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Gale Hawkins User is Offline

PowerClaim.com

Member

Posts:335

02/16/2007 5:56 PM
http://powerclaim.com/manuals/ Spanish PowerClaim XML Manual You are welcome to download a PDF copy of our new PowerClaim XML manual in Spanish. We would appreciate your feedback on any suggested improvements be they technical or translation related. While we do plan a Spanish version of PowerClaim XML in the future today it is only available in English and the measurements are in feet and inches. We created this manual for both the US based adjusters and contractors as well as those located in Spanish speaking countries that are interested in working with PowerClaim XML but that information is stated in the introduction to the Spanish version of our manual. Thanks so much for requesting this version of our manual and please let us know how we may improve it to better meet your needs. Please feel free to distribute the PDF should you wish to do so. While the link above will take you directly to the manual download area of www.powerclaim.com you can also find it listed on the home page under the heading of Training by clicking on the word Manual.

Gale Hawkins User is Offline

PowerClaim.com

Member

Posts:335

02/27/2007 4:05 AM
Phase one of Spanish translation complete MURRAY, KY, U.S. - 02/26/07 - The first step in a full Spanish metric version of PowerClaim XML property estimating software has recently been completed. A Spanish translation of the PowerClaim XML manual is now available for download, fulfilling phase one of Hawkins Research, Inc.’s (HRI) plan. While the in-program translation is not yet complete, the manual offers Spanish equivalents for all buttons and options within PowerClaim XML. “It is our hope that this manual will help all Spanish-speaking PowerClaim XML users to navigate through our program more easily,” said Gale Hawkins, CEO and Director of Marketing. Hawkins recognized the need for a Spanish version of the software and set in place a timeframe for release, with a translated manual taking immediate priority. With the manual, current users will be able to utilize the existing English version of PowerClaim XML. International as well as U.S.-based PowerClaim XML users were targeted in the Spanish translation project. “The manual was created for both Spanish-speaking U.S. Insurance adjusters and contractors, as well as for those in Spanish-speaking estimating industries around the world,” Hawkins said. It is understood that international users of PowerClaim XML will not have metric measurements or foreign currency built-in to the existing program at this time, but the powerful database editor will allow customizable databases to be created by the user. These databases can even be shared to other PowerClaim XML users. Everyone is encouraged to download the Spanish manual from the PowerClaim web site and is also welcome to offer feedback on the translation. HRI has been providing software solutions to the property estimating industry since 1996. Solutions include the full-featured estimating program PowerClaim XML, the insure-to-value calculation tool PowerClaim PV, and the complete claims management and reporting program PowerClaim Net Services. Free trials, customer support and training are available on all solutions. Hawkins Research Inc. 406 North 4th Street Murray, KY 42071 1-800-736-1246 www.powerclaim.com

Gale Hawkins User is Offline

PowerClaim.com

Member

Posts:335

03/09/2007 1:23 AM
We are in the very early beta release phase and here is a list of the 13 new features that customers have requested. PowerClaim XML 17 Beta 1 - Release Notes This release includes enhanced features that reflect ongoing input from customers. Texas Wind Insurance Association Report Complete and print the TWIA-required Claims Reporting Form/Loss Notice within PowerClaim XML. Just like the included NFIP reports, setup information from the claim will auto-fill into any applicable fields, saving you time and eliminating duplicate entry. Addition of 5 new NFIP Templates Maximize your NFIP claims with the addition of 5 new report templates. O&P Affidavit Request for Advance Payment Final Narrative Insured Questionnaire NFIP Booklet Deductible by Percentage of Total Loss A heavily-requested feature by our users, percentage-based deductibles are now able to be calculated and applied from within PowerClaim XML. Ability to Import PDFs into PowerClaim Any PDF document can be quickly imported into PowerClaim XML and wrapped into reporting. The possibilities are endless, as many documents today are more than likely generated in the popular PDF format. New Backup Utility Anyone who has experienced a data loss understands the importance of backing up data. With our new backup utility, you can hand-pick what is backed up or do a full-scale backup, schedule backups easier and even save your information directly to a CD. Advance Payments The addition of an advance payment field allows you to denote the payment in the claim file and choose to include it on your reports. Ability to Depreciate by Trade Depreciation is a hot topic in the industry. Eliminate any disputes over your estimates on trade depreciation with the new ability to apply depreciation directly to trades. Easy Access to Notes Button from Line Item Screen Questions about an item in the cost database? A simple menu item now allows you to find out information about certain line items. Ability to Import and Export Macros between PowerClaim users Share your line item macros with other PowerClaim users quickly and easily with the macro import/export feature. Ability to choose from Multiple Email Bodies When emailing your claims and reports, you may now save your various email bodies and pull them back up as templates. Don’t worry about copying and pasting or retyping, they will be saved and waiting. Multiple Invoices for one Claim Many of our users requested the ability to create multiple invoices for one claim. We took that request and went one step further. Not only are you able to create multiple invoices per claim, but you also now have an sophisticated payment structure. Show and track multiple payments for your multiple invoices, including partial payments and still due amount. Ability to Separate Labor and Material Costs Generate advanced estimate reports with material, labor and equipment price separations. Each operation listed in your reports will have a breakdown of price for each, and a total cost. Ability to Sort Activity Log Entries

Lee Norwood User is Offline

Adjuster
D/FW Texas
Member

Posts:59

03/09/2007 7:54 AM
Gale, you folks have been busy! That is an excellent list of enhancements. Go, PowerClaim, go!

Lee Norwood, aka "CATdawg"

Ray Hall

Adjuster
Houston, TX
Member

Posts:804

03/24/2007 1:45 PM
Just added a new member to my FICUS TREE. He had a new $1500. Vio with Vista. I groaned then called my PowerClaim folks.... no problem, we are Microsoft tuned... just boot it up.

Gale Hawkins User is Offline

PowerClaim.com

Member

Posts:335

04/12/2007 7:19 PM
At http://powerclaim.com/beta/downloadbeta.php you may now download PowerClaim XML Release 17 Beta 4. It has been in testing for the past 14 weeks. This release has the full function expected in the final release and runs on Vista also as well as does Release 16e.

Gale Hawkins User is Offline

PowerClaim.com

Member

Posts:335

05/26/2007 10:14 AM
At http://powerclaim.com/beta/downloadbeta.php you may now download PowerClaim XML Release 17 Beta 8. This should be the last beta as we are now just integrating the PowerClaim Net Services client into the official release of PowerClaim XML Release 17. This integration will enable seamless downloading and uploading of claim files between PowerClaim XML and the PowerClaim Net Services website. PowerClaim Net Services offers web based claims set up and assignment/transfer, claim storage and remotely stored nightly back up along with your typically web based claims analytics that is offered by all of the property estimating software vendors. PowerClaim Net Service may be of interest to the CAT adjuster that uses remote data entry staff. Without having to have a copy of PowerClaim on a computer the data entry person can set up a claim file and assign it to the adjuster(s) who can then import it into PowerClaim XML and do the claim. Another use of this system is for the adjuster/vendor that uses remote claims examiners. A completed file can be assigned to an examiner over the web and he or she can then pull the live completed file into PowerClaim XML. Another option with PowerClaim Net Services is the ability to permit a third party to view and print specific estimates that they select to be viewable by the third party. The complete cost for PowerClaim Net Services is only $5 per unique claim file (compared to $12+ at other vendors) that hits the server which permits you to go in and out of the file as often as needed by anyone you give access. These files can be store for up to two years at not addition charge but they can be batched to you by CD or DVD in a live unlocked and readable format so you can retain the complete live claims data as long as the law requires. The unlocked live claims data structure insures you are not dependent on our tools to have full access to your claims data in the future. Question? There has been some interest by adjusters to just use PowerClaim Net Services as a remote backup option that would permit them to reinstall their claim files 24/7 in case their computer was stolen or the hard drive crashed. Without any of the above features except the ability to upload and download your own files and store them for up to two years what would be an acceptable per claim file fee in your mind?

Wesley St.John User is Offline

Posts:19

05/26/2007 10:46 AM
Gale I did receive the copy of Power Claim 16e in the mail well over a month ago, but have just been too busy to do anything with it. After reading the entry's above there seems to be a lot of advancements in Power Claim over the "other guys" with regards to the web based options. Are the vendors that are entrenched with other platforms open to a adjuster using Power Claim instead. It seams to me that your product would allow interface with the others so we wouldn't have to use whatever flavor they want. I'm new to the adjusting world, less than 2 years, but have been doing commercial property condition assessment work for more than 10 years and my experience has been, everybody wants something different. One piece of software that would "talk" to any other would be great. Thanks for the work your doing in this area.

Gale Hawkins User is Offline

PowerClaim.com

Member

Posts:335

05/28/2007 4:43 PM
Wesley, thank you for your interest in estimating and claims handling options. While we have been a leader in innovations like being the first to promote toll free phone and fax support, seamless emailing through your preferred email client and the ability send all segments of a claim file as one single PDF file to name some. It is a fact that the other guys bet us to the web with solutions like XactCentral, ComCentral, Discovery so in that sense we as the new kid on the block (got on the market in 1998) we are playing catch up. What is different about us at HRI is the fact that we designed our web solutions to meet needs of the small vendors/solo adjusters as well the carriers and larger vendors so you do not see the other guys talking so much about their services because their design or cost structure is not based with the smaller vendors in mind. Most have a start up cost that lowers the interest in their services but that is in part by design. Being the new kid on the block so to speak meant we did not fall into the technology trap of some of the older vendors who built solutions on technology solutions that did not stay in mainstream use but you can read more about that in other threads. One of our early objectives was to bring current technology to the property claims handling industry yet at a price point that is more in line with similar technology cost in other industries. It is a fact that the large carriers are not highly concerned about claims handling cost because insuring property is a money maker for them and the number of homeowners who have ever filed a claim is so very low plus the losses are capped by the policy in most cases. While our new PowerClaim Net Service continues to promote the XLM Open Standard that we have pioneered which permits the tying into carrier/vendor legacy systems and CMS solutions from third party vendors, it is the first simple mainstream and affordable solution that enables a vendor to have a customized web based claims portal complete with their own logo that they can presence to their carrier accounts or anyone for that matter. The upfront cost for this web presents is $0 and the time window to have it set up is 24 hours. There are vendors out there that have solutions in place that are not as powerful or are backed by an established vendor that they have paid as much as $250,000 to have custom created for their company. In time some of these solutions will be dumped for one reason or another. Seamless integration with legacy systems, web based claims set and assignment, analytics of the claims data along with the storage of your live claims data that in no way requires a continued business relationship with the software vendor offering these services is a new concept enabled by the Open Standard concept. The Open Standard can free the carriers and vendors from being forced to keep using the same solution provider because that solution provider is holding their claims data hostage in the fact if they quit providing cash to that vendor that they will loose access to their claim files. We see this as an ethical and integrity issues and is why when we started the PowerClaim project in 1996 we decided to never force adjusters or carriers to keep paying us money to get access to view, print or email claim files completed when they were paid subscribers to our services. This is one feature CAT adjusters like about our way of doing business. As to your question concerning are vendors that are entrenched with other platforms open to an adjuster using PowerClaim instead is not an easy question to answer. A vendor that has State Farm as their main account will require Xactimate as one who is working mainly for Allstate will require IntegriClaim but there are vendors that may prefer one brand but are OK with the use of PowerClaim if the carrier providing the claims do not specific a certain brand of estimating software. There are several CAT/daily vendors that will not work for a carrier that demands only one brand of estimating software. The fact is only .5% of 1% of carriers requires a specific brand of software but the other fact is they are the carriers that pass out most of the CAT claims to the vendors. Look at Katrina for example where just State Farm had about 35% of coverage in the area. In time all the property estimating system will be on the same Open Standard so carriers and vendors can pull in the claim files information from different estimation software packages in a seamless manner but there is another issue that we must consider. Carriers have a strong desire to control the prices they pay out when losses do occur and they are the only reason an open standard are not in place for property claims like there is of Auto claims. Homeowner claims can be priced reasonably well from a canned source of materials and labor cost but this is not true for commercial claims but I am sure with your experience you know this fact. Most commercial losses involve a contractor quoting cost and an adjuster is not going to be able to run in with any estimating software and spit out a price of the total damages in a few hours. There may be machinery and other type of equipment that will require a bid from the manufacture to determine repair or replacement cost. There is also the fact that carriers need to insure all adjusters are paying the same price for the same items so they provide the database. Since 1993 I have witnessed a lot of software vendors dropping the ball and going by the way side. That will continue to happen just like in any industry. It will be very surprising if any name of estimating software on the market today will be around 20 years from now. Often software vendors will come to a curve in the road created by a paradigm shift and simply keep going straight. Wesley as you have found out the technology usage in the property claims world can be 10-20 years behind other segments of claims handling. As long as property carriers see this to be working to their advantage it will continue. Nothing happens in this industry without the direct blessings of the carriers. While this post has become long I hope it makes clear my perspective on the subject today. In a couple hours our Memorial Day family activities start so I must go. I wish each one a great day while knowing those families that have lost love ones through the years for our freedom today may have a heavy heart. Things like CADO are not possible in some countries due to no one having paid the “continued” price of freedom. Let us hope the desire in the US to remain free will remain high enough that we will pay the continuing price to be free from those that would enslave us to their belief systems.

Wesley St.John User is Offline

Posts:19

05/30/2007 12:28 AM
I agree. As with any business I have been involved with, it takes a paradigm shift to cause thinking "out of the box". Keep up the good work. When I get a day or two to tinker with it, I'll get PC installed on one of my machines and mess with it. By the way, what is the minimum speed processor it can be run on. I think the other guy's both require 1 Ghz minimum. I ask because I have a great little tablet I use in the field when doing other types of inspection work, but it's only a 500 Mhz. That sounds slow but because of the architecture, it's pretty fast. I've had 2000 pro on it, but it will run xp no problem. Just curious.

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PowerClaim XML 17 Beta 1 - Release Notes

Another option with PowerClaim Net Services is the ability to permit a third party to view and print specific estimates that they select to be viewable by the third party.