How a 95+ Year Old Family Business Modernized Their ADAS Calibration Documentation

For 95 years, Rudy Schmid Total Car Care has been a cornerstone of automotive repair in Syracuse, New York. 

Like any business of that pedigree, Rudy Schmid has continually evolved to meet the needs of both their community and changing industry demands, iterating from its humble beginnings in the eponymous Rudy's backyard garage to becoming a comprehensive collision and mechanical repair facility.

"I started in the paint shop, then moved to the mechanical and frame section," recalls PJ Schmid, who along with his sister Diane, represents the third generation of leadership after their grandfather and father. "At one point, I was doing alignments on everything from Volkswagens to Volvo trucks."

This dedication to comprehensive service led naturally to ADAS calibration. But like many shops, they faced significant challenges in implementing and getting paid for these essential services.

Challenge

Insurance pushback and documentation struggles

When ADAS features first came on the scene, PJ and his team did what most shops did: outsourced their ADAS calibrations to specialized vendors. 

As these features became more commonplace in the last several years, availability issues and scheduling constraints made this unsustainable. 

They were able to carve out the investment and space to bring calibrations in-house. 

“We had literally just enough space,” PJ remembered, “We measured the shop 10 ways to Sunday and found that we had 16’ by 32’. That just squeaks in over the minimum space needed for many of the alignment and calibration processes.”

But that’s when they encountered a new challenge: documentation and insurance approval.

"We were using ADAS Think–and it's a very good product, but it was very generic in some of the reports I'd print or attach to an insurance file," PJ explained which caused additional friction when getting estimates approved.

"Insurance companies were calling everything on the carpet. They'd say 'that only says recommended' or 'this isn't mandatory.'"

Even with a tool they were hoping to solve the research problem, the Rudy Schmid team still found themselves spending considerable time:

• Researching requirements across multiple platforms
• Defending their pricing to insurance companies
• Manually compiling documentation from various sources
• Fighting for payment on completed work

Solution

Building a better process from shop floor to software

After seeing Revv mentioned in trade publications and asking other colleagues, PJ recognized an opportunity to address these documentation challenges. Implementation was straightforward, with the Revv team helping to integrate their existing pricing structure and workflows.

"Getting it set up was really, really simple," PJ noted. 

"I had my pricing list already set up because we run CCC for the body shop and Mitchell mechanical for our service department. That was our starting point then I got some feedback from another colleague and that was that."

PJ mentioned a few benefits of the Revv platform the team experienced right away, including:

• Detailed, mandatory requirement documentation
• Integration with existing systems (CCC and Mitchell)
• Direct links to AllData for additional verification
• Customizable pricing structure
• Professional, comprehensive reports

Results

“Better documentation changed everything”

The impact was immediate and significant, particularly in dealings with insurance companies. 

"We're getting far less pushback from them now," PJ explains. "The documentation is so detailed, and it properly comes up as mandatory on most of the requirements."

Specific improvements include:

• Dramatically reduced negotiation time with insurance companies
• Consistent pricing acceptance
• Streamlined administrative processes
• Better ability to blueprint repairs
• Increased focus on service delivery rather than documentation

While some insurers initially questioned their pricing, PJ and team have stood firm: 

"Of course, at first when the insurance company said, 'well, you know, so-and-so doesn't charge that.' I frankly don't care what they charge. The vehicle isn’t there, it's here.” 

He concluded by saying “I will say in the two years we’ve been handling this in house, I really haven't changed the pricing. It's been the same, so it's been consistent because as we get better at it, that price is still good."

"The negotiation time with insurance has been cut way down," PJ notes. "Since we've been using Revv, I've had less and less pushback, even from the bigger insurers."

Looking Forward

While staffing challenges currently limit their ADAS volume, PJ still sees significant growth potential supported by using Revv ADAS. 

"If I got another good mechanic that could do alignments and regular mechanical work, then my ADAS person could be free to do more ADAS work."

His advice to other shops considering Revv? 

"So far, it's the best that I've seen that's available. Price it accordingly and don't back down on the pricing. Don't let insurance companies run or dictate your business."

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