Mitchell Launches UltraMate ''Premier Suite'' to Optimize Appraisal Workflow for Collision Repair Shops
SAN DIEGO--May 2, 20045, 2004--| Integrated and full-featured solution enables shops to process claims faster, more easily and enhance relationships with insurance partners |
Mitchell International, Inc., a leading provider of information and workflow solutions to the automotive insurance claims industry, today introduced UltraMate (UM) Premier Suite(TM), the newest member of its claims workflow family that streamlines claims handling and enhances the collision shop-insurance carrier relationship. Mitchell's Premier Suite integrates Mitchell's industry-leading UltraMate(TM) estimating solution; digital imaging; broadband and wireless communications into its award-winning eClaim Manager(TM) workflow management system. The integration of these capabilities into a single, easy-to-use application suite enables collision repair shops to work more closely with insurance partners to process claims of their shared customer base faster, simply and more profitably.
"Mitchell's claims-centric approach to product design means that we actively address the needs of both shops and insurers in the DRP process to enhance service levels for their shared policy holder customer," said Marc Brungger, VP of Sales, Mitchell. "Shop-insurer communications and productivity are tightly coupled - the more effectively both parties communicate in the DRP process, the more productive and effective that process becomes. Mitchell's new UltraMate Premier Suite streamlines these workflows and opens communication links full throttle to increase productivity for both shop and insurer, while greatly reducing both errors and total processing time.
UM Premier Suite provides a simple and intuitive user interface enabling shops to easily receive assignments from numerous DRP partners simultaneously, create estimates, add images, and then send completed claims packages instantly to their insurance partners using broadband, wireless, or dial-up communications. With UM Premier Suite's award-winning workflow and communications eClaim module, estimates are automatically pre-populated with assignment information to save shops time and reduce errors. This module also enables collision shops to easily track the progress of each job and quickly respond to supplement requests. The net result of the integration of these powerful and comprehensive claims processing features is faster and more accurate claims processing, and more productive, harmonious relationships with insurance partners.
"Since using UltraMate Premier Suite I have significantly reduced the time it takes to process and gain approval on my estimates," said BJ Tomlinson, Owner of Tomlinson's Body Shop of Hahira, GA. "Everything I need is combined into one folder that I can easily view and exchange with my business partners. And because UltraMate Premier Suite utilizes Mitchell's extensive parts and labor database, I'm confident in the accuracy of my estimates, for both myself and my partners."
Shops can further benefit from the tight integration of UltraMate Premier Suite with the Mitchell Shop Network, which enables partner shops to receive referral work electronically from a symposium of Carriers and to build relationships with carriers as they engage in efficient electronic workflows that reduce repair times, rental charges, and boost customer satisfaction. In addition, by leveraging Mitchell's leading AutocheX customer satisfaction system, well performing shops can obtain significant merit based referral work from carriers while they also gain valuable feedback to improve their marketing efforts and services. Together with the UltraMate Premier Suite, these services further distinguish Mitchell's complete portfolio of high value shop-focused solutions.
Key UltraMate Premier Suite Shop Benefits include:
-- Streamlined Workflow Saves Time And Effort: A single application and single upload process (containing estimates, images and all related documents) save time, effort and reduce errors. Further, shops receive new assignments continuously from insurers even while they complete and upload others. Batch upload and background communication capabilities further speed exchanges while freeing shop personnel from attending to the PC.
-- Enhanced and Expanding Shop-Carrier Relationships: Bi-directional communications with insurers let shops receive assignments directly and return claims folders with all required documents, building solid, mutually beneficial relationships that are efficient and profitable. Continuous electronic exchanges, pre-population of the estimating module with assignment information, integrated imaging, and simple workflow management capabilities reduce turnaround times and wasted phone/fax communication efforts. Also, Premier Suite's wireless capability helps shops to grow into the richer DRP role where they become an extension to the insurer's field estimating team.
-- High-Speed Broadband and LAN Access Save Shops Time and Effort: Premier Suite supports DSL, Cable, and all forms of broadband access to speed up exchanges between shop and insurer. It also provides LAN support (both Microsoft and Novell) to enable access throughout the shop network. Continued support for dialup connectivity ensures ubiquitous access.
-- Wireless Mobility for 'anytime, anywhere' estimates: Premier Suite offer shops mobile productivity capabilities (for both wide area/cellular and local 802.11) that give the freedom to perform estimates anytime, anywhere, remaining productive wherever possible, and avoiding the need to re-key field estimates when back in the office.
-- Increased Marketing Opportunities: Because Mitchell's electronic claims process solutions are used by a multitude of insurers, shops can take advantage of marketing opportunities on the Mitchell Shop Network's easy-to-use portal, which makes it easy to engage with more partners and build incremental referral business. Additionally, links to Mitchell's AutocheX system enable shops to efficiently gather customer satisfaction information to help refine their practices and gain more referral business from insurers.
About Mitchell International
Mitchell International is a leading provider of information and workflow solutions to the automotive insurance claims industry, serving carriers, collision repair facilities, and other commercial participants in the physical damage and auto-related medical claims processes. Mitchell facilitates millions of electronic transactions between more than 16,000 business partners each month to enhance their productivity, profitability, and customer satisfaction levels. For more information on Mitchell International, visit our website at www.mitchell.com.