Short of the period where we moved from the horse and buggy to the internal combustion engine, few decades have brought as much change to the automotive repair industry as this one – and we're only halfway through it.

Big data, digitally-empowered consumers and evolving vehicles are creating what we like to call the Era of Disruption. Consider that:

• 35 zettabytes of data are created each year, according to Wipro Consulting. That's a 35 with 21 zeroes after it. It's no wonder 60% of organizations tell Wipro that dealing with big data is a significant challenge
• 50% of customers use digital devices for auto insurance purchase and services, according to eMarketer
• Today's vehicles have 100M+ lines of code, more than 10 times the amount in a 787 Dreamliner
• The number of networked cars is growing 30% per year, according to McKinsey & Company

Technology is disrupting the auto industry like never before and changing the way people drive.

OEMs are increasingly pursuing a strategy of selling "personalized" vehicles, with customized, high-priced options. At the same time, networked vehicles and driver-assist technologies are reducing driver error and leading to fewer accidents, although this means the ones that do occur are likely to be more serious and costly to repair.