Panel beating is the fine "art" of fixing the paneling (also known as "body") on a car after an accident or other event (such as a storm). It's known as "panel beating" because in most cases one has to quite literally beat the paneling back into it's original shape. This can be done using a variety of tools that are common in the majority of professional automobile repair shops.

Minor dents to car body panels can usually be removed without
filling and paining matching for an economical repair.

Vanadalism and parking accidents resulting in scratch damage
to all or part of the vehicle can be repaired with colour matched
paint and laquer finishing