As artificial intelligence continues to build up as a solution in the insurance claims settlement process, Mitchell has announced that AI technology from Inspektlabs is going to be added to its Mitchell Intelligent Open Platform.
The Mitchell platform already supports computer vision AI technology from Tractable and Claim Genius.
“As a global provider of AI, we're laser focused on simplifying the claims process by using computer vision and machine learning to reduce inspection time while improving consumer satisfaction,” Devesh Trivedi, CEO at Inspektlabs, said in an announcement. “Our AI supports both photo- and video-based inspections, allowing policyholders to quickly document the damage and helping appraisers accurately assess it.”
Why provide a third option? “Mitchell realizes that there's no ‘one-size-fits-all’ solution for insurance carriers with regards to claims automation,” Olivier Baudoux, Senior V . p . for Global Product, Artificial Intelligence & Marketing at Mitchell, told Repairer Driven News.
“Actually, each carrier has its own unique needs and workflow requirements. Knowing that, we're committed to making certain our technologies are flexible, scalable and turnkey – combining best-in-class AI with this own industry expertise, cloud-based software, ip and comprehensive vehicle and collision repair data.”
Mitchell’s flexible, open framework integrates with third-party AI providers as well as the company's own proprietary AI algorithms. According to the company, once claim details happen to be collected and pictures uploaded, appraisers can chose their preferred AI in the platform. Mitchell’s technology will then translate the resulting recommendations and deliver a partial or complete estimate for review.
“While Inspektlabs may not yet be well known in North America, we're extremely impressed with the maturity of its technology and looking forward to what it really may bring to the platform and the industry,” Badoux said.
A 2022 startup, Inspektlabs has headquarters in Delaware, and development centers in Delhi and Jaipur, India. Based on the Economic Times, Inspektlabs had inspected 100,000 cars in Japan, UK and India by a year ago.
Inspektlabs states on its website, “Any customer can capture a 360° video of a car using our guidance system on a smartphone, and inside a few seconds, we respond back by having an inspection report e.g. dent on door, $ claim value etc.”
The company claims 98% accuracy for its product, although it’s unclear if that is for automotive inspections alone, or includes cellphone damage inspection, the AI’s other specialty.
The additional option will benefit insurance companies and repairers, Baudoux said.
“Integrating with more than one industry-leading computer vision provider gives our customers freedom of choice and also the ability to scale while still meeting policyholder demands for any digital claims experience. Ultimately, this helps insurance carriers and repairers deliver better outcomes for vehicle owners through increased efficiency and a reduction in cycle time. The aim isn't to exchange an in-person inspection but, instead, to automatically deliver a partial or complete estimate for the insurance appraiser or collision repair estimator to review.”
Yet Wired magazine reported in April that lots of repairers are critical of reliance on AI technology, finding that the numbers generated could be wildly inaccurate – and that this can lead to customer dissatisfaction. Critics noted that walk-around videos of damaged cars are unlikely to trap a bent suspension component, for instance, or a misaligned frame.
“…Body shop owners say that customers get frustrated at them once the insurer's initial estimate is gloomier than the repairer's quote – in some instances, by 1000s of dollars. Repair shops get stuck in the center. The businesses don't know when artificial intelligence has been put on the estimates they receive. But whatever's happening, they say, isn't consistent,” Wired reported.
Mitchell worked closely with Inspektlabs to make sure that the company’s product met Mitchell’s published standards, Baudoux said. “Included in the onboarding process, we collaborate closely with every company – ensuring it'll deliver a high-quality solution and incremental value to the industry.”
He asserted Mitchell continues to support the addition of new, third-party AI choices to Mitchell Intelligent Estimating.
