CCC Information Services Unveils Estimating Solution

Chicago-based CCC Information Services has unveiled a new estimating solution. CCC Pathways Estimating Solution version 4.2 provides users single-point access to estimating, shop management, auditing, frame dimensions and digital imaging

With the introduction of CCC Pathways Estimating Solution version 4.2, collision repair facilities will reportedly no longer need multiple software products to write an estimate, conduct a self-audit and manage their business. Instead, the latest version of CCC Information Services Inc.’s flagship estimating solution integrates auditing, digital imaging, shop management and frame dimensions applications into one solution, making it easy for repairers to move from one task to the next without toggling between multiple software products. CCC Pathways Estimating will be available in January 2005.

Version 4.2 of CCC Pathways Estimating utilizes many of CCC’s applications, including shop management functionality and CCC Accumark, the company’s next generation audit and reinspection product suite. By leveraging these solutions and integrating them into CCC Pathways, users are getting single-point access to industry-tested and adopted solutions. Version 4.2 also incorporates Chief vehicle specification data, providing users with access to comprehensive vehicle specification and measurement information.

“Our repair customers are being stretched in many different directions,” said Jim Dickens, senior vice president of Product Management and Marketing. “There are more administrative tasks to manage and repairing vehicles has become more complex. CCC Pathways 4.2 frees repairers from needing multiple software products to run an efficient business, and offers their most needed tools in one integrated solution.”

Key features of CCC Pathways 4.2

Integrated CCC Accumark Advisor -Creating and administering different sets of rules for each insurance relationship can be time consuming and cumbersome. To address this, CCC Pathways version 4.2 will include an integrated self-audit tool that gives repairers:

— The ability to store multiple insurers’ estimating requirements;

— The opportunity of running an audit prior to locking and sending the estimate to the insurer to measure compliance against insurer-specific guidelines and write more thorough estimates the first time, and;

— The potential to reduce the number of supplements, helping reduce administrative effort and speed the payment cycle.

Integrated Production Assistant- Providing users a single electronic path to automate the repair production process is CCC’s integrated shop management tool, which:

— Can follow vehicles from the initial generation of the repair order all the way through to parts management, customer statusing and accounting;

— Provides single-point access, cutting down on the potential for data transfer errors that occurs by using stand alone shop management systems, and;

— Helps you better manage your operations, improving insurer relations.

Integrated Vehicle Specifications – Users will have access to this new feature, providing:

— Access to the Chief Vehicle Specifications database;

— The ability to access Chief vehicle dimensions data without having to leave CCC Pathways, and:

— Access to information that is compatible with competitive frame and mechanical measuring equipment.

Other integrated features new to CCC Pathways version 4.2 include: a new three-stage blend formula provided by MOTOR and created to automatically calculate the labor and refinish costs for a three-stage paint process and a “smart” option and package tool, allowing users to access, identify and pre-select manufacturer options by entering the vehicle’s VIN.

For more information about CCC Information Services Inc., visit www.cccis.com.