CEI Selects ADP's Web-Based Claims Management Application to Decrease Cycle Time Throughout Its 3,200 Member Direct Repair Network
SAN RAMON, Calif., Nov. 5, 2003 -- ADP Claims Services Group, a provider of integrated business solutions for the property and casualty, collision repair and automotive recycling industries, announced today an agreement with The CEI Group Inc. (CEI), a provider of vehicle accident and risk management services for self-insured vehicle fleets and a third-party administrator for property and casualty insurance companies. CEI will use ADP Claims Manager to further reduce claim cycles within its independent appraisal and collision repair facility network by eliminating paper-based processes and replacing them with more efficient electronic methods.
ADP Claims Manager is a web-based claims management application that improves productivity through real-time, centralized access to electronic claim data.
"Not only does this process allow us to capitalize on our existing proprietary claim system to reduce cycle time, it provides us with fast and accurate management information on estimate data within our independent network of appraisal firms and repair facilities," said Wayne Smolda, chief executive officer of CEI.
Traditionally, CEI has used standard forms of communication with its network, a combination of faxes and emails that required manual sorting and review to track and audit claims estimates and photos. Now, CEI can maintain electronic damage assessment documents to review and manage auto physical damage claims.
"Our work with CEI demonstrates the value of Internet claims handling in general and the flexibility of ADP Claims Manager in particular," said Stephen Applebaum, ADP vice president of claims workflow services. "For example, CEI will dispatch claims from its proprietary claim system and pass the claim data to ADP Claims Manager to facilitate the outbound and inbound communication with their trading partners. This enables CEI claim staff to operate within their proprietary system, while taking advantage of connectivity provided by ADP Claims Manager.
"ADP's goal is to quickly and efficiently connect trading partners, like CEI and its network members, to deliver the information required to make smart business decisions across the entire claims community," Applebaum said.
ADP developed technology within ADP Claims Manager to seamlessly exchange information with CEI's proprietary claim system. This technology facilitates receipt and transmission of electronic assignments to CEI's network of independent appraisal firms and repair facilities. Members of CEI's appraisal and repair network can use ADP Claims Manager to incorporate photos and other electronic files with the estimate they submit back to CEI's propriety claim system, reducing the claim's cycle time.
CEI will communicate electronically with all of its network participants through ADP Estimate Share, part of ADP's web-based claims management applications. ADP Estimate Share enables CEI to manage estimates from multiple estimating systems.
About ADP Claims Services Group
ADP Claims Services Group, a wholly owned subsidiary of Automatic Data Processing, Inc. , is a leading provider of integrated business solutions for clients in the property and casualty, collision repair and automotive recycling industries. ADP, with $7 billion in revenues and over 500,000 clients, is one of the largest independent computing services firms in the world.
About The CEI Group Inc.
The CEI Group Inc. (CEI), celebrating its 20th anniversary, is the largest and fastest growing independent provider of vehicle accident and risk management services, serving self-insured commercial, institutional and governmental fleets directly, and through its alliances with fleet leasing companies. CEI also provides auto direct repair program outsourcing to leading property and casualty insurance companies.
Founded in 1983, CEI has headquarters near Philadelphia, PA, with field sales offices in Chicago, IL; Tulsa, OK; Corona Del Mar, CA; Tampa, FL; and Hermosa Beach, CA. It currently provides vehicle claims management and auto physical damage repair services for an estimated 500,000 drivers. For more information, go to www.ceinetwork.com.