Gone are the days when estimations relied on outdated, manual methods that were slow, inefficient and prone to error.
Today, technology has revolutionised how estimations are made, providing quicker, more accurate results, with GT Motive leading the way in innovation.
But how do GT Motive’s cutting-edge tools differ from older systems that many businesses still use? Let’s take a step back and explore the journey of automotive estimating, highlighting the main differences between GT Motive technology and traditional estimation methods.
A Brief History on Tradition
In the past, estimating the cost of vehicle repairs was a tedious process, where technicians would manually inspect vehicles, take measurements and write up a detailed estimate based on their knowledge and experience.
And, while some systems did exist to help speed this process, they were often clunky, prone to human error and relied heavily on paper-based documents.
Estimations were also done using physical catalogues or paper-based systems where estimators had to cross-reference a variety of price lists. Naturally, these systems were time-consuming and required a great deal of manual labour, not to mention that the information they provided was also often outdated, meaning technicians had to spend time rechecking prices and parts availability.
Yet despite these traditional systems being used in the past, the repair industry quickly outgrew its limitations, and with growing customer expectations, increased competition and the rise of advanced technology, businesses soon realised that the manual methods of estimating were no longer sufficient.
The Shift to Digital Estimation
As technology advanced, so did the methods for estimating repair costs – enter the world of digital estimating, where computers and software replaced manual labour.
Early iterations of digital estimating systems were a vast improvement over their predecessors as they allowed for more accurate data entry and provided faster results. However, these systems still relied on static data and often lacked the flexibility needed to adapt to the fast-paced world of automotive repairs.
These early digital systems also often faced a number of limitations, such as poor integration with other business tools, outdated parts pricing and a lack of real-time updates, meaning that what seemed like a major upgrade at the time still didn’t fully address the needs of modern businesses.
Introducing GT Motive…
GT Motive entered the scene with a completely different approach to estimation technology, where at the heart of offering is a cloud-based system which integrates real-time data to provide estimators with the most up-to-date information available.
Unlike older, static systems, our technology at GT Motive uses a cloud-based platform that is continuously updated, ensuring that estimators have access to the latest parts pricing, repair costs, and vehicle specifications.
Breaking this down, it means that users can benefit from the following differences, compared to outdated estimating technologies:
1. GT Motive Offers Real-Time Data for Accurate Pricing
One of the most significant differences between GT Motive and outdated systems is the way in which data is handled, as in traditional systems, pricing and parts information often had to be manually updated which led to situations where technicians and estimators were working with outdated or inaccurate information, which could cause delays and pricing discrepancies.
With GT Motive, all pricing data is automatically updated in real time, meaning that estimators always have access to the latest figures. This not only improves accuracy but also helps to streamline the entire process too, where for example, if a part’s price changes or a new model is introduced, the platform automatically reflects those changes without the need for manual updates.
2. GT Motive Streamlines Workflows and Enhances Collaboration
Outdated estimation systems often required several disconnected processes, involving multiple teams and departments – a lack of integration which made it difficult for businesses to share information or track the progress of repairs.
But, GT Motive revolutionised this by offering a seamless, integrated workflow that connects various parts of the business, from the initial estimate through to the final repair.
Now, by using GT Motive’s platform, estimators can easily share their estimates with technicians, insurance companies and customers, which enhances collaboration and transparency throughout the repair process and makes it easier to track progress, resolve issues and ensure that the job is done right first time.
3. GT Motive Offers Cloud-Based Flexibility and Accessibility
Because outdated estimation technologies were so often reliant on on-premise software that had to be manually installed and maintained, it could be said that perhaps the biggest leap forward with GT Motive is our cloud-based platform, as it offers complete flexibility and accessibility from virtually anywhere.
This means that estimators can work from their desktop, laptop, or mobile devices, accessing the platform whenever and wherever they need it, and having a cloud-based infrastructure also eliminates the need for costly hardware upgrades or complicated IT maintenance.
In other words, with GT Motive, businesses only need a reliable internet connection to access their estimating tools, reducing the overhead and complexity of maintaining traditional systems.
4. GT Motive Offers Automation
This level of automation not only speeds up the process but also reduces the chance of human error too, and by leveraging AI, we can provide smarter, faster estimates at GT Motive, allowing technicians and insurance providers to make better decisions with less effort.
5. GT Motive Seamlessly Integrates with Other Systems
Another key difference between GT Motive and outdated systems is the use of automation and artificial intelligence (AI). This is because older systems often required users to manually enter vast amounts of information, leading to inefficiencies and the potential for human error, whereas GT Motive uses AI-powered tools to automate many parts of the estimating process, such as suggesting relevant parts, estimating repair times and identifying potential issues before they arise.
Unlike outdated systems that were often siloed and lacked integration capabilities, GT Motive offers seamless integration with other essential business tools such as accounting software, vehicle management systems and CRM platforms.
This ability to integrate data across different systems enhances efficiency and ensures that all relevant information is in one place, reducing duplication and errors.
Overall, the transition from outdated estimation technologies to a system like GT Motive’s cloud-based platform represents a significant leap forward for the automotive repair industry.
These top 5 differences stand out as to why our solution is the way forward, and along with the sheer speed, accuracy and cost savings GT Motive also delivers, it’s clear to see why so many users choose us as their estimatics technology.
The Future Is Now, And GT Motive Are Ready
Built to connect all stakeholders and network partners within a single, secure platform, GT Motive offers a modern and intuitive solution for complete claims management that reduces claims costs and cycle times, whilst increasing efficiencies and protecting businesses.
We do this by offering a more accurate and up to date data within the system, such as part prices, VIN query and ADAS identification. As a result, GT Motive can help reduce the number of supplements required and any double keying, enabling your productivity to remain at the highest level.
But that’s not all…
Our cloud-based technology built on a secure database, common structure, with a primary integration point to the platform across all of Europe, allows us to offer the most complete catalogue of both collision and maintenance, based on accurate OE data.
Not only does this allow us to offer an accurate 96-98% car parc coverage, it also means that GT Global can form a secure part of your disaster recovery planning as well, acting as a complete digital ecosystem for your claims management processes.