Mitchell's ``Groundbreaking'' Online Resource Center Celebrates Third Anniversary
SAN DIEGO--Dec. 6, 2002--Mitchell University -- Mitchell's groundbreaking online resource center that introduced the industry to Web-based training on collision estimating software -- celebrates its third anniversary this month.
"We are very pleased to have broken ground in this area in 1999 as the first of the data providers to deliver online product training for our customers," said Tracy Bracht, Mitchell's Senior Director of educational services. "We felt it was an idea whose time had come for the collision repair industry. Shops had become so busy that it was difficult for them to send employees off for training for two days or more. Mitchell started its online resource center as a way to support the industry and enable our customers to receive training more easily, conveniently and cost-efficiently."
All of the training courses at Mitchell University are free to customers and can be accessed at www.mitchellu.com. In addition, the center offers numerous training materials and product manuals that can be downloaded at no charge.
Since its launch, Mitchell University has provided training to thousands of shops and insurance representatives. The center has also continued to expand and now has courses on numerous Mitchell products -- in addition to its very first product -- the UltraMate estimating system.
"We're proud of the quality and variety of Web-based courses we offer," Bracht said.
All a customer needs to register and enroll at Mitchell University is a customer account number, which can be found on the customer's Mitchell invoice. For customers who don't know their account number, it can be requested at the Mitchell University site.
Mitchell University users recently gave the site a solid thumbs up. In a 2002 survey, 95 percent of survey participants who completed the UltraMate training were confident they could write an accurate Mitchell estimate. And, of that same group, 94 percent would recommend the training to a friend. Also, 92 percent of respondents said they would like to use Web-based training to learn other Mitchell products.
"We're hearing good things from our users," Bracht said. "They like the structure of the courses and particularly enjoy the 24-7 availability, which allows them to get training at their convenience without the travel time, expense and loss of productivity required to go off-site for training."
By accessing Mitchell University, users can get training on a variety of Mitchell products. Among these are Mitchell's UltraMate estimating system, its First Images digital imaging software and "What's New" training on the ABS Body Shop Management System Version 7.0. The training is designed in short, manageable modules and includes appropriate testing to reinforce the learning process. For two of the courses, the UltraMate estimating system and Decision Point, Mitchell's bill review software for accident-related claims, those successfully completing the training receive a Mitchell certificate of completion.
Mitchell University users will also enjoy the benefits of a recent site redesign.
"We've upgraded the site to make it easier and faster for users to navigate," Bracht said.
For instance, a new "enrollment" link fast tracks users through the enrollment process. Another enhancement is the "guest registration" option. This option enables visitors who are not customers to access a variety of content posted on the site, such as training manuals, free of charge.
For customers interested in other learning opportunities, Mitchell will continue to offer real-time training by a company trainer via telephone, on-site training and training seminars throughout the United States and Canada.
About Mitchell
Mitchell International Inc., founded in 1946 and with headquarters in San Diego, is The Source for information software and eBusiness solutions for the insurance and collision repair industries. Providing services that enhance productivity, profitability and customer satisfaction, Mitchell facilitates several million electronic transactions between more than 16,000 business partners each month. Mitchell's own parts and labor database, a critical connectivity point between shops and insurers, is trusted for its accuracy and respected as the industry standard. For more information on Mitchell, contact Bonnie Ward, PR Manager, 858/530-8990 or bonnie.ward@mitchell.com. Visit our Web site at www.mitchell.com.