    
D Wong Whey
Registered User
Username: Dwongwhey
Post Number: 74
Registered: 10-2001
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, February 27, 2002 - 1:36 pm: | 
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The following email message was received from JF with a request it be posted to the CADO Forum.
SOFTWARE 101
As every experienced adjuster would tell you, every adjuster should be aware of as many of the various estimating software packages on the market today as possible.
Most experienced adjusters, have over time, used several of the better known software packages, as well as other lesser known estimating programs. There is no dearth of excellent software packages for adjusters to choose from.
As most adjusters know, the choice of use of software packages is often dictated by either the carrier or vendor, and discretionary choice is not available to the adjuster.
For any adjuster to limit themselves to the sole use of any one estimating software packages would of course severely limit their marketability in servicing portions of the claims pie. The inability of an adjuster to work with just the largest 3 or 4 carriers in America which require specific software, would thus limit the ability of that adjuster to work a majority of the insurance claims market.
I have found through experience that it is necessary for me personally to carry, use, be familiar with, and lease or own several estimating software packages in order to market my services to the largest number of vendors and carriers, which is a function of maximizing my assignments, claims and income.
Some packages work better for me in specific situations or with various specific types of claims.
To me at least, Xactimate works wonders when I am handling larger more complex estimates and when the contractor for the 'other side' uses Xactimate as well. With the old 5.8 Xactimate, I can write estimates faster than with any other program. I was fortunate to have purchased this program a long time ago and it has paid me back several fold. Perhaps the largest number of carriers and vendors require this software and this is another reason why I carry and use this software.
I have long used SIMSOL having purchased the program way back when. SIMSOL is in my opinion the best program out there for handling flood claims and they are leading the way in making excellent software available to the leading edge users with computer tablets and handhelds. Many carriers and vendors require this software and I carry if for those reasons as well.
DDS is perhaps the best reporting and accounting/management software packages available today, but as an estimating program, it is inefficient and to me at least, an assault on my intelligence by way of it's use of exterior and room photos needed to write an estimate. The simple use of this program is easy although much practice or training is needed to master many of the management and accounting tools available with this program. I have this program loaded and use it only when I need the reporting functions or when it is required by a vendor or carrier.
I also carry and use NCE (National Construction Estimator) which is inexpensive and perhaps one of the best estimating programs available when estimating high rise and commercial buildings of concrete and steel construction. More often, I use this program to obtain pricing for hard to price items, and this program is the one used by Vale National in teaching their commercial estimating course, which speaks to the respect they are accorded.
I also maintain the Means cost data base which is similarly excellent with larger and technically complex commercial losses and a great resource for finding those hard to price items.
Mike Stephenson has a program which is especially efficient in handling hail and general claims and it works especially well for cat adjusters handling claims for GAB as it has the GAB forms preloaded.
I have from time to time tried other estimating programs, including free shareware and off the shelf packages, but find most of them too simple, too cumbersome, or not having competent data bases for pricing catastrophe losses. These programs are usually also not acceptable to the majority of vendors and carriers, and that alone, is reason to steer clear of them. Unfortunately, while I once upon a time loaded and tried PowerClaim, I found that it most appropriately belonged in this category. Of course, that is my opinion, and one with which you have every right to disagree.
Were it a perfect world, each adjuster would try all of the various estimating software packages, and once the 'best fit' for that adjuster was found, he or she could live happily ever after without ever changing software. However, with the changing nature of adjusting, as well as new products coming to the competing marketplace, as well as the specific requirements of current and emerging vendors and carriers, that, as we all know, is not the reality.
In the end, what I think about any specific software is not important at all. What is important is that you explore and find the one or ones best for you, and then learn all that you can so as to maximize your production and income, and become the very best adjuster you can be.
Thanks for listening.
Jim Flynt AIC, CIC, AAI, AIS
(Message edited by dwongwhey on February 27, 2002) |
