| 05/18/2010 7:15 PM |
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I am looking for a simple, inexpensive desktop program that will allow me to set up everything under one roof: Create a file, store reports, Xactimate pdfs, instructions, and maybe have some other bells and whistles. Anyone using anything like that?
What I have now are desktop folders with everything randomly put in there. I am storing them in a menued on-line system at this time.
Jeff |
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| 05/18/2010 7:23 PM |
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Here is what I use for online storage. It isn't bad, I have document templates set up in there as well. If it works out I will buy the upgrade so I can store everything. http://www.keepandshare.com/myhome/ |
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| 05/18/2010 7:28 PM |
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And...yes, I am a Simsol refugee!
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ddreisbach Member Posts:172  
| 05/19/2010 10:27 AM |
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Not sure what you're trying to accomplish?
I use Windows Explorer to set up a storm folder (for example, "Katrina") and each claim has a sub-folder under that. All claim information goes into it's respective folder. When I leave the storm I move the storm folder to a CD to get it off my hard drive. Nothing is stored online, except in the carrier's claims mgmt system. |
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| 05/19/2010 3:45 PM |
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OK. That is basically what I do at this time.
I had Simsol where everything was on the file. Everything you developed in Simsol, including reports. Further, you could store any documents or scans. You could do it easily through an upload or cutting and pasting. Xactimate does not have that unless you get into some complicated macros to attach reports, and nothing that I can see where you can incorporate outside documents.
So, I was looking for, a comprehensive program to store all files and attachments. There are systems like virtual adjuster, but they cost thousands. Just looking for an inexpensive claims file system. No problem, I can work with what I have. Thanks, dd
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| 07/17/2010 9:29 AM |
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Posted By yumadj on 18 May 2010 07:23 PM
Here is what I use for online storage. It isn't bad, I have document templates set up in there as well. If it works out I will buy the upgrade so I can store everything.
http://www.keepandshare.com/myhome/
I would be very cautious about what is put in any off-site storage.
Be sure that your files are stored on their server in an encrypted manner so that they cannot be accessed.
Typically, free programs do not offer encryption. Shoot, even some paid programs don't offer encryption.
I don't know about the service you're using, but I don't see any mention of encryption anywhere.
~Beau |
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| 07/18/2010 10:18 AM |
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Not sure what you're trying to accomplish?
I use Windows Explorer to set up a storm folder (for example, "Katrina") and each claim has a sub-folder under that. All claim information goes into it's respective folder. When I leave the storm I move the storm folder to a CD to get it off my hard drive. Nothing is stored online, except in the carrier's claims mgmt system. In reference to the above, I set up all of that information on a flash drive. This has been found to be helpful when information is needed to be retrieved or reviewed, when your computer is not with you. Jim Acree
Stupidity is the art of not trying to learn
Ignorance is the lack of opportunity to learn
I am ignorant
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fightingsaints Guest Posts:2 
| 07/22/2010 11:09 AM |
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For those looking for something like virtual adjuster that yumadj mentioned I would suggest looking into File Trac available from http://www.onlinereportinginc.com/ We have used the program for about 18 months at our I/A firm in MN. We love it and it they charge per file. I think it's $6 per file and is the best investment I have made for our company. While Virtual Adjuster, W5 and the others are very good products IMHO File Trac is the most cost effective program. |
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| 08/01/2010 4:29 PM |
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I received an email back from the guys at Online Reporting Inc. within 2 hours of the previous post.
It seems that his reply may have been lost in cyberspace.
I'll schedule an online demo one day this week.
They seem to be on the ball.
~Beau
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| 06/07/2011 3:30 PM |
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VCA costs are either per file or per license, costing less about 2000 a year for data encrypted and a secure disaster proof system. What price can you put on business continuation? |
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| 06/14/2011 5:33 AM |
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Posted By cpicano on 07 Jun 2011 03:30 PM
VCA costs are either per file or per license, costing less about 2000 a year for data encrypted and a secure disaster proof system. What price can you put on business continuation?
That's a good point. It just depends on who's paying the bill. |
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Jud G. Advanced Member Posts:509
| 06/24/2011 10:09 AM |
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I think the original poster is looking for file storage, not a CMS. If his search is consistent with mine, then there's a significant distinction between the two. I use ClickClaims, FileTrac, and a few other CMS programs that were created by in-house vendors, but need some sort of file back up program that automatically saves everything I have in one place, irrespective of the vendor that I am working for. Investing in a CMS is not feasible for me when the solution is almost at my fingertips.
An external hard drive does not solve my concerns of a fire or lightning strike, everything gets affected. Having my info on a remote server is the way to go for this type of occurrence. Plus, if I have all of my stuff stored from years ago, then I can access it from any location that I have internet access.
I have used Carbonite (never had to extract my information from it), but hear that it is a bear to retrieve your information when you need it. Google's Document Cloud is something I have tried. It is nice in that it will extract and save files on a folder by folder basis. However, it does not pull all of the information when doing a large file extraction and it is slow.
And then there's Apple that's allowing free storage on their iCloud. This will allow integration between all of your peripherals. For an extra annual charge, it will upgrade your old music files with poor quality to premium with no additional charge. This could be beneficial if you have integrated your file sharing between the Mac OS and your Windows OS.
Here's a free tip. If you want to turn your old laptop into a usb drive for blazing fast data transfers to your new machine: search SATA/IDE to USB 2.0 Adapter. With it, I transferred over 315 GB to my new laptop in under 30 minutes.
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Jud G.Advanced Member Posts:509
| 06/24/2011 10:14 AM |
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Posted By cpicano on 07 Jun 2011 03:30 PM
VCA costs are either per file or per license, costing less about 2000 a year for data encrypted and a secure disaster proof system. What price can you put on business continuation?
FileTrac, ClickClaims and several others do that by default. It sounds like a big deal, but it's kind of like wearing your seatbelt in a car. It's the company that doesn't; that's the information consumer's need to know. |
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CatAdjusterX Veteran Member Posts:964
| 06/24/2011 9:27 PM |
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Posted By Jud G. on 24 Jun 2011 10:09 AM
I think the original poster is looking for file storage, not a CMS. If his search is consistent with mine, then there's a significant distinction between the two. I use ClickClaims, FileTrac, and a few other CMS programs that were created by in-house vendors, but need some sort of file back up program that automatically saves everything I have in one place, irrespective of the vendor that I am working for. Investing in a CMS is not feasible for me when the solution is almost at my fingertips.
An external hard drive does not solve my concerns of a fire or lightning strike, everything gets affected. Having my info on a remote server is the way to go for this type of occurrence. Plus, if I have all of my stuff stored from years ago, then I can access it from any location that I have internet access.
I have used Carbonite (never had to extract my information from it), but hear that it is a bear to retrieve your information when you need it. Google's Document Cloud is something I have tried. It is nice in that it will extract and save files on a folder by folder basis. However, it does not pull all of the information when doing a large file extraction and it is slow.
And then there's Apple that's allowing free storage on their iCloud. This will allow integration between all of your peripherals. For an extra annual charge, it will upgrade your old music files with poor quality to premium with no additional charge. This could be beneficial if you have integrated your file sharing between the Mac OS and your Windows OS.
Here's a free tip. If you want to turn your old laptop into a usb drive for blazing fast data transfers to your new machine: search SATA/IDE to USB 2.0 Adapter. With it, I transferred over 315 GB to my new laptop in under 30 minutes.
................................................................................................
Jud G.
I have become very fond of ClickClaims and have used for the past year or so. I have since left the IA firm to which I learned ClickClaims and have started American Veteran.
My question to you is in your post above you stated that ClickClaims was created by an inhouse vendor. Who was that?
"A good leader leads.....
..... but a great leader is followed !!"
CatAdjusterX@gmail.com
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Jud G.Advanced Member Posts:509
| 06/27/2011 3:53 PM |
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Posted By Jud G. on 24 Jun 2011 10:09 AM
I use ClickClaims, FileTrac, and a few other CMS programs that were created by in-house vendors,...
Robby,
ClickClaims and FileTrac are their own companies. I use other CMS's that were created by in-house vendors. |
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| 08/30/2011 8:15 AM |
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Jud,
Thanks for your kind words about ClickClaims, which is a service of E-Claim.com. I founded the company in 1999, and I can tell you that we develop our code in-house, by company employees. We do not outsource our programming, nor our support, as so many others do. When you call our office, you speak to a company employee, and often that will be me, as my background includes more than 10 years of adjusting and claims management, before I started E-Claim. When our clients call, they are heard and understood...
ClickClaims is the only CMS designed from the ground up for high volume property claims management. We have integration/data exchange/automation in place with numerous carriers, as well as Xactnet and other 3rd party vendors. ClickClaims provides many, many time-saving features that allow adjusters to perform their jobs more effeciently, which means you can handle more claims - i.e., earn more!
Yes, our pricing model involves a startup fee, but when you look at the number of files our average client handles on a daily basis, the total cost of ownership is far less than our competitors. If you handle a few claims per day, perhaps not, if you handle a few hundred, there's no comparison, as ClickClaims will save you thousands of dollars monthy - and perhaps daily during a CAT. I will work with any company to develop a pricing model that best suits their claims volume, services offered, and business model. Give me a call and let's discuss 877-694-8375 or my cell is 850-855-7012.
Again, I appreciate your comments and I am happy to hear from another happy ClickClaims user!
Best regards,
Thomas J. Brown
thomasb@e-claim.com
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LelandAdvanced Member Posts:741
| 09/26/2011 4:57 PM |
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anybody doing Cloud computing? I hear you can load Xactimate or any other software to the cloud, and then you could use any computer to access it, just one computer at a time for one license.
How about Google calendar and google docs?
With Google calendar you could schedule appointments, and also let a 2nd person go in and schedule in your open spots because each person can log in to the same calendar with a password. You could schedule your free time so the 2nd person doesn't schedule in your downtime.
With Google docs you could set up a contents spreadsheet and make it available to your insureds on the internet.
I'm not doing any of these things (yet?) but I would like to learn if anybody is...
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ChuckDeatonLife Member  Senior Member Posts:1110 
| 10/01/2011 11:00 AM |
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@Leland, I use Google constantly, I am working on my second G phone from T Mobile. I contact an insured, schedule an appointment and put it on the Google Calender, from the phone, I can see my schedule from the phone. My wife and I have access to the other's calendar. I use Dropbox to move contents sheets to insured's.
With Adobe you can send me a contents sheet in PDF, I OCR it, cut and paste it into a Excel or Google worksheet, put it in Drop Box or just attach it to an email and send it to the insured or the supervising adjuster.
"Prattling on and on about being an ass with experience doesn't make someone experienced. It just makes you an ass." Rod Buvens, Pilot grunt
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ChuckDeatonLife Member Senior Member Posts:1110
| 10/01/2011 11:00 AM |
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@Leland, I use Google constantly, I am working on my second G phone from T Mobile. I contact an insured, schedule an appointment and put it on the Google Calender, from the phone, I can see my schedule from the phone. My wife and I have access to the other's calendar. I use Dropbox to move contents sheets to insured's.
With Adobe you can send me a contents sheet in PDF, I OCR it, cut and paste it into a Excel or Google worksheet, put it in Drop Box or just attach it to an email and send it to the insured or the supervising adjuster.
"Prattling on and on about being an ass with experience doesn't make someone experienced. It just makes you an ass." Rod Buvens, Pilot grunt
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