September 1999 Editor's Page
Advances in Estimating -
Evolutionary and Revolutionary

The first two articles in our news section this month hit upon a very important topic for collision repairers- estimating systems. They are the arbiters of all that is fair and true in your business. The systems control the method and extent of your charges and in most cases the way and to whom you will communicate electronically in the outside world.

In our first article, we find that ADP’s latest release of ShopLink for Windows, version 6.1, includes the ability to default for clear coat refinish times. This is the first time a system has incorporated this ability, even though, as repairers have strenuously pointed out for over 2 years, the majority of vehicles since the early-to-mid 1990s have been produced with two-stage finishes.

ADP should be applauded for their efforts.

For the past two or three years system providers have been so focused on Y2K issues, that little in the way of revolutionary, or for that matter evolutionary progress, such as allowing a two-stage default, has been reported on the estimating system front.

With Y2K programming expense behind them, perhaps we can hope for more innovation and perhaps a bit of revolution in their product offerings.

Our second article reveals a little bit of what we believe is a revolution in the making.

CCC’s International unit is currently beta testing an internet-based estimating product for the UK. Shops and insurers that wish to use the system just need a computer capable of accessing the internet and running a web browser.

CCC’s market plan, as the new-entrant in Europe, will allow shops and insurers to create estimates without dramatic up-front costs for software and hardware. A low monthly charge is anticipated with a small number of included estimates. Additional estimates above the minimum would be charged on a per-use basis.

Online estimating systems stand to reduce the system providers’ costs as CDs and the expense of mailing them become a thing of the past. Also, updates to labor and parts databases can occur in almost real-time, fostering increased accuracy.