CIECA Products

CIECA offers three lines of standards designed to meet the integration needs of the collision industry.

BMS Standards

XML-based BMS Standards have been a staple for more than a decade. Used widely throughout the industry, the BMS Standards offer a complete set of schemas to support every major collision industry workflow.  Each workflow is represented by a 'Service' that provides the messages necessary to support the related workflows.

API Standards

JSON-based API Standards are CIECA's newest set of standards and currently in development. Designed to meet the needs of mobile and highly responsive applications, the CIECA API Standards will offer a full line of messages to support every major collision workflow.  The CIECA API Standards will support all CIECA use cases and services.

EMS Standard

The EMS Standard is a legacy product first developed in 1994 for the sole purpose of transferring estimate data to shop management systems. This standard is end-of-life and has not been updated since 2006. We continue to offer the EMS Standard in support of existing implementations but we strongly encourage members to use the API or BMS Standards going forward.

Background

EMS

The EMS standard was developed to support a single use case... uploading estimates into a shop management system.    


The EMS has been supplanted by the BMS, however, we continue to make it available to members to support existing integrations.


We encourage all members to use the BMS standard when possible as the EMS is not supported for future development.  This may be problematic as vehicle technology changes and new needs arise.

BMS

The BMS was developed to support all industry workflows.  It is a suite of messages designed to support specific use cases / processes and includes only the data necessary to support the related workflow.


The XML based BMS features a robust data dictionary and code lists that are the de facto standards for the industry.


The BMS is CIECA's flagship offering and is widely used throughout the industry, powering millions of transactions each year.


API

The API standard is not intended to replace the BMS, rather it is a JSON based option that will support the same workflows and processes as the BMS.


The API standards will share a common data dictionary and code lists with the BMS, while offer the ability to develop integrations in JSON rather than XML.


The API standards are currently in development and individual messages should start to be available in 2022.



Product Comparison

MessageDescription CIECA API Standards CIECA BMS Standards CIECA EMS Standard
File FormatData file formatJSON
XMLDbase4
Appointment Scheduling for Glass Inspection, Glass Repair, Glass Replacement, Vehicle Damage Estimate, Repairs, Towing, and RentalPendingAvailable
AssignmentAssigns a task to be completed by a trading partner such as a body shop, rental car company, subrogation provider, etc.In DevelopmentAvailable
AttachmentSend Embedded Attachment, Provide Attachment Locations, Attachment Integrity Validation PendingAvailable
Authorization Rental Extension Requests, Rental Extension Inquiries, Rental Contract ChangesPendingAvailable
Claims Manage a Claims Folder containing multiple claimants/Exposures/Suffixes, Provide Initial Claim Information, Provide Updated Claim InformationPendingAvailable
Disposition Vehicle Disposition (e.g., Total Loss, Fleet, Rental), Title Process, Auction Sale Process, Abandonment, Title only, Tow only, Title and TowPendingAvailable
 Estimate Details of the needed repair or damage estimate (Vehicle Damage Estimate, Photo Estimate, Change Part Type on Estimate, Current vs Prior Damage, Total Loss Threshold Identification)In DevelopmentAvailableAvailable
First Notice of Loss (FNOL) Reporting of loss and providing updates, request for additional information, Gather Information and Confirm or Deny Approval, Communicates approval or DisapprovalPendingAvailable
Invoice Invoices, Rejections, Statements and RemittancesPendingAvailable
Location Request Rental Office(s) locations, status and availability and Handle special requestPendingAvailable
Procurement RFQs, Quotes, Requests on Hold Part(s), Orders, Order changes, Order Cancellations, Shipping Notices, Invoicing, Returns, Inquires, All Part Types and materials, Repair OrdersIn DevelopmentAvailable
Status One or many Claim File Inquiries, Claim File Status Report(s), Subrogation Parties Information and Settlement Proposals exchangePendingAvailable
Survey Survey Requests and Reports for (Estimates, Repair Orders, Glass Repair or Replacement, Rental, Towing, Property Damage, and other Survey Types)PendingAvailable
Title Request Lien Release Information for Payoff, Identify Processing Issues and errors, Provide information to correct and resolve issues, provide additional Information, provide payoff informationPendingAvailable
Valuation Request Valuation Reports, Provide Valuation Reports, Request Additional Information, Inquire status, Cancel Valuation RequestPendingAvailable
Vehicle Repair Repair Facility and Repair Order Registration, Rental Registration, Inquiries and Status Updates, Production Stage Changes, Rental Status Inquires, Close the Repair OrderPendingAvailable