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Introduction
As loss adjusters, you are continually faced with challenges that demand both speed and precision. Integrating 360-degree imagery into your processes can revolutionise your workflow, providing solutions for enhanced efficiency, accuracy, and transparency. In this article, we will explore how this technology can concretely meet your needs and improve your operations.
How can 360-degree imagery be used for claims?
One of your main challenges is compiling a claims file and estimating the necessary repair costs after an incident. These files must then be provided to insurers, who require solid evidence of the estimated amounts and repairs. This is where 360° technology comes into play to facilitate communication.
Damage Assessment
In the event of natural disasters such as floods or fires, it is crucial to act quickly to assess the damage and begin repairs. 360-degree images allow you to conduct a quick and accurate inspection of damaged properties, enabling a comprehensive remote assessment and precise cost estimation. This method is particularly useful for hard-to-reach or hazardous areas, avoiding the need for multiple visits.
Capturing 360-degree images is extremely practical and swift. Simply place the tripod with the camera in the center of the room, activate the capture, and within seconds, you have a dynamic 360-degree panorama. This image can then be utilised internally to analyze the damage in detail without needing to revisit the site, saving you valuable time and allowing you to provide quick estimates without waiting for colleagues to visit the location.
Reduced Travel
Documenting claims often requires numerous photos to capture every detail, which can be time-consuming and costly. Additionally, frequent travel to inspect claims adds an extra burden. By sending an operator to take 360-degree shots on-site, you can then access the panoramas from your office, extract the necessary photos, and document the damage. This method streamlines the documentation process, reducing the need for travel and allowing you to focus on your core business: assessing and managing claims. Eliminating frequent travel saves time and enables you to handle more cases in less time while ensuring comprehensive and accurate documentation.
Precise Documentation
360-degree images provide precise and comparative documentation. For example, in the case of water damage, you can capture 360 images at the time of the incident to establish the initial estimate. If repairs are done later and mold or other damages appear, the 360 images offer tangible proof. This documentation allows you to quickly adjust estimates and manage issues more effectively and transparently. This approach enhances your credibility by proving that the estimate was accurate at the time. If the cost estimate needs to be revised upward, it reflects changes that occurred after the initial evaluation. 360 images provide an exhaustive and objective view of the situation, consolidating your professional position and ensuring client trust.
3D Plans
In most cases, producing plans is essential to provide a precise vision to insurers. From 360 panoramas, you can create plans or sketches using various online tools like Ricoh360 Tours and Floorfy. These applications help you improve the accuracy of your assessments and provide additional proof to insurers, speeding up decision-making and initiating repair work.
Improved Communication
360-degree images significantly facilitate communication with insurers, repair companies, and clients, reducing misunderstandings and speeding up decision-making. All parties can view the same images, allowing for immediate feedback without waiting for physical inspections. Repair companies can use these images to send repair estimates directly to insurers, initiating work faster. Repair companies also save time by having a complete view of the site without needing to organize a visit beforehand.
These tools also facilitate internal communication. You can integrate the virtual tour link into your internal software for better case management. These virtual tours can also be shared with colleagues for advice on repair estimates, enabling effective remote collaboration. These images help improve the accuracy of your estimates and ensure transparent and effective communication between all parties involved. For insurers, the link can be deposited as a PDF file on their server, ensuring easy and centralized access to information.
Strengthening Your Brand Image
Adopting advanced technologies like 360-degree imagery demonstrates your commitment to quality and innovation, strengthening your professional image. This approach retains your current clients and attracts new partners and clients, positioning your company as an innovative leader in the field. These technologies make you more efficient and responsive than your competitors, allowing you to meet your clients' needs with increased speed and accuracy.
Practical Examples: How Leaders Use 360-Degree Imagery
Insurance Companies
Many insurance companies have fully integrated the use of 360-degree images into their claims management processes. For example:
- Allianz: Allianz uses 360-degree images to document claims comprehensively. This allows them to provide quick and accurate damage assessments, improving customer satisfaction and reducing claim processing times. This technology helps Allianz build client trust.
- AXA: AXA uses this technology to evaluate damage remotely, especially in hard-to-reach areas or after natural disasters. Experts can analyze 360-degree images and provide detailed reports without having to travel, speeding up the claims process. This method allows AXA to mobilize its resources more effectively and provide fast and reliable service to its insureds.
Service Providers
Companies like Belfor and Resilians also use 360-degree images to improve their efficiency and accuracy. By capturing 360-degree images of damaged sites, they can assess the necessary work and prepare accurate estimates without having to visit the locations multiple times. This approach reduces errors and potential delays, improving internal collaboration for faster planning and execution. By collaborating with you, the loss adjusters, these companies can provide more effective repair services, enhancing customer satisfaction and optimizing operations.
Maximising the Potential of 360-Degree Imagery
To maximize the efficiency of your operations and improve claims management, 360-degree photos are an excellent technology. However, to get the most out of them, you need to use them effectively. Here is an overview of the software solutions you can integrate into your processes.
Basic Usage: Ricoh360 Tours
Your operators capture 360 panoramas on-site using Ricoh THETA cameras and the Ricoh360 Tours app. This solution allows you to work directly on the panoramas with great ease. Ricoh360 Tours offers the ability to export and generate 2D photos and add annotations to the panoramas for smooth internal communication. You can also share the virtual tour link internally and with your partners. With Ricoh360 Tours, you have a powerful tool to optimize your operations.
Advanced Usage: Matterport
By using the Matterport app with Ricoh THETA or Matterport cameras, you can automatically extract accurate measured plans. This feature allows you to share solid proof and detailed estimates with insurers, meeting the specific needs of each location.
LiDAR Technology
LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) is a technology that measures distances with great precision using laser beams. Integrated into some scanners and now in the lenses of iPhones and iPads, it allows for the reconstruction of isolated elements and the creation of detailed 3D models.
Devices equipped with LiDAR, such as iPhones and iPads, can capture detailed measurements and generate accurate plans without requiring a professional camera. This technology is particularly useful for targeted interventions that require high precision. Additionally, 3D scanners that integrate LiDAR technology offer very precise estimates and a comprehensive view of the environment, essential for large-scale projects. These scanners can also integrate data such as GPS and topography, providing a detailed and exhaustive view.
By using LiDAR and 3D scanners, you benefit from ultra-precise measurements, improving the quality of your assessments and facilitating project management.
API Integration: Ricoh Platform
RICOH360 offers several APIs that meet various needs for customising internal business tools. These APIs allow you to directly integrate panoramic views into your internal software without using third-party applications. You can view your 360 photos, control the cameras remotely, and add specific features as needed. This flexibility ensures that your equipment is always up-to-date and operational, improving the efficiency of your field operations.
Conclusion
As loss adjusters, adopting 360-degree imagery technology and tools like RICOH THETA cameras, Ricoh360 Tours, and Matterport allows you to gain efficiency and accuracy. These innovations facilitate documentation, reduce travel, and improve communication with insurers and partners. By integrating these technologies, you optimise your processes, enhance your credibility, and deliver high-quality service, solidifying your position as a leader in the claims field
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