DriveLogic and MDSI Mobile Data Solutions Announce New ASP Service That Will Accelerate Auto Claims Processing
25 October 2000
DriveLogic and MDSI Mobile Data Solutions Announce New ASP Service That Will Accelerate Auto Claims Processing
CHICAGO & RICHMOND, B.C.--Oct. 25, 2000-- MDSI DriveLogic, Inc.New Application Service Provider Offering Will Benefit Consumers
and Insurers By Potentially Saving 1 to 2 Days in Getting Cars
Repaired after Accidents
DriveLogic, Inc. and MDSI Mobile Data Solutions Inc. are joining forces to help auto insurance companies accelerate auto accident claims processing.
The new service, expected to be available later this year, would allow insurers to shorten the claims processing cycle by one to two days, providing benefits for the auto owners, insurance companies and others. Auto owners would get their cars back sooner from the repair shop, and insurers could eliminate significant inefficiencies in the claims processing cycle, the two companies said.
DriveLogic is the e-commerce business of CCC Information Services Inc., a leading supplier of advanced software and communications systems to the automotive claims industry, and a wholly owned subsidiary of CCC Information Services Group . MDSI(R) is the industry-leading provider of wireless workforce management solutions for service companies with mobile workforces.
The DriveLogic solution will offer real-time workforce management for the North American auto insurance market using the ASP version of MDSI's Advantex(TM) r7 technology. In its first release, the solution will schedule appointments with claimants, assign the appointments to the optimal claims adjuster, and wirelessly dispatch claim details to the adjuster in the field, who can use various types of mobile devices, including laptops, Windows CE devices, and Wireless Application Protocol (WAP)-enabled digital mobile phones, pagers, and palmtops.
Ken Miller, CEO of MDSI, said, "This agreement signals the closing of a long-existing gap in the auto insurance claims settlement process-the optimization of claim scheduling and assignment to mobile adjusters, and the empowerment of those adjusters to complete their work from the field."
"We are committed to offering a broad range of e-commerce solutions that will significantly reduce the time it takes to get drivers back in their cars after an accident," said Pradip Patiath, President and COO of DriveLogic. "MDSI is a proven leader in its market space, with a strong market presence in such complex industries as telecommunications and utilities. This strategic alliance will expedite development of our business model - the integration of best-in-class solutions in Internet, wireless, data warehousing and other technologies."
Added Miller, "This is our first deal in one of our primary eBusiness channels to the service provider market - major, industry-focused ASPs. DriveLogic is well positioned to be the leading auto insurance solutions ASP. We intend to be similarly aligned with the ASP leaders targeted at our traditional markets: telco, cable, and utility."
DriveLogic's planned collaborative Internet interchange - an open, business-to-business hub designed to link parties in the accident management supply chain and to facilitate real-time communications and transactions through integrated e-commerce solutions - will integrate best-in-class technologies, such as the MDSI engine. Initial functions and benefits of the new scheduling and dispatching applications will include:
Immediate notification of accidents to all designated parties, e.g., dispatchers, adjusters, agents and other claims personnel.
Real-time scheduling and status updates - insurance company representatives can schedule, confirm and track service appointments, resulting in more efficient use of resources and improved customer service.
"Through a combination of in-house technology development and strategic alliances such as our agreement with MDSI, we can greatly improve information flows and collaboration among parties in the claims and repair process," said Patiath. "We are confident that DriveLogic's planned solutions will be able to improve efficiency in the supply chain, which could reduce the average claims cycle of up to 30 days by as much as half."
Advantex ASP makes it easier and faster for organizations of all sizes in any service market to enjoy the benefits of a wireless workforce management system over the Internet without investing in data center, operations, and support functions. It allows service companies to operate their core business more effectively. Advantex provides mobile workers with a seamless and reliable wireless link for communicating service data and for connecting them to a full array of enterprise and Internet data resources. A simple Web-browser is all that mobile workers, dispatchers, and system administrators need to access the feature-rich Advantex ASP workforce management system.
About DriveLogic
DriveLogic is a subsidiary of CCC Information Services Group Inc. focused on providing Internet and wireless-enabled technology solutions to the auto claims and collision repair industries. DriveLogic has the unique market advantage of being able to leverage CCC's connectivity platforms, which already processes approximately 800,000 auto claims-related transactions per day. By developing market-driven technology solutions and capitalizing on the industry expertise, customer relationships and market leadership of CCC, DriveLogic aims to optimize efficiencies, bringing value to parties throughout the entire supply chain. For more information about DriveLogic, contact Michael Roberts at DriveLogic, 312-228-8278, or contact Rich Ringer at HLB Communications, 312-649-0371, or visit the DriveLogic Web site at www.drivelogic.com.
About CCC
CCC Information Services Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of CCC Information Services Group , headquartered in Chicago, IL, is the leading supplier of advanced software and communications systems to the automotive claims industry, including information and network services for a wide variety of claims management solutions. Its value-added, technology-based products and services increase efficiency and facilitate communication among more than 13,500 collision repair facilities, 350 insurance companies, and a range of business partners. For more information about CCC Information Services, visit our Web site at www.cccis.com, contact Jeanene O'Brien at CCC Information Services Inc., 312-229-3083 or, contact Rich Ringer at HLB Communications, 312-649-0371.
About MDSI
By uniting the power of wireless communications, advanced service management applications and the Internet, MDSI Mobile Data Solutions Inc. is revolutionizing how companies sell and deliver services and how people purchase them. MDSI enables companies of any size in any service market to manage mobile and on site service workers to deliver better and more efficient services, and empowers those workers via reliable, wireless links to enterprise or Internet applications. MDSI enables consumers and businesses alike to purchase, schedule, confirm and track service appointments online without any human intervention, providing the ultimate in convenience and efficiency. MDSI accomplishes this through a suite of wireless connectivity, service management, and other service and mobile solutions that can be delivered over the Internet or through traditional on-site implementations. Founded in 1993, MDSI is the most experienced and trusted wireless applications company operating today. MDSI has over 100 major, blue chip customers worldwide with operations and support offices throughout the United States, Canada, Europe and Australia. More information is available at http://www.mdsi-advantex.com and http://www.eservice.com.
This release contains statements that constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and are subject to the safe harbor provisions of those sections and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward looking statements in this release include the parties expectations as to the timing of the availability of the new service; the success of MDSI's alliance with DriveLogic and the anticipated benefits of that relationship; the anticipated benefits of the new service to consumers and insurers; and MDSI's intentions with respect to strategic relationships with additional ASP leaders. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from anticipated results include risks and uncertainties such as: any unforeseen incompatibilities between the respective technologies of MDSI and DriveLogic; any technical difficulties related to integrating the respective technologies of MDSI and DriveLogic; and the possible failure of telco, cable and utility ASPs to enter into strategic relationships with MDSI. Investors are Investors are cautioned that any such forward-looking statement, including any statement regarding the intent, belief, plans, or current expectations of the companies or their management, and use of phrases and words such as "planned," "could eliminate" and "will offer" are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties, and that actual results may differ materially from those forward-looking statements, and startup businesses are inherently uncertain. Both companies have based these forward-looking statements on information currently available and disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement.