Just a couple more weeks and the Industry’s largest F&I conference will be underway. The Vehicle Service Contract Administrator Conference (VSCAC), one of three conferences composing the Industry Summit being held September 26 through 28, has come a long way from its debut back in 2004.

Review of 2010

The 2010 conference covered many workshops and panel sessions examining topics relevant to the dismal economy, technological changes in the industry, compliance issues, and even opened the door to addressing F&I product categories outside of vehicle service contracts.

The Hot Buttons for the year included the following:

The Danger Inside the Data – discussing how the prior two years had impacted the data that companies depend upon to set their business strategies. Further discussion reflected upon whether, and if so how much, does historical data really predict the future.

The New World of F&I – which provided an overview of the F&I industry and the role of technology and internet has on opportunities available. The impact of demographic shifts and new legislation was also discussed.

Dealership Reinsurance – the challenges and opportunities regarding reinsurance were discussed as well as ideas for providers on how reinsurance could be made an integral part of their product offerings.

Panel discussions covered Web Services including e-Quoting, rating and contract generation and the impact the economy had on business, and Workshops focused on “The Importance of a ‘Bag’ of Products,” and compliance issues.

Focus for 2011

So, where has the focus changed to over the course of a year? Has it changed, and if so how much?

VSCAC this year still covers the same important categories as in prior years, but as the world and economy is ever-changing, so do the technology, laws, business strategies, and product offerings that this industry operates within.

Technology

Technology is a huge topic as it is an integral part of almost every segment of a business’ operations - providers and administrators not withstanding. A large portion of the conference focuses on technological changes, not only in the market place, but also within the industry. So, how these changes have affected our product offerings, how we do business, and the changes that we have made to remain competitive, accurate, reliable and efficient are a huge result of technological changes and processes.

Technology-based workshops and panel sessions include:

• Two panel sessions covering the 4-part series based on “connecting providers, administrators, and dealers” that P&A Magazine has been covering over the past few months. The first panel session, moderated by Adam Kimber with Agent Entrepreneur and P&A Magazines, will be held the first day of the conference, Tuesday, from 10:00 – 11:15. The second panel session, moderated by David Trinder with F&I Administration Solutions, will be held the second day of the conference, Wednesday, from 11:30 – 12:30.

• An afternoon keynote address from 2:00 – 3:00 on Tuesday given by Jim Pratt with Wright Express, covering issues regarding making VSC claims payments faster, cheaper, and more efficient with electronic payments.

• A Wednesday morning panel session from 10:05 – 11:15 moderated by David Trinder titled “Agents Sound Off on What They Need.”

Compliance

Trying to keep abreast of most current laws, what is and is not permitted and conducting business within the “not-so-black-and-white” areas of compliance issues can be very tricky. Event planners and coordinators have made sure that attendees of this conference have not left without having ample opportunity to catch up with what is going on in the industry and what to keep in mind while going about your everyday business schedule.

Panel sessions and presentations that delve into this area of interest include:

• Monday evening’s Welcome and evening keynote address given by Damon Wiener with Safe-Guard Products International about doing business the right way (without breaking the bank). This legal-fee free session precedes the conference’s Welcome reception held at 6:15 – 7:45 that evening.

• A Wednesday morning panel session from 9:00 – 10:00 presented by Michael Benoit with Hudson Cook LLP titled “Compliance Watch: The Industry’s Newest Threats.”

• An afternoon panel session from 3:05 – 4:00 on Wednesday moderated by Lewis Kuhl with Pathman Lewis LLP will cover Emerging Claims Issues with VSCs.

The Economy, Business Strategies and Product Discussions

For the past few years it’s been hard for many to escape the effects the economy has had on businesses. Although many of the Technology and Compliance panel sessions and workshops will include ideas and information relating to general business processes, several workshops and a Keynote Address have been included on the agenda that are more focused on these topics. Included in the agenda are the following:

• An opening keynote address held on Tuesday from 9:00 – 10:00 presented by Mike Frosch with The Warranty Group discussing Strategies for a Rebounding Market.

• A workshop on Tuesday afternoon from 11:30 – 12:30 presented by Gary Fagg with CreditRe on Limit the Inherent Risk of Too-Good-to-be-True Products.

• A second workshop on Tuesday afternoon from 3:05 – 4:05 on Keeping Tire and Wheel Viable – trends that are impacting current and future programs.

• A workshop on Tuesday from 4:30 – 5:30 presented by John Kerper with Kerper-Bowron will examine Month-to-Month Renewal Service Contracts and provide key insights on how to manage this reemerging product segment.

• On Wednesday from 2:00 – 3:00 a workshop co-presented by Lee Bowron with Kerper-Bowron, and Guy Koenig with AmTrust will cover Carrier/Administrator Relations Best Practices and elaborates on what practices need to be implemented to ensure the goals held by both parties are achieved.

The full VSCAC agenda can be viewed at http://www.vscac.com/Program/Conference-Program/"

If you are a provider or administrator, this conference is THE place to be from September 26 through September 28. Not only does VSCAC offer great insight and best practices for professionals in the industry, there are also several Networking Breaks scheduled throughout each day and a reception following the day’s events that will be open to all attendees and participants from all three conferences included in the Industry Summit. What better way to break-up or end your day by catching up on the latest conference events, networking, socializing, and putting names to faces that we conduct day-to-day business with from all areas of the country.