Policyholders can now chat and share HD pictures and video in real-time with their insurance carrier
A new inspection app from a Braintree-based company, OnSource, promises to provide real-time reporting for policyholders involved in an insurance claim. OnSource is a local company dedicated to providing visual information for the insurance industry. Last week, the company announced its new chat inspection app that allows an insurer’s policyholders to chat in real time with their insurer’s claim reps via a smartphone or tablet. During the interactive chat session, the claim rep can collect the relevant information needed from the insured about the claim they are reporting. The app will also guide both the policyholder and the claim rep through the collection of visual information about the claim including the process of capturing and sharing photos as well as High Definition videos of the damage claimed by the insured claim.
Tim Schneider, Co-Founder of OnSource said, “Our existing self-serve apps have increased customer satisfaction and cycle time for our insurance clients; We expect the Chat Inspection app will have any even larger impact.”
A look at how the new chat inspection app works
An insured that wants to make a claim under their policy can first online to report the occurrence and damages to their insurance company. Next, the policyholder is given the option of downloading the Chat App in order to get help immediately. The app may also be sent directly to an insured’s smartphone by the insurer’s claim rep. Once the policyholder downloads the app the damage inspection begins.
According to OnSource, with the use of the interface provide by the app, the following will occur:
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Via text, the Chat Inspection app connects the policyholder to the insurer’s claim representative (or a third-party licensed appraiser). A pop up alerts the insurer’s claim rep, who can greet the customers and get more information about their claim from the policyholder;
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Next the claim rep guides the policyholder through the process of taking photographs and HD videos;
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The photos and videos taken by the policyholder are available immediately to the insurance rep for review and for use in preparing an estimate of the damage;
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The insurance rep can then choose to send the estimate directly to the customer via the app so they can review it, find a suitable repair shop or contractor, and request payment.
Steve Rubin, Co-Founder of OnSource commented, “With our new Chat Inspection app customers can report their claim, provide the photos and videos the insurance company needs, and receive an estimate back within minutes. This is technology unavailable elsewhere.”
The Chat App is compatible with most networks, including 3G, 4G, 4G LTE, and Wi-Fi. According to the company, the new Chat App employs texting rather than streaming solutions, such as Skype or FaceTime, to provide a more stable and consistent platform. As a result the Chat App can work with all mobile phone carrier networks and employs a format that almost any policyholders should be able to access without compatibility issues.
