Company: RepairPal, San Francisco, CA
Company Description: RepairPal was founded in 2007 by a group of automobile enthusiasts and entrepreneurs who were frustrated by the expensive and tedious process of fixing and maintaining their vehicles. They created RepairPal to provide drivers with the most accurate, unbiased, and useful car ownership information available. RepairPal is not owned by any automobile manufacturer, dealership, or auto repair facility.
Nomination Category: Company / Organization Categories
Nomination Sub Category: Company of the Year - Diversified Service Industries

Nomination Title: RepairPal, San Francisco, CA

Tell the story about what this nominated organization has achieved since January 1, 2014 (up to 650 words). Focus on specific accomplishments, and relate these accomplishments to past performance or industry norms.

Launched in 2007, RepairPal is the nation’s leading resource for consumer car care. RepairPal developed a patented RepairPrice EstimatorTM that educated consumers about the fair cost of auto repair. Arming consumers with knowledge of this kind is revolutionary in an industry that is riddled with negative stereotypes and poor consumer satisfaction. “RepairPal’s mission from day one has been to protect consumers and drive positive change in the auto repair industry,” says RepairPal CEO Art Shaw.

• RepairPal has the fastest growing consumer focused website for auto repair with over 3 million monthly unique visitors
• The free, award winning RepairPal app tells you the right price to pay for your repair, finds you a great mechanic in the area, tracks all your repairs, and gives you one-touch access to roadside assistance.

In 2012, RepairPal expanded the product offering to build a nationwide network of certified repair shops that strive for a better car care experience marked by transparency and trust. “RepairPal protects consumers with the most rigorous technical shop evaluation process in the industry-no one else does this,” says RepairPal CEO Art Shaw,

RepairPal manages the largest network of independent certified mechanics, building to over 1,000 RepairPal Certified auto repair shops in just two years, spanning all 50 states

• The RepairPal Certified shop network requires automotive shops to undergo comprehensive assessments to meet stringent standards for quality in training, equipment and customer service as well as guarantee fair prices within the RepairPrice EstimatorTM range.
• RepairPal performs an intensive audit to verify a shop’s business practices, technical abilities, pricing policies and warranty coverage to help consumers find a quality, fair-priced mechanic. RepairPal estimates that less than 1 out of 10 mechanics will meet the requirements to pass their certification standards.

Ending Gender Bias in Auto Repairs

RepairPal asked "secret shoppers" to spot-check the company's network of certified auto repair shops for gender bias and overcharging and found none! The results independently verified zero discrepancy in the way men and women are charged in the RepairPal Certified Shop network.

Partners
RepairPal's RepairPrice Estimator is licensed by respected brands, including NAPA, Consumer Reports, and AOL Autos. Other partners include AARP, Consumer Reports, and U.S.News & World Report. Most recently, investments from USAA, Castrol and Cars.com continue the fast growth trajectory of the company.

With RepairPal Certified, Cars.com is offering dealers a way to promote quality work and fair prices, giving consumers the trust they need and flipping preconceived notions about dealership service. To earn and maintain RepairPal certification, a dealership’s service department must complete an assessment every 90 days covering four areas: technical assessment, minimum warranty, customer satisfaction and price guarantee. A RepairPal Certified dealer must have OEM-certified technicians, at least a 12 month/12,000 mile warranty, a minimum number of Cars.com service reviews with an overall 4-star rating in sales or service, and pricing that falls within the RepairPal Estimator.

Results:

Consumer response to the RepairPal Certified shop network has been overwhelmingly positive and RepairPal’s website traffic has grown by more than 600% since the network launched. More than 3 million people each month, or approximately 10% of all in-market U.S. auto repair consumers, engage with RepairPal’s online and mobile tools.

“Our growth indicates how desperately consumers need a better experience with fixing their cars, and we’re here to do the hard work to serve them,” says Shaw.

RepairPal continues to add new auto repair shops to its trusted network and plans to double the network size in 2015.

In bullet-list form, briefly summarize up to ten (10) of the chief accomplishments of this organization since the beginning of 2014 (up to 150 words).

•RepairPal has the fastest growing consumer focused website for auto repair. Traffic has grown by more than 600% since launching.
• More than 3 million people each month, or approximately 10% of all in-market U.S. auto repair consumers, engage with RepairPal’s online and mobile tools.
• The free RepairPal app tells you the right price to pay for your repair, finds you a great mechanic in the area, tracks all your repairs, and gives you one-touch access to roadside assistance.
• RepairPal manages the largest network of independent certified mechanics, building to over 1,000 RepairPal Certified auto repair shops in just two years, spanning all 50 states
• With RepairPal, Cars.com is offering dealers a way to promote quality work and fair prices, giving consumers the trust they need in dealership service.
• RepairPal continues to add new auto repair shops to its trusted network and plans to double the network size in 2015.

Of the following measures of success, which ONE do you want the judges to most appreciate about your organization's story of achievement since the beginning of 2014?

Process Improvement