The International Bodyshop Industry Symposium (IBIS) brought collision repair leaders from around the world to Vienna, Austria, from June 16 to 18 for its annual Global Summit, where discussions focused on artificial intelligence, consolidation, sustainability and the future of vehicle repair.
Held under the theme "Connecting Changemakers," the event brought together senior executives representing repairers, insurers, automakers and technology providers for two days of presentations, panel discussions and networking opportunities.
Welcoming delegates, IBIS Conference Director Robert Snook and Head of Sales Suzie Scott opened the event, while Sean Carey and Dave Smith served as co-moderators throughout the summit.
The program examined many of the issues shaping the collision repair industry's future, including business consolidation, the growing role of artificial intelligence and data-driven operations, software-based business models, repairability and sustainability. Sessions also explored how relationships between insurers, collision repair facilities, OEMs and technology providers continue to evolve.
According to IBIS, the conference's revised format encouraged greater audience participation, with delegates sharing experiences, challenging perspectives and extending discussions beyond the formal presentations through networking sessions.
Closing the event, Snook announced IBIS's core conference schedule for 2027. The organization will host IBIS North America from March 2 to 3, the IBIS Global Summit in Lisbon, Portugal, from May 18 to 20, IBIS DACH in Berlin, Germany, from Sept. 14 to 15 and IBIS Middle East in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, from Nov. 16 to 17.
Founded in 2001, IBIS has grown from an inaugural conference attended by 120 delegates from 12 countries to a global conference organization hosting events across five continents. The annual Global Summit now attracts more than 350 delegates from approximately 30 countries, while IBIS events collectively reach more than 1,000 collision repair industry leaders each year.
