Bryan Bledsoe, president

Tell us about your company and the services you offer.

One Guard Inspections is a mechanical failure inspection company that conducts a wide variety of inspection types ranging from tire inspections all the way to off-lease inspections. We are an ASE-recognized Blue Seal of Excellence Company that is BBB-accredited and veteran-owned.

We have an inspector network of over 500 inspectors spread throughout the continental U.S. and some parts of Canada. Our clients are offered a variety of report presentation methods that range from PDF to cutting-edge online reporting. We provide video reporting, fluid sampling/manual report packages, customized forms and instant TSB/recall info on all inspection requests. We are also proud to be integrated with the F&I claims management software platform. F&I is on the cutting edge of claims administration and we took that a step further by integrating the inspection process.

How does your service work, and how is it different from other inspections services?

We pride ourselves on providing an educated, unbiased opinion. In order to do so, you must have experienced and certified inspectors. We are the only ASE-certified, BBB-accredited and veteran owned inspection company in our industry.

With a wealth of experience in claims administration, we are able to easily identify the problems associated with warranty claims administration. Unlike many of our competitors who started on the auto repair side of the house, One Guard combines the auto repair, auto warranty and inspection expertise that many of our competitors simply cannot match.

Another criterion that sets us apart is our ability to develop new and cutting-edge inspection reporting processes. Instead of coming up with a technology that simply doesn’t make the inspection process easier — but is instead a lot of flash and hard to implement — we come up with processes that just make sense. The first step was the F&I integration; however, we have more in the works.

What are your target markets, and what message do you want to express to them?

Our target markets are primarily auto warranty administrators. While we do service a few insurance companies and individual buyers, our core business stems from the auto warranty market.

If there is one thing that I would like to convey to our preferred potential clients is that our dedication to service is unmatched. All of our employees have a vested interest in the company and treat each client like they were their own. We do not have open and closed hours. Every one of our employees is readily available to handle any situations that may arise. Whether that time be early morning or late evening, One Guard always has someone ready and willing to help.

What channels do you use to sell your services?

We market via direct mail, outbound sales and Internet advertising. The most successful marketing tactic by far has been the old-fashioned, face-to-face meeting. It is important in our industry not only to know whom you are working with but also to trust them. Inspection providers hold a lot of responsibility in their hands and the company who entrusts them needs to have faith that you will make honest and educated recommendations. The auto warranty company’s clients are relying on it.

Looking back over the past five years, how has the inspection industry changed? How do you see it changing in the future?

The inspection business has changed. The process has really sped up. Clients want their reports quicker and more detailed. Whichever company is able to accommodate that need is going to be the company that most administrators rely on.

What technology or additional services do you believe will drive your future success?

One Guard made a wise decision when choosing to develop our site. We partnered with a great web development company who provided us with a software platform that allows us to do whatever we want. We are not handcuffed like several companies by their website. A client can call me personally and ask for a specific IT process and we can make it happen almost instantaneously. This sort of flexibility improves not only our operational process but also the company for whom we are servicing.

While not technology-based, another of our core assets at One Guard is our culture. All of my employees treat One Guard as if it were their own company. As an operations manager of a third-party administrator, I worked with several of my competitors. One thing I realized was that I needed to have the right culture in order to succeed. That rep picking up the phone when a client has a problem must be educated and sympathetic to the client’s needs. Our culture really breeds that into each and every one of our employees.