Seven shop management system software companies have agreed to interface DSS's EMSReview estimate auditing program with their management systems, giving their customers the ability to review estimates and utilize common DRP Key Performance Indicators (KPI) from within their management systems. The companies include AEII, Auto-Quote, Combined Computer Technology (CCT), Crash Management System, Integrated Collision Management (ICM), NewEra Software and Vantedge Software. 

"We saw a need in the market for a standard estimate review program and common key performance indicators," said Steven Siessman, president, Decision Support Services. "The big news is these management systems providers bring a common estimate review process and KPI reporting format to their 1,500 plus collision shop customers in the United States and Canada."

Calling EMSReview from inside their management systems allows estimate auditing to become a seamless part of the management system workflow.

"The claims, parts, labor and compliance statistics automatically generated by the audit enable the management systems to create individualized KPI reporting modules using common standards. As a result, shops will be able to know how they stack up in comparison to other shops in their area or DRP without being forced into a network," said Siessman.

"Having worked with the EMSReview® auditing software for a number of years now," said Tony Passwater, president of AEII, "I believe there is great benefit to shops not only to audit the estimate during the initial inspection, but also to audit the repair order before allowing the job to be closed. This ensures items that may have been missed are again reviewed, and compliance to the work providers' rules are maintained.

"Another important step for our Industry is to begin to standardize KPI's so we can compare apples to apples," said Passwater. "This group can go a long way in promoting standardized KPI's for our industry."