to-use solution for the industry to communicate that knowledge. The JOC feels that Harris will use his experience in the automotive and technology fields to take the DEG to the next level as a recognized leader and advocate in the collision industry.
"We’re excited that Arthur has taken this position with the DEG and confident that he’ll do a great job,” said Todd Stadler of the DEG JOC. “While the DEG has always been a technology-driven solution, we look forward to working with Arthur to further innovate to increase the value we offer to our end-users and amplify the DEG’s offerings to the industry even further.”
The DEG is an initiative which enables those who use collision repair estimating databases to provide feedback in a standardized format to information providers. DEG resources include an easy-to-use website and inquiry form, dedicated administration for the processing of inquiries and a current database of both pending and resolved data inquiries submitted to the three major information providers. The DEG was created, initially funded and is maintained by the Alliance of Automotive Service Providers (AASP), the Automotive Service Association (ASA) and the Society of Collision Repair Specialists (SCRS). Additional funding is provided through sponsorships which ensure the longevity of the DEG as one tool to help improve the collision industry.
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