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Gale Hawkins
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, November 10, 1999 - 7:32 pm: | 
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Chuck most adjusters seem to be in agreement with you based on usage. New technology is very exciting but just seems to have one or two drawbacks that keep it from becoming the new trend but some technology will come out on top but much money and time may be spent first. With half of the property claims in the U.S. still being hand written, it is clear that the latest and greatest technology is in trouble with many adjusters today. Yesterday I was speaking with the claims manager of a relative large carrier and understand in the next 3-5 years they will not only demand computerized estimates but also they will have to be filed electronically. Who knows what the future holds for insurance adjusters as far as technology is concerned? We all may be wrong today but I bet it will be exciting never the less. Will the adjuster make any more money or just manage to keep working is a good question someone raised in another post? |
Russ Lott
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, November 03, 1999 - 3:02 am: |
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Eric, I have a Compaq Aero, it seems that MicroSoft can not port their office software to the palm pc, ie, word and excel. I have been to the web and gotten enough software that my forms are printable now. Microsoft is real quite about this platform and if you email them , they are a little bewildered at what the user community is trying to do with the product. Their vision it seems is an address book and calendar, this was a little short sighted on their part, but the mavericks and independents are starting to put some real quality software out there. We will all have to wait for software providers to catch up. |
Eric Carlson
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, November 01, 1999 - 6:19 pm: |
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Windows CE is having a hard time in the marketplace (as an example, Philips just lopped off their whole CE line.) We are using Palm devices in-house and have done some preliminary development and think the Palm platform could be the way to go. The battery life is amazing (I go for over a month with faily heavy usage) and the installed base is much larger. With the new Palm OS based systems coming on line (the Handspring Visor) that are extremely affordable ($150 to $250) and can also incorporate pagers, phones, and GPS systems it seems this would be a good fit for adjusters. There is also no problem linking to windows based systems so the fact that it's not a Microsoft OS doesn't pose any problems. Who out there is using a Palmtop right now? What is your platform preference? |
Chuck Deaton
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, October 30, 1999 - 8:43 pm: |
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I ran a DOS version of SIMSOL on an IBM pen tablet for several years. My experience was similar to what I have experienced testing different brands of digital cameras. A major point is weight. Put some lead in your clipboard and write estimates for several days. Another major point is keeping the units batteries charged. If it won't charge off a vehicles electrical system somehow it will go dead just when you need it most. Several companies have attempted to run adjusting software on some type of pen tablet with varying success. State Farm ran DOS Simsol on the same IBM I tried. St. Paul tried running window Boeckh on a Fujitsu. The Apple Newton running Write On Adjuster was an excellent idea, but Apple dropped the Newton. AAA in Michigan uses a something similar. My experience is that the idea just is not useable.
I used a Spanish translation program for correspondence while working in Houston 2 years ago. I typed my letters in English and the program translated into Spanish. Not prefect but a useable way to communicate. Occaisionally I typed the content of a claimants letter, in Spanish, and then translated into English. Still not perfect but I could get the general idea of what was being said. |
Jim Flynt
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, October 30, 1999 - 6:35 pm: |
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John, Thanks for your response and the encouraging news about the CE module from SIMSOL. I have been a user of your DOS version of SIMSOL for years, and also have Xactimate and DDS on my computer.
The concept of having a handheld unit for scoping purposes only is fine, as it elimanates the need for entering the scope data a second time onto a computer.
Congratulations on your foresight John and I can't wait for the CE module to be ready. Keep us posted on when this will be available. It is long overdue. |
john postava
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, October 30, 1999 - 5:50 pm: |
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Jim and Russ: A Palmpilot or CE version of any of the major systems will definitely be a different animal than the current Windows versions. The interfaces will be probably be different and I wouldn't be surprised if they are Web-based. SIMSOL sees these hardware devices as "tools" to record the scope for later downloading to a PC or over the web - not a stand alone estimating system. I spent a good deal of time learning to use that program that was written for the Newton (can't recall the name right now)handheld a few years back. It was VERY slick and we incorporated some of the cool features we found in that system into ours. The Newton-based program was a full estimating system I am VERY surprised the company did not make it (it was a very good program). From the adjusters I talked to, they all liked it but you had to be very computer savy to use the program and although more and more adjusters are educating themselves on computers there is still alot of learning to do. Watch for a Palmpilot or CE module from SIMSOL by the Spring of 2000. It will be a scoping tool to use with the SIMSOL system but not a stand alone estimating system. Keep the questions coming... |
Pardeep Sidhu
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, October 30, 1999 - 12:32 pm: |
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As a user of estimating software, I wholeheartedly agree that the first software developer to give adjusters the capability of estimating on the Windows CE units will have the most talked about and the most widely used program on the market.
As a bilingual adjuster, I would be one of the first to purchase such an advanced program.
Being from Canada, I think there would be an unlimited market. |
Jim Flynt
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, October 30, 1999 - 12:14 pm: |
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John Postava and Gale Hawkins: Thanks for your responses to Russ Lott and his maginficent question.
Russ and I had breakfast this morning and discussed your responses as well as estimating software in general and where the future will take us as needs within this industry change.
My (our) first question and thought is this: It seems to us that the pre-eminent software and vendor for the future will be the first software developer to bring estimating software to the Palm Pilots and other handheld Windows CE units? Why can't this be done now? When will it make an appearance?
Secondly, the population characteristics within the US are changing. By the year 2010, it is expected that almost one third of our country will speak Spanish. To handle claims in parts of Texas and much of Cailfornia NOW an adjuster needs to be bi-lingual. When will the software developers for adjuster extimating programs give us a program which allows us to print an estimate in Spanish? It would seem that there is also a market for estimating software for outside the US in Spanish speaking markets? Your thoughts on this.
Russ and I and many others worked the 1998 Winter Ice Storms in Montreal and realized there the limitations of printing our estimates in English for a French speaking audience. We believe the day is fast approaching if not here, when we will need the capability of writing our estimate in English (on our computer screen) while having the program allowing us to choose which language we would like to print the estimate in. Obviously we might need to send one copy to the Insured in French or Spanish (or perhaps Japanese or other languages) and another to the Insuror in English (or some other language).
The world is getting smaller out there and with it the opportunity for wider markets for adjusters and software developers alike.
Please share your visions of the future with us. And, please find us a way to handle smaller claims with handheld units utilizing your software. |
Gale Hawkins
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, October 28, 1999 - 8:26 pm: |
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David I agree with your statement “DDS, SIMSOL & EXACTIMATE are the leaders in this field.” now that realize what you meant. There is no question these three make up the bulk of the estimating software used. My response was based assuming you meant technology leadership. Your work with Simsol as their Commercial Database Editor did raise the bar of the rest to follow. This is an area of leadership you and Simsol should be very proud about. Anytime you add a feature that others then add it shows your leadership. Others can say they thought of it first but the first one out the chute deserves the credit.
Boeckh may not be in that many companies but companies using Boeckh are huge in many cases. The question in the minds of some is Boeckh going to be able to marry their management software with the DDS estimating software. I realize that since they were told to get a Windows version that worked by some of their huge accounts or they were dropping Boeckh they had to do something. If DDS had not cut a contract with Boeckh they may have become the strongest player but capital may have been an issue to handle that type growth. I know that would be a consideration for most young companies to think through.
David with your background I would like to get your input when we get a beta version of PowerClaim 2000 ready since we plan to add some commercial lines items in that version but that is sometimes away. PowerClaim 99 Fall Edition should be ready in about a month. The version you saw had the electronic claims transfer feature but PowerClaim 99 FE will add a CAD module for diagramming, two contents databases which are from JC Penny and Best Buy, a totally new word processor with templates, NFIP forms, FWUA forms, a new interface that the rest will try to copy and a price they can’t or won’t (it is staying the same). The property valuation module like DDS now has out will have to wait until the release of PowerClaim 2000 in late, late winter.
Thanks David for what you add to the forum. Don’t let anyone get away with overstating their importance. |
john postava
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, October 28, 1999 - 1:46 pm: |
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Russ: Several estimating systems import/export their estimate and loss data in text and ASCII file formats. Data transmitted this way can be read by many different claims and policy management based systems on the insurance company/carrier level. Companies can then electronically send and receive loss and estimate data. Adjusting software vendors will be required to submit their data to the carriers in a specific format but I do not see vendors agreeing on one interface/system for creating that data in the next few years. After you've tried them all, select the program you like the best, make alot of money with it and hope that your selected vendor keeps pace with the industry. |
Gale Hawkins
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, October 27, 1999 - 2:26 pm: |
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Russ now we are getting to a subject worth talking about. There is no technical reason this cannot be the norm in adjusting software as it is with spread sheets, databases, etc. We at Hawkins Research have been pushing for this idea for some time but it seems that the some of the other vendors do not feel that it is in their best interest to offer adjusters and carriers this freedom. By having a propriety system it makes it very costly for adjusting companies and carriers to change horses.
With the flexibility you are talking about an adjusting company or carrier would be free to start purchasing from another software vendor if they became unhappy with the product or service they were getting from their current vendor without having to ditch the software already purchased, otherwise they could just scale into converting from one vendor to another.
The big downside is then all vendors would be forced to compete on features, ease-of-use and price. You know this would put some vendors out of business over night if they did not change their ways.
Russ your idea will happen. Because it has not happened yet the carriers are losing millions in profits and they know it. A case in point is recently a PowerClaim user who was working for a major adjusting company that was working for a major carrier asked me to check with the adjusting company to see if we could make PowerClaim work with the bridge program they use. The bottom line was the adjusting company could not because of their contract with the software vendor. The adjuster was on a storm and just could not get the time required to learn the software the adjusting software that adjusting firm requires for you to download your jobs. He was paying an addition $73 a month for another software package so he could send in his diary reports but he was sending in the estimates next-day air from another adjusting software package. That kind of defeats the advantages of technology.
There is no question that no software company should be asked to give away their work but all we asked for was what data they needed transferred and we would do the development ourselves. As time permits we will do more in this area. There is some interest for us to add a feature in PowerClaim so you can print your reports out so they look like they came out of Simsol, DDS or what every the was the preferred software of the adjusting company you were working for at the time. We will give PowerClaim the ability to send and receive claims from other brands in the future if a STANDARD is not soon set by the industry. With a standard it would be easier for all the vendors otherwise we will have to create an import and export feature for each major software package on the market.
Keep pressing for a common data exchange and you will see it sooner. It will save the industry millions and make life more simple for all users. We feel that the software vendor that saves the industry the most instead of being self-serving will be rewarded the most in the long haul. We at PowerClaim welcome all thoughts from you, other adjusters, adjusting companies, carriers and especially software vendors.
2000 and beyond will not be business as usual for adjusting software vendors without question. Without a question you will be seeing all software vendors producing adjusting software that is much easier to learn and use yet at one-half of the price most are paying today. Russ if you and others will continue demanding more from we vendors you will get it. What you are asking for is NOT rocket science, only basic programming. |
Russ Lott
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, October 27, 1999 - 7:25 am: |
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Since all of the software providers are now on line how about giving a common data exchange platform. Instead of every adjuster buying 4 or 5 different platforms we just need one , then the cat operator could put my data in his system no muss no fuss without the adjuster trying to learn another estimating progragm. State Farm will probably go crazy at this suggestion, but they are only 20 % of the market place. Spreadsheets do it, databases do it, word processors do it. Why cannot DDS, Simsol, PowerClaim, Xactimate, etc interchange data. This is not rocket sceince. |
David Bennett
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, October 26, 1999 - 10:21 pm: |
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Well, this is becoming a little more cumbersum than its worth. Gale, its clear that you do review all of the CADO forums, because I have only stated once that I was the editor for SIMSOL's Heavy Commercial Database, which is not a claim. If you would like verification suggest you call SIMSOL. As you do review all of cado, then I am sure you have seen my resume. As a former General Adjuster and Claims Consultant, I have always had my hand in the adjusting, estimating field. I have previously posted some of the items found in this commercial database and the feedback given as well as first hand use is that the database gives the general adjuster the tools to be able to work commercial property losses ranging from the simple strip mall, schools, manufacuring,industrial and multistory structures.
As I have been in the field and involved with both residential and large commercial losses as well as training, my background provided a good tool for me to be able to assist SIMSOL in its continuing endeavor to provide a quality product for the professional adjuster.
As for those software companies cutting a deal. It seems to me that what they have done was a very sound business decision. As I understand it the software companies were approached by others wanting to use their software but incorporate their own data. To one on the outside it seems that this merely expanded the market for the software company and allowed the other to market their data to a wider audience with what they considered to be a quality product. Yet the software company still markets their product for the individual and this continues to be their focus. They merely expanded their resources. Sound business moves if you want to expand your market and your resources.
I do agree, that some of the software programs seem to have lost their focus on who their customer, but Simsol, DDS and as you have so clearly stated Power Claim have not. There are other regionalized estimating software vendors that have their niche in the market as well. (Too many to name)
I'm not sure I ever said anything was perfect, as there is always room for improvement and advancement and one must strive to make not only the adjusters job easier but that of his supervisor.
I'm not a computer guru, so I can't respond to you statement about a DOS interface. I do know that the version of SIMSOL I am using allows for email transfer, GPS links, email receiving letter importing/exporting, invoice billing, accounts receivables, management reports etc. For more information about their product, visit their web site.
As for my position with SIMSOL, I have been fortunate to have developed a good relationship with them and it now is a long standing relationship. Yes, my association with SIMSOL is one of the reasons I am pro their program, but you see after having used other programs with my prior employer, SIMSOL had sold me as well as everyone that uses the program. It really does do more than any other program I have seen on the market. Yes, I did run a 30 day trial with POWER CLAIM, earlier this year. I found it to be similar to other programs, but it was not easier to use, did not provide the detail I needed or wanted for the losses I work, nor did it provide for easy use of forms, importing my own reports, diagraming, importing digital photos etc. Maybe I'm just a little to demanding as to what my final work product looks like.
Gale, no personal attacks were ment to be thrown at Power Claim or DDS, we all have our own opinions, the difference is I have used a good number of the programs on the market and been involved in the decision process for a major carrier, when we were looking at estimating programs. So, no I'm not an expert on all, but I am in the field, I know what makes my job easier, I know what I want my final product to look like and not suprisingly the indiviuals who receive my product are quite pleased with the package. So as long as I am working, adjusting losses, (by the way not just catastrophe losses) and being of service to the Insurance Industry I will continue to use SIMOL.
Thank you for your offer of another 30 days, but I allready have the program I need.
I wish you you continued success in your business. |
Gale Hawkins
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, October 26, 1999 - 1:42 am: |
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David you claim to be Simsol’s commercial database editor yet you seem to be so out of touch with what is happening around you. You should know better than to say Xactimate was a leader in the field of adjusting software. Xactimate will do the same thing Boeckh did when Xactimate’s large customer realizes what it is costing them in direct and indirect cost to keep the dinosaur alive, if they are given the chance. David you also know that about the only leadership Simsol has provided in the past five years is to show if you cannot sell your wares on your own cut a deal with someone you feel may be able to do it for you. Since DDS as followed Simsol’s lead in this matter it may be becoming the trend or only a fad, time will tell.
You need not let DDS upset you by their claims just because they make them. Any claim made by a vendor about its wares is viewed with a question mark in the reader’s eye. DDS does make some tall claims on their website which I personally emailed Scott Wiens of DDS about 10 days ago asking him if he did not think maybe some statements on their website may no longer be quite accurate but he has not had the opportunity to reply yet.
I remember in 1996 when John Postava made a claim in his newsletter that they tried to come up with a new interface for the Windows version he was planning to release in 1997 but they realized they could not since the DOS interface was perfect. The last time I looked that DOS looking interface was in the Windows version. David don’t you agree to say anything man-made is perfect is pushing it a little to far?
David who really cares when a vendor over states his wares because the adjusters buy based on peer-to-peer or personally gathered info anyway. I can truthfully say PowerClaim is twice as easy-to-use and 60% cheaper (80% while our 2 years for the price of 1 is running) than the software you say you are currently using but until another adjuster tells you or you call us at 1-800-736-1246 so we can start your free 30 day trial of PowerClaim you will not believe me. If you do not have the copy of PowerClaim I sent you just hoop on our website at http://powerclaim.com and leave your leave your current location information and I will ship to you again.
It is easy for everyone to see why someone that claims to be Simsol’s commercial database editor will be pushing the product but David I think all viewers of this forum will agree that DDS has been the only real leader in adjusting software for the past several years. The question is if they can take on even a fraction of the large Boeckh customers without losing a large number of current users to other vendors offering the same features as DDS but is viewed by former DDS users a being easier-to-use and cost 60% less than DDS and that is in black and white for all to see. David that price can be locked in for the 5 years with no contract for the adjuster or carrier to sign.
David you also made the following statement in your post, “Its as Power Claim states, you get what you pay for.” While this is a true statement if you are referring to PowerClaim, I not want any of your readers to infer that it is the position of Hawkins Research that statement applies to any other vendor that you named. PowerClaim is not priced 3 times less than some other adjusting software because it is cheap in quality or content. In fact PowerClaim has a feature the current vendors cannot add for reasons I will not get into on a public form unless you ask.
PowerClaim is priced at $239 - $479 per year (depending on volume) because 50% of the adjusters in the US alone are not using any current Windows based property adjusting software. When asked why they told us it was because they can’t or won’t pay no $1000 - $2000 a year for an estimating software package. I asked them would they be willing to pay $500 a year for full-featured adjusting software that was ‘truly’ easy-to-use and the answer was a resounding YES! All we really set out to do was to meet this need property insurance adjusters said had never been met and to gain 50% of the 50% not computerized. At that time we knew we could do well but did expect the other vendors to continue to make marked improvements in their products and lower their prices to meet the market’s demands. I know they will in time but until that time comes we will try to meet the industry’s software needs as fast as we can.
David that was over 3 years ago when we started on our mission and if you will listen you will be hearing from your peers that PowerClaim is becoming the new leader in the property insurance adjusting software market. Your thoughts are welcome if you still have any remaining questions. If you feel posting again may endanger your position as Simsol’s commercial database editor please just email me at gale@powerclaim.com |
David Bennett
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, October 22, 1999 - 8:26 pm: |
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Well if DDS can get in an uproar and set the record straight so can I. First, when you review my original memo, I NEVER said DDS's Claims were false. I acknowledge that DDS was the first with digital transfer and windows. The point I was making was that they are not the only program with windows and digital transfer. Once the camera's were affordable for the adjuster, other programs other than DDS had the same capabilites. As for pricing, most all the programs are very close in pricing. Its as Power Claim states, you get what you pay for. If it's cheap in price then its probably cheap in quality and content. DDS, SIMSOL & EXACTIMATE are the leaders in this field. Their pricing is commensurate with the quality, quantity and professionalism of the their programs.
Any good adjuster can make any system work to his or her advantage if they truly are adjusters. Most adjusters understand that no program is the gospel when it comes to pricing and that every programs final product is only as good as the information input by the adjuster when using the data and enhancements provided by the software.
What generally gets me going is a manufacturer who advertises in such a way as to make it sound as if they are the only ones doing it or the only ones which have this or that. We all know that each of these software companies keep tabs on the other and try and stay one step ahead and the good ones have similar and or the same features.
Enough said, I am and will always be a SIMSOL proponent and I acknowledge that every one has their own favorite, but at least I have tried the majority of the programs on the market before deciding on the one I am using. Included in those tested: CUC, Marshall Swift, Boeck, Exactimate, Power Claim, Hometech and some other smaller regional producers. I am even currently using DDS as I am a catastrophe adjuster for Crawford (currently on assignment since June) and I still find that in comparison, SIMSOL is the most user friendly system I have worked with.
(Just a note: Most of the programs were tested legitimately while I was in the Home Office of a Major Insurance Company, which chose SIMSOL over the other programs, because of its short learning curve, training, technical support and its ease of use.) |
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