Audatex, CCC donated millions in software subscriptions in 2016 through CREF

Audatex, a Solera Company donated $2,309,580 in software subscriptions to collision schools across the United States in 2016 through a partnership with the Collision Repair Education Foundation (CREF). Their program, Audatex Educational Institutions Program, has donated subscriptions of the company’s estimating software to more than 250 collision repair programs at schools in 40 states through its collaboration with CREF.

Through the CREF and Audatex Educational Institutions Program partnership, eligible collision schools in North America can have access to Audatex Estimating with multi-user software licenses, online courses and training, a custom curriculum that offers CEUs and I-CAR points, and technical support, all at no charge. Training today’s students with the latest technology has the potential to benefit the industry in the long run.

Don Mikrut, Vice President of Collision Repair Services at Audatex, said, “Audatex is proud to partner with the Collision Repair Education Foundation, an association that focuses on the education necessary to be successful in the collision industry.  The collision repair industry requires a well-trained, skilled workforce to repair vehicles safely and efficiently, as well as adapt to the rapid pace of vehicle design and technology. In 2016, in partnership with CREF, Audatex made a commitment to provide our collision estimating solution to collision repair schools to provide them with access to state-of-the-art tools for collision repair estimating. CREF is an organization that our industry should rally behind to support as we need to ensure the proper education for students that look to our industry as a career.”

Brandon Eckenrode, Director of Development for the Foundation said, “I would like to thank Audatex for their continued support of the industry’s future workforce. Their support enhances student success as young people start their career in the industry.”

To qualify, technical and vocational schools in the USA and Canada that offer a collision repair program need to fill out the Educational Institutions Program Contact Form on the Audatex website, www.Audatex.us.

CCC Information Services Inc. (“CCC”), through its partnership with the Collision Repair Education Foundation (“CREF”), donated more than $4 million in software subscriptions to qualified secondary and post-secondary schools in 2016. CCC and CREF offer CCC ONE® Estimating software at no cost to technical schools and colleges that have a qualifying collision repair program.

Student and teacher recipients of CCC ONE software learn how to write estimates while examining damaged vehicles. The software package includes access to collision repair databases, digital imaging capabilities, and CCC ONE® Touch, a mobile estimating solution designed exclusively for tablets. 

“Educating the next generation of collision repairers is critically important,” said Mary Jo Prigge, President, Service Operations, CCC. “CCC is proud to work with CREF to provide collision repair schools with the industry’s most advanced software, giving them an opportunity to learn with the tools they will encounter once they start their careers.”

Brandon Eckenrode, Director of Development for the Foundation said, “I would like to thank CCC for their long-standing support of collision repair schools and students. Access to the latest information technology helps students succeed in the collision industry.”

CCC Information Services Inc. has been providing software, workflow tools, and new technologies to collision repairers since it was founded in 1980.