How Repairify UK is Revolutionising Collision Repairs: An Exclusive Interview with Phil Peace

When it comes to vehicle diagnostics and ADAS calibration, Repairify UK has positioned itself as a dominant force in the European market. But what can Australian collision repair workshops learn from their success? We sat down with Phil Peace, Managing Director – International at Repairify, to discuss their rapid growth, the shift toward in-house calibrations, and why Australian repairers need to take control of their own destiny.

Building a Market Leader

Repairify UK was established in 2018 as a subsidiary of Repairify Inc., initially servicing major clients like Belron (known in Australia as O’Brien’s). That foundation allowed the company to scale quickly, covering over 16 European countries before expanding into UK body shop groups.

A pivotal moment came in late 2020 with the acquisition of Red (EU)—a diagnostics specialist that gave Repairify access to 1,200 UK workshops through a white-label partnership with Autotext, the UK’s leading estimating platform.’

“We’re now the dominant provider of diagnostic services in the UK for body shops, and we’ve expanded into over 20 European countries,” says Phil Peace. “That foothold gave us the credibility we needed to drive widespread adoption.”

Adoption and Growth: The UK vs. Australia

The UK has undergone a major transformation in how workshops manage ADAS calibration and remote vehicle diagnostics. The 2024 ABP Report reveals just how rapidly repair authorisation processes and calibration workflows are shifting:

• 47% of ADAS alignments are now completed in-house at bodyshops.
• 44% of ADAS calibrations are outsourced to specialist providers, including remote calibration services.
• Only 9% of ADAS calibrations are still handled by dealerships, marking a sharp decline in reliance on traditional dealer services.

This shift demonstrates how UK workshops have embraced in-house and remote ADAS calibration, reducing dealership dependency and improving repair turnaround times.
“I think it’s about having the confidence to bring things in-house,” Phil explains. “A lot of stuff is still outsourced, but you can do it yourself. With the right commercial model, it speeds up jobs, reduces costs, and is simply better for business. You’re in control of your own destiny—why rely on a third party?”

For Australian repairers looking to understand where the industry is heading, the UK provides a clear roadmap. The ABP report highlights a significant shift toward workshops taking ownership of ADAS calibration and diagnostics, a trend expected to accelerate in Australia as newer vehicles with complex safety systems enter the market.

This approach is already proving successful locally. Riverland Collision Centre, located two and a half hours from Adelaide, previously had to wait weeks for dealership calibrations. After adopting Repairify’s remote calibration solutions, they now handle everything in-house, slashing repair times and improving workshop efficiency.

How Repairify is Changing the Game

With over 3,500 workshops using Repairify’s services across Europe, the Repairify systems perform between 600-700 remote scans per day. These technologies allow workshops to conduct ADAS calibration, OEM-level diagnostics, and module programming without dealership involvement.

Phil Peace explains the advantages of bringing diagnostics and calibration in-house:

• Faster turnaround times – No waiting for dealership repair authorisation or subcontractors.
• More control – Collision repair workshops handle calibrations on their own terms.
• Increased revenue – Services that were once outsourced are now profit generators.
• Better insurer confidence – OEM-level diagnostics data improves claim approvals and speeds up payouts.

“By doing it in-house, workshops keep their margins, improve efficiency, and avoid delays caused by external subcontractors or dealership scheduling,” Phil says.

The Road Ahead: What’s Next for Repairify?

As the Australian car park continues to evolve, Phil emphasises that workshops must prepare now.

“The vehicles on the road today are not the same as five years ago. More cars now require secure gateway access, OEM-level tools, and remote diagnostics. In the next three years, nearly 50% of Australia’s car park will be modern vehicles requiring ADAS calibration and advanced repair authorisation.”

So, what’s next for Repairify?

• Better data access – Helping workshops identify necessary calibrations before repairs begin.
• Expanding training support – Ensuring that workshops can quickly adopt new tech.
• More integrations – Partnering with insurers and industry leaders to streamline approvals.

Final Thoughts: Why Australian Workshops Should Act Now

Phil’s message is clear—now is the time for Australian repairers to invest in ADAS calibration, remote diagnostics, and workshop efficiency.

“The Australian market is evolving rapidly. Those who invest now will be ahead of the curve. In Europe, we’ve seen first-hand how workshops that adopt in-house diagnostics and calibration increase efficiency, cut costs, and improve profitability. Australian repairers have the same opportunity—they just need to take it.”

For collision repairers, the message is simple:

If you want to stay ahead, be the master of your own destiny—don’t wait for someone else to do it for you.

Join the Discussion

What do you think about the shift toward in-house ADAS calibration and diagnostics? Have you already made the move, or are you still relying on dealership services?
Let’s discuss—share your thoughts in the comments on Facebook or LinkedIn.

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