With automobiles and the collision repair process continually evolving, perhaps at a faster pace than ever before, Paul Barry, CIECA’s executive director, said the estimate needs to be able to accurately capture and convey all aspects of the repair process.
“As CIECA’s Architecture Committee defines the structure and operation of the new CIECA API Standards (CAPIS), we want to ensure we meet the industry’s needs as a result of the changes taking place with electric vehicles (EVs), Advanced Driver-Assistance Systems (ADAS), OEM repair procedures and other elements of vehicle repair,” said Barry.
The Vehicle Damage and Imaging (VDI) Committee was reactivated earlier this year to take a fresh look at the ‘estimate’ to determine if changes are needed to accommodate today’s collision repair environment, determine if there is information from the past that is no longer necessary or relevant, and ensure that CAPIS for the estimate will meet future needs. The committee is chaired by Phil Martinez, principal technical consultant at Mitchell International, an Enlyte Company.
Paulette Reed, CIECA’s technical project manager, said the committee meets bimonthly to develop Assignment and Estimate messages. Committee members have reviewed the BMS property names for the Assignment message. Next steps include reviewing the property names for the Estimate Message as part of the conversion from BMS to CAPIS.
Martinez said CIECA’s Architecture Committee is also looking to add data needed to the estimate for today’s changing landscape. This includes automated estimates, EVs, ADAS and more.
In addition to being simpler to use, Reed said the new messages will be accessible from mobile platforms and enable easier integrations with trading partners.
“Many industry leaders have already converted the BMS into CAPIS and implemented these versions with their customers; however, the new best practices for CAPIS is not a straight conversion,” she explained.
"The committee will look at providing guidance to the industry on the conversion from BMS to CAPIS once those standards are available and trading partners are looking to convert," said Martinez.
Barry added that companies looking to build new integrations or upgrade old ones to JSON will need Estimate-related messages that will fit the need.
“The Estimate is one of the most frequently exchanged records in the industry,” said Barry. “It is an essential component of many workflows. It is critical that CAPIS can accurately and efficiently transmit the information contained in the estimate to trading partners in the future.”
The VDI Committee was originally created in the early 2000s as a merger of two former CIECA Committees: Estimate Management Standard (EMS) and Repair Facility. The goal was to develop and maintain messaging standards and codes focused on the appraisal and/or restoration of a collision-damaged vehicle that incurred an insurance loss. Since its inception, the VDI Committee developed Assignment, Estimate, Photo Estimate, Invoice, Remittance, Claim Save, and Towing messages in conjunction with CIECA’s Architecture Committee.
“Any company that has a vested interest in the estimate and the ability to accurately communicate estimate information with trading partners is welcome to participate in the VDI committee to help ensure it is accurate, balanced and efficient,” said Barry.
“We need people with this expertise to join these meetings to ensure the industry’s needs are met with these new standards,” said Martinez.