Mitchell, in its latest update to Mitchell Cloud Estimating, has introduced enhanced integration capabilities when preparing estimates and repair plans.
First released in early 2018, the current update directly integrates OEM repair procedures and service information within an estimate.
When preparing estimates and repair plans, Mitchell’s Integrated Repair Procedures (IRP) is now able to automatically search for and present relevant OEM repair procedures. According to the company, the solution works for all OEMs within Mitchell Cloud Estimating.
Two additional layers of integration capabilities are available for select OEMs with the current update. As explained by the company in a release, the second level of integration maps repair procedures to individual repair lines. This allows users to access the exact repair procedures pertaining to a specific line on the estimate. A Table of Contents option is added with the third layer of integration. With this, the repair technician and estimator have access to the complete catalogue of repair procedures for the OEM. The first OEM to have its full suite of service information present with the three layers of integration in IRP is General Motors.
“The biggest problem with OEM procedure compliance in the past has been the time required to search for and access the correct content,” says Darrell Amberson, President of Operations at LaMettry’s Collision, a nine-location, multi-store operation (MSO) in Minnesota. “Now using Mitchell’s cloud-based applications, our repair planners have the OEM information come up right on the page as they develop the estimate, assisting us in getting the repair plan right the first time, and in less time.”
According to Mike Anderson, President and Owner of Collision Advice, it often takes two hours in general to research OEM procedures before an estimate and repair plan can be finalized. The IRP update aims to cut down this time. Repair facilities will be able to look up the correct parts and procedures quickly in the same application when creating an estimate. All GM repair procedures are now being updated on a weekly basis.
“Over the last twelve months our collision repair experts and technical staff have worked tirelessly to design and deliver a solution for the collision industry,” says John Gilmartin, Senior Vice President of Content Management for Mitchell International. “Recognizing the importance of proper and safe repair, Mitchell has taken care to integrate the OEM repair procedures in a very specific and detailed way, eliminating the extra steps and clicks required to find the right procedures.”
Collision repairers have traditionally accessed repair procedure information provided by vehicle manufacturers through certain websites. Mitchell’s IRP aims at easing the process by making the crucial information available within the estimate itself, thus reducing the time and effort required to research and access the relevant content.
