Work smart, not hard. That’s the guiding principle of Sebastian Torres, Chief Executive Officer of TORCAM CARSTAR in Canada. In a recent episode of The Collision Vision Podcast by Autobody News, Sebastian Torres, the owner of a group of auto body shops in Canada, shared how challenging legacy processes and embracing tech-driven solutions has transformed his business: exceeding customer expectations, elevating employee happiness and salary, and increasing profitability.
Listen to this podcast episode or watch the full video here.
Sebastian Torres, a second-generation owner and operator leading CARSTAR Torcam Group brought to the table an insightful conversation about technology, leadership, AI innovation, workflow redesign, and knowing when to challenge legacy habits to build something better. Now, Sebastian and his family are redefining what’s possible in modern collision repair and body shop management.
Rethinking the Front Counter: From Legacy Habits to Modern Workflow
One principle stood out throughout the conversation: work smarter.
When Sebastian took the reins at CARSTAR Torcam Group, he inherited processes that had simply been “the way we’ve always done it.” Therefore, he asked himself: how can we perform each task in one step instead of multiple steps?
As an engaged and proactive leader, he communicated and consulted with his teammates to understand and pinpoint where the bottlenecks were. That’s when he identified the opportunity. Instead of accepting slow vehicle intake, manual inspections, and traditional estimating as the norm, he sought technology that could transform the customer experience from the very first interaction.
He found that solution a few years ago in Solera, when AI tools were still in pilot development. He decided to integrate Solera’s Qapter Mobile Inspection at vehicle intake, along with photo-based Intelligent Estimating and Visual Intelligence powered by Solera’s vast historical database.
The impact for his shops included: customers leaving the shop with an estimate in hand, employees experiencing less stress and earning more, fewer vehicles piling up, reduced administrative workload, faster intake and cleaner capacity management. Moreover, the integrated tools allowed for stronger documentation and tracking, which improved communication with carriers and drivers.
The Quantitative Benefits:
- Estimating time reduced from 90 minutes to just 10–15 minutes
- Repairs being scheduled within 20–25 minutes
- A measurable 6–7% lift in gross profit
This shift began with a single discussion a couple of years ago at a conference where Solera was presenting its AI development for the insurance and collision industries. That moment sparked curiosity. Curiosity led to experimentation. Experimentation led to automation pilots. And those pilots led to permanent workflow change.
Transformation often starts small but compounds quickly when backed by data and decisive action. There’s a lot of noise around artificial intelligence. What makes this story different is execution.
The ROI became clear: reducing intake time by over an hour per vehicle while improving documentation quality increases throughput, reduces supplements, shortens cycle time, and protects margins.
Building the Foundation for Growth
This business case of AI integration did not replace estimators, nor anyone in the shop. It functioned as a digital tool to make daily operations more effective. Sebastian involved his teams early and positioned AI as a stress-reduction tool, demonstrating how automation frees up time for higher-value work, without replacing anyone from the staff.
This blueprint matters for every multi-shop operator considering expansion. Sebastian Torres represents a growing new wave of collision repair leadership, one where AI empowers teams and data drives decisions. His vision aligns with Solera’s mission, and it is through strong partnerships like this that foundations are built to help move the entire collision repair industry forward.
As discussed in the interview, the future of collision repair lies in building systems where people, communities, and businesses thrive.
What is your shop doing to modernize intake and estimating? Contact our Collision Repair Solutions Experts now to find the best fit for your business.