Mitchell Announces e-Business Strategy With Launch of Internet Hub for Auto Collision Repair Supply Chain; Continues 54-Year Tradition of Industry Leadership and Service
18 September 2000
Mitchell Announces e-Business Strategy With Launch of Internet Hub for Auto Collision Repair Supply Chain; Continues 54-Year Tradition of Industry Leadership and Service
San Diego--Sept. 18, 2000--Mitchell International today announced its e-business strategy to provide an open and interactive Internet workspace and marketplace hub for all parties in the automotive collision repair supply chain.Serving as a single access point to a suite of existing and future on-line applications, services and e-business partner content and commerce, the Mitchell Hub represents a new way doing of business dedicated to getting vehicle owners satisfied and quickly back into their cars after an accident. Entry to the Hub can be gained via the portal site residing at www.emitchell.com.
"Continuing our 54 years of industry leadership, the Mitchell Hub will provide the electronic infrastructure necessary to drive a fundamental process and business redesign throughout the entire industry," said Jim Lindner, Mitchell's president and chief executive officer. "Hub participants including collision repair shops, insurance companies, car rental agencies, tow companies, parts, paint and equipment vendors will realize new and growing partnering opportunities, shared efficiencies, and enormous cost savings while delivering a more pleasant experience to their customers."
Unique industry-first applications and Mitchell's portal site are available today. "The industry trusts Mitchell to first offer substance and then to back up its promises," said Lindner. "Our Hub has real applications and value-adding content. Last year, we introduced iNTOTAL.com, the industry's first on-line total loss settlement solution. Recently, we completed the successful beta testing of FirstEstimate.com, the industry's first on-line estimating system. Both are available on the Hub."
In the coming months, Mitchell will add more hub functionality such as user-personalized "virtual desktops" with all the information and online applications needed to seamlessly integrate their information, work and business collaboration needs. Over 35 new strategically targeted business functions are planned, including online imaging, vehicle status tracking, productivity tools and online review processes. In the long-term, the Mitchell Hub will improve visibility into and throughout the supply chain and provide targeted and real-time information for more efficient resource management, scheduling and capacity planning.
Mitchell's Hub features a central server for storing and forwarding data among all parties involved in collision repair, and will interface to insurance company legacy systems. Its open infrastructure will allow any authorized user to access information with only a Web browser -- no special hardware or software is required. This open participation is consistent with Mitchell's philosophy to conform to the industry's CIECA standards and the XML Internet standard.
In addition to announcing several strategic partners to the Hub in the coming months, Mitchell is leveraging more than 50 years of industry experience, business relationships, product leadership and connectivity services to deliver the premier e-business site for the industry. There are currently more than 90 people dedicated to the Hub's development and management. Hub partners can count on Mitchell's many field representatives and award-winning customer support staff for assistance.
About Mitchell International
Mitchell International, founded in 1946 and headquartered in San Diego, is the source for information software and e-business solutions for the insurance and automotive 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 International, or the Mitchell Hub, call Chris Andrews, director of marketing, at 858/578-6550, ext. 8321. Visit our Web sites at www.emitchell.com, www.mitchell.com, www.firstestimate.com and www.intotal.com.