Nissan Motor (GB) Ltd has announced that it is making Audatex estimating a standard requirement for all repairers within its approved bodyshop programme, using either AudaWorkstation or the web-based Audatex Estimating On-Line.

40% of the repairers in the Nissan network have already signed-up for the web-based estimating system, enabling them to produce Audatex assessments on a 'pay per use' basis, without up-front capital investment.

Graham Mynott, Nissan's aftersales operations controller, said: “Audatex has been a part of the Nissan bodyshop programme for many years, but it has sometimes been prohibitive to smaller dealers on the volume front.

"The availability of Audatex Estimating On-Line has enabled us to specify Audatex as our estimating standard, knowing that even the smallest of operations can access the system."

The use of Audatex estimating is part of Nissan's re-structured qpproved bodyshop programme, which also introduces parts price alignment, customer research, best practice training and a host of other measures.

One of the main aims of the programme is to increase the volume of repairs coming into its network from insurers and other work providers. Paul Tucker, Audatex managing director, said: “We've worked closely with Nissan for many years and we're delighted that our ability to offer a choice between AudaWorkstation or Audatex Estimating On-Line has enabled the company to standardise upon our system across its entire approved bodyshop network.