Corporate Innovation Abounds in Columbus
It’s another exciting start to the week at Rev1 Ventures. Today, Safelite® Group, which operates Safelite AutoGlass®, the largest provider of vehicle glass repair and replacement services in the U.S., and Safelite® Solutions, announced the opening of a new innovation hub called Safelite Works, which will be housed within Rev1 Ventures Labs.
As part of Rev1’s mission to support research-based startups and corporate innovation in Central Ohio, we provide lab space to the region’s fastest-growing start-ups and access to our innovative program for identifying disruptive technologies. Our partnerships with powerhouses like The Ohio State University, Nationwide Children’s Hospital and Ohio Health have resulted in nearly 30 spin-outs supported by Rev1 since 2013.
Rev1’s corporate partners are also part of our revolutionary Rev1 First Connect Network, which allows corporations access to these disruptive technologies early-on, while also providing Rev1 startups the chance to sell into these corporations. In fact, First Connect has assisted portfolio companies in generating more than $1M in revenue in 2016 alone.
More details about Safelite Work’s innovation lab is below – we’re proud they’re calling Rev1 home.
The World’s Largest Vehicle Claims Company Launches Innovation Lab: Safelite Works
Innovating to develop solutions for our people, customers, and clients
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Safelite® Group, which operates Safelite AutoGlass®, the largest provider of vehicle glass repair and replacement services in the U.S., and Safelite® Solutions, a leading claims management partner to top insurance and fleet companies, has opened a new innovation hub called Safelite Works.
The lab consists of 6 to 8 technologists reporting to Vice President of Digital and Customer Innovation Bruce Millard tasked with developing innovative customer-facing solutions for both auto glass needs and insurance claims processing as well as employee experience. Kathy Domer, an experienced I.T. professional with more than 30 years of experience, will serve as the Senior Manager.
Safelite Works is located within Rev1 Ventures Labs, which houses some of the Columbus region’s fastest-growing start-ups. Rev1 is a seed- and early-stage investment fund that combines services and capital to help entrepreneurs increase their probability of success. This is the third year Safelite has been a sponsor of Rev1, and it is the first corporate sponsor to open an innovation space in Rev1 Labs.
“Safelite is a People Powered, Customer Driven organization, meaning we engage and empower our employees to deliver a memorable customer experience,” said Safelite President & CEO Tom Feeney. “As the world becomes increasingly digital, it’s crucial we evolve our internal and external processes to reach our vision of being a trusted and admired service brand. By interacting daily with other technologists within the Rev1 facility, we’ll be able to catapult our business into the future by engaging with like-minded entrepreneurs.”
While not many connect an auto glass company with technology, Safelite is actually a leader in innovating the customer experience through technology. The company has led the service industry with accomplishments such as:
o Introducing the Technician Profile Email long before others in the at-home service industry
o Creating a new “On My Way” automated text alert
o Overhauling Safelite.com, reducing steps to get a quote from 16 to 3 and reducing call backs by 99%
o Building an online customer portal for appointment tracking
o Partnering with insurance clients to create seamless digital claims reporting solutions
This year alone, Safelite invested $41 million into technology, a 10 percent increase over last year. Safelite Works will be an incremental $1 million investment.
“We’re building a culture conducive to innovation,” Feeney added. “We’re doing amazing work in our home office and the new innovation lab intended to shape the future of our employee, customer, and client experiences.”
About Safelite® Group Safelite® Group, a subsidiary of Belron®, is a multi-faceted vehicle glass and claims management service organization based in Columbus, Ohio. The company, which has been in business since 1947, is comprised of three major business operations that includes Safelite AutoGlass®, the largest provider of vehicle glass repair and replacement services in the world; Safelite® Solutions, which offers fleet and insurance claims management services; and Service AutoGlass®, a vehicle glass wholesale and distribution operation. The company employs more than 13,000 people throughout the United States. For more information, visit Safelite.com, or follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
