REPAIRERS are leading the motor industry in technological advancement in order to remain competitive. This is the view of Christopher Macgowan, who was addressing the Audatex annual conference in Birmingham in one of his last duties as chief executive of the Retail Motor Industry Federation prior to his appointment on June 1 as chief executive of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders.

He congratulated the repair industry for 'setting the pace' for developments in the latest technology, such as e-commerce and digital imaging. 'The repair industry is incredibly competitive and, to remain competitive, businesses have been having to re-think their approach to technology on a regular basis, which is a great thing. Bodyshops now face enormous challenges as things continue to move quickly. Soon, we will see integrated databases linking suppliers, manufacturers, repairers and insurers and, to stay ahead of the game, bodyshops will have to keep up.'