The newest version of DSS' Better Estimating Suite 4.0 now features the powerful Profit Predictor, Estimate File Manager, Desk Reviewer and the copyrighted P-page database. 

The newest version of DSS' Better Estimating Suite 4.0 now features the powerful Profit Predictor, Estimate File Manager, Desk Reviewer and the copyrighted P-page database.

Designed to help shops find money that may have been lost on overlooked procedures, the simple-to-use estimate checker and workflow manager instantly identifies whether the estimate includes all the operations and parts associated with a repair and complies with DRP business rules. The software seamlessly integrates with CCC, ADP, Mitchell and CompEst estimating systems.

According to Kevin Mireles, vice president of marketing, "This program is like a spell check on steroids."

Completeness

EMSReview checks the estimate to make sure all the required operations are included. It features more than 3,600 commonly-missed related operations or dependencies. So if removing the bumper cover requires 5 items, it checks that all five are on the estimate. For example, it will verify whether the estimate includes flex additive, adhesive remover, bake time to remove the release agent, and other necessary procedures.

Compliance

EMSReview also allows you to set up business rules/profiles for each of your individual DRPs to ensure that you don't violate any of their requirements regarding pricing, parts or restricted operations.

Enhancements

• P-page database: The database consists of more than 600 repair operations mentioned in the P-Pages but not included in the estimating databases. In addition it includes suggested labor and refinish times for many of the operations based on thousands of repairs.

The database enables you to replace your existing incomplete Long Expansions or Parts Code Table, with a truly complete set enabling users to point and click to select what were formerly manual entries, ensuring consistently written estimates. The suggested labor times ensure conformity across estimators and locations.

• Desk Reviewer: If you manage multiple estimators, it's almost impossible to review every estimate before it's submitted. And if you do, it will take a lot of time and there's no guarantee something still won't slip through. Now the EMSReview Desk Reviewer prescreens the estimate and enables you to focus on just the exceptions, saving hours of work and ensuring no mistakes slip through.

• Profit Predictor: Before you submit the estimate or accept the job, you can instantly check the estimated gross profit for the entire job, as well as by individual categories; metal, mechanical, paint and frame labor times, and by OEM, LKQ and aftermarket parts, plus paint materials.

• Estimate File Manager: More and more programs require EMS files, but until EMSReview 4.0 there were no tools to manage the files. As a result, users have been forced to export the EMS files multiple times and/or manually delete the files on a regular basis; otherwise their system grinds to a halt. The Estimate File Manager routes the estimates to your management system, insurance communications applications or any other locations required. So if you need a copy of the EMS files for your management system and to send to the insurer, the Estimate File Manager will copy them to the correct directories and delete the original EMS file.

New products coming up

The Universal Translator and the Ultimate Compliance & Communication solution leverages existing technology to solve some of the biggest issues facing the collision repair industry.

The Universal Translator will enable a shop to audit an estimate written in one estimating system and against another system's rules, e.g. rekey an ADP estimate into Pathways and then audit the Pathways estimate against the ADP P-pages.

While rekeying remains necessary, once the estimate has been entered, it enables the shop to instantly identify operations which the adjuster may have left off the estimate, empowering the shop to get paid what they deserve.

The Ultimate Compliance solution will eliminate the issue of non-compliant estimates. The Ultimate Compliance solution leverages DSS' patent-pending technology to scrub the estimate for compliance issues, along with overlooked operations. Before the estimator can upload the estimate, it is checked for compliance, so all corrections can be made before submission, saving time for both shop and insurer.