ADP Collision Repair Services Announces Release of Shoplink for Windows 6.2; Latest Estimating Software Introduces New Management Functions and Time-Saving Conveniences

16 October 2000

ADP Collision Repair Services Announces Release of Shoplink for Windows 6.2; Latest Estimating Software Introduces New Management Functions and Time-Saving Conveniences

    SAN RAMON, Calif.--Oct. 16, 2000--ADP Collision Repair Services today announced the commercial release of Shoplink(TM) for Windows(R) 6.2, providing body shops a new level of estimating and management efficiencies to improve profitability and productivity.
    Significant among its new and innovative enhancements, Shoplink 6.2 features additional refinish calculations that automatically compute the time required for three-stage, two-tone, blend and chipguard refinishes. In addition, Shoplink 6.2 calculates any possible combination of these operations, further reducing manual calculating times and insurance re-inspections.
    "We're very happy to offer completely interactive refinish features in our new release," said Mondo Jacobs, Shoplink product manager for ADP Collision Repair Services. "With about 95 percent of today's repair jobs requiring refinishing in multiple-stage painting, we expect this time-saving and revenue-sustaining function to be a huge benefit to our users."
    Shoplink 6.2 also offers significant shop management and productivity-assessment functions. The new Repair Order Assignment and Tracking capability enables users to easily convert estimates to repair orders and post payments to the repairs. Users can also easily track the status of jobs by using the newly developed "Work in Progress" reports. Additionally, shops can use the "RO Closing" report to identify each estimator's proficiency in converting estimates to repairs - a useful tool for tracking productivity.

    The latest version of Shoplink 6.2 also provides a host of features designed to increase estimating efficiencies, including:

    -- Air Bag Matrix/Zone: simplifies estimate writing by providing I-CAR replacement guidelines, an industry first, and grouping airbag components and associated parts in a single convenient screen display.

    -- Scheduled/Unattended Communications feature: allows automatic transmission of estimates to insurers without the users having to manually invoke these sessions.

    -- Return Customer Database: automatically allows information on repeat customers to be pulled into a new estimate, avoiding wasted time over redundant data collection and entry. The feature can also be used to do merge mailings for thank-you letters, greeting cards and other personalized marketing functions.

    -- "Find Part" utility: eliminates the need to scan graphics and text to find even the most elusive parts, quickly loading them from partial descriptions or the OEM part numbers.

    -- Interactive Zoom: allows estimator to "zoom in" for a closer look at ADP's high quality graphics and enter damages into the estimate by simply clicking on the image of the desired part while still in the "zoomed" view.

    -- CIECA EMS Interface for Stellix users: allows tighter interface between ADP estimating and management systems. Part price reconciliations can be sent from Stellix to Shoplink, eliminating the traditional redundant entry when there are part price changes.

    "We're excited to offer these new Shoplink functions that bring more important management capabilities into the estimating system," said Jacobs.
    Shoplink 6.2 is an automated collision estimating system designed specifically to enable collision repair operations to quickly produce more accurate, thorough and reliable estimates. The backbone of the system, the ADP Collision Estimating Database, has proven itself over the last 20 years as the accepted source of electronic repair information for estimate preparation.
    ADP Collision Repair Services is a strategic business unit of ADP Claims Solutions Group (CSG). Headquartered in San Ramon, ADP CSG is a wholly owned subsidiary of Automatic Data Processing, Inc. (ADP). ADP, with more than $6 billion in revenues and over 450,000 clients, is one of the largest independent computing services firms in the world. ADP CSG provides the property and casualty industry and their business partners with integrated and independent information services for automotive, medical and property claims management in 18 countries.
    ADP Claims Solutions Group is located at 2010 Crow Canyon Place, San Ramon, CA 94583; 925/866-1100. The company's Web site can be found at http://www.csg.adp.com.