Collision Industry Outlook: Opportunities, Complexities, and the Road Ahead at OEC

It’s nearly impossible to leave SEMA without being inspired by the collision repair industry, the talented & brilliant people that form its ranks, and the technology that once seemed like a pipe dream but is now part of day-to-day life in shops across the country. With the buzz of SEMA still fresh in mind and 2026 coming into view, I wanted to take a moment to share some thoughts on the trends and challenges approaching the industry and how OEC is preparing for the future of collision repair.

Just a few months ago, I returned to OEC in the newly created role of Senior Vice President of Collision to start the next chapter in my professional life and for OEC. I felt energized by the opportunity to build a unified, cohesive team of talented individuals organized around accountability and performance. Together, we start each day eager to make a dramatic difference in the day-to-day work of collision repair professionals, OEMs, dealers, suppliers and insurance carriers, all who rely on OEC solutions and services to meet the needs of our common customer: the vehicle owner.

At the same time, I am keenly aware of the challenges ahead of us as well as our responsibility to deliver value to our customers and the ever-evolving market we serve. Year-over-year, sustained market expansion within the collision sector reaffirms the value of OEC solutions, the opportunities ahead of us, and the potential of the OEC collision platform, one guided by a new, future-forward strategy.

“Year-over-year, sustained market expansion within the collision sector reaffirms the value of the OEC solutions, the opportunities ahead of us, and the potential of the OEC collision platform”

The US collision market is projected to grow, hitting $43B+ by 2032 after achieving $34B+ in 2024. With nearly $10B in growth in less than a decade, we see a market primed for sustained, long-term expansion. This is where I believe OEC can – and will – make a definitive impact driven by unified solutions designed to scale alongside the evolving collision industry. You don’t need me to tell you what’s what in the collision space, but maybe it will be worthwhile sharing a few observations around OEC’s unique opportunity to create broader and deeper connections between collision repair organizations and their critical partners, including: manufacturers, dealers, suppliers and insurance carriers.

Market Consolidation
While the collision repair market is set to experience significant growth, consolidators continue to expand their footprint nationally, while independent shops look for a foothold in their market. This trend has a dual impact on the industry: MSOs require consistency and efficiency across locations while independent collision shops look for advanced technology to remain competitive, to maintain compliance with OEM standards, or position themselves as either an employer of choice or acquisition target (or both).

This is where OEC’s unique way of connecting repairers with their partners bears fruit. Designed to meet the needs of modern (and modernizing) collision repair organizations, OEC collision solutions help shops quickly find the right OEM procedures, validate estimate accuracy according to both partner and shop SOPs, and not only find the right parts from a vast network of suppliers but also get those suppliers paid quickly with the aid of invoice management technology. With the goal of making things easier, we’re empowering organizations of all sizes to deliver quality repairs while increasing operational consistency and efficiency. For large MSOs and independents, access to OEM parts and repair data, enhanced estimate accuracy, and certification programs support business-critical initiatives through a streamlined repair lifecycle that delivers safe and proper repairs.

**OEM Parts & Certification Complexity
**As the collision industry continues to grow, so does the complexity of vehicle technology. For goodness sake, vehicle complexity is already straining the bounds of traditional training, tools and equipment, capacity, workflow… you get the point. I can’t imagine how we’ll cope with projected advancements beyond autonomous and electric into actual vertical take-off and flight capable vehicles. What used to be sci-fi fodder for the far, far away year 2000 is no longer make believe. With that, manufacturers are doubling down, emphasizing the importance of certified repair networks and specific requirements for parts and repair procedures. This introduces a high barrier to entry for shops that seek to attain and maintain OEM certification, with a premium placed on access to tools and training that meet OEM standards.

“We see a bridge from the binary Certified or Not Certified approach established decades ago to an agile multi-dimensional framework for the future. “

Again, OEC is uniquely positioned to support the certification programs that connect manufacturers with their repair partners, and in a way that acknowledges the value of healthy relationships with dealers. Looking at the landscape with fresh eyes, we see a bridge from the binary Certified or Not Certified approach established decades ago to an agile, multi-dimensional framework for the future. By utilizing all the capabilities of our collision platforms, OEC will increasingly give shops new levers that effectively integrate procurement, research, training, and compliance, all in consideration of OEM standards.

And now, the real question, So What? If anything resonated, I’d love to hear about it as well as topics and details you most want to hear from the OEC Collision team. Coming soon, I will share Part 2: Collision Industry Outlook: Opportunities, Complexities, and the Road Ahead at OEC. Part 2 will feature additional insights from the research our new analytics team is driving, our vision for the OEC collision organization, and more about what’s cooking in the product portfolio to support the collision industry and its stakeholders.

Now Live: The RepairLogic Field Report, v5!  The OEC team recently released the latest version of the RepairLogic Field Report. This edition of the Field Report focuses on confidence. That means confidence in the repair process, confidence in conversations with customers and insurance providers, and confidence in delivering safe and proper repairs. Click here to download your copy of the RepairLogic Field Report, v5!