While I meant to get back here before now below is a partial example of XML code that third party claim management system (CMS) vendors can use to export from their software directly to PowerClaim XML. As other software vendors open up their claims data structure and openly define it then you will see CMS packages that permits live claims files to be sent to and received from all brands of estimating software packages. The nice part about working with an XML Open Standard is there are known field names as well as their Type and Length.
While this may sound complex it really is not and does not require renaming of fields of the different CMS and estimating software packages. While we used < PolicyNo > to name the Policy Number field another vendor could have used < policyNo > or < PolicyNumber > or < policyNumber > for example. By mapping in the export/import stage to a known field name, type and length the difference in tag names can be addressed.
As more join the XML Open Standard group the objective will be for a true XML Open Standard to appear so there is no mapping required to exchange live claims data between different software packages. Ideally this should happen before the fact as it as happened in other industries but due to perhaps mainly financial considerations by some software vendors and the lack of interest in managing claims handling cost at the carrier level it has not happen in property claims so the Open Standard is evolving over time from the bottom up instead of from top down.
Thankfully this will lessen the need for carrier/IA vendors to require specific brands of estimating software and they can still get what they want and need.
XML Schema for PowerClaim XML Claim Setup Data
The following two pages are an example of a PowerClaim XML claim saved in xml format. The notes in the blue text describe the information contained in the claim setup fields and in the contact fields. The data type, the maximum length, and / or the possible values are also included in the notes.
There are eleven different types of contacts that can be saved in each PowerClaim XML claim. The type of contact is specified by one of these numbers:
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Number
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Contact Type
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1
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Insured
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2
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Loss Address
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3
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Contact
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4
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Claimant
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5
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Carrier
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6
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Agency
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7
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Adjusting Company
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8
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Adjuster
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9
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Contractor
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10
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Mortgagee 1
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11
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Mortgagee 2
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< Claims > beginning of the xml
< Claim > each claim will have a claim tag
< ClaimData > claim setup information and general claim information
< ID >3< /ID >
< FileNumber >File 123< /FileNumber > file number (text, 50)
< ClaimNumber >Claim 123< /ClaimNumber > claim number (text, 50)
< PolicyNo >Number 12< /PolicyNo > policy number (text, 50)
< PolicyType >Type < /PolicyType > policy type (text, 30)
< EffectiveDate >05/07/2007< /EffectiveDate > policy effective date (date/time)
< ExpirationDate >05/07/2008< /ExpirationDate > policy expiration date (date/time)
< Coinsurance >80< /Coinsurance > policy coinsurance (number, integer)
< FilingDeadline >180< /FilingDeadline > supplement filing deadline (number, integer)
< InsuredInterest >Insured’s Interest< /InsuredInterest > insured’s interest (text, 50)
< PolicyChanges >Changes to Policy< /PolicyChanges > changes to policy (text, 200)
< ReportDate / >
< NextReport >05/01/2007< /NextReport > next report date (date/time)
< Status >Closed< /Status > claim status (text, 20)
< DateAssigned >05/02/2007< /DateAssigned > date assigned (date/time)
< DateContacted >05/03/2007< /DateContacted > date contacted (date/time)
< DateInspected >05/04/2007< /DateInspected > date inspected (date/time)
< DateClosed >05/05/2007< /DateClosed > date closed (date/time)
< LossDate >05/06/2007< /LossDate > loss date (date/time)
< LossTime >12:45 AM< /LossTime > loss time (date/time)
< LossCause >Loss Cause< /LossCause > loss cause (text, 50)
< CATNo >CAT #123< /CATNo > catastrophe number (text, 50)
< LossComments >Loss Comments< /LossComments > loss comments (memo, 255)
< LossSameAsMailing >True< /LossSameAsMailing > loss address same as insured (true / false)
< RC >0< /RC >
< DEP >0< /DEP >
< RDEP >0< /RDEP >
< ACV >0< /ACV >
< RCClaim >0< /RCClaim >
< ACVClaim >0< /ACVClaim >
< Holdback >0< /Holdback >
< TotalLoss >0< /TotalLoss >
< Reserves >0< /Reserves >
< TotalInsBLDG >0< /TotalInsBLDG >
< TotalInsCNTS >0< /TotalInsCNTS >
< PropertyRC >0< /PropertyRC >
< PropertyACV >0< /PropertyACV >
< CoversheetComment / >
< EstimateDisclaimer / >
< AdditionalPaymentAgreement / >
< DefaultDepreciation >10< /DefaultDepreciation >
< BlanketDed >False< /BlanketDed >
< BlanketDedAmnt >0< /BlanketDedAmnt >
< /ClaimData>
< Settings / >
< Coverages / >
< Photos / >
< Diagrams / >
< Diary / >
< Documents / >
< Invoices / >
< ShortForm / >
< Contacts > contact information
< Contact > there are 11 contacts, but only one is needed for this example
< City >City< /City > city (text, 40)
< CompanyName >Adjuster Company< /CompanyName > company name (text, 60)
< ContactTypeID >8< /ContactTypeID > specifies the type of contact (1 - 11)
< Country / > country (text, 50)
< County / > county (text, 50)
< Email >email@address.com< /Email > email address (text, 100)
< FAX >(234) 567-8999< /FAX > fax number (text, 25)
< FirstName >Adjuster< /FirstName > first name (text, 40)
< ID >404< /ID >
< LastName >Name< /LastName > last name (text 40)
< Line1 >123 Adjuster Lane< /Line1 > address line 1 (text, 60)
< Line2 / > address line 2 (text, 60)
< Line3 / > address line 3 (text, 60)
< Line4 / > address line 4 (text, 60)
< MiddleName / > middle name (text, 40)
< NickName / > nick name (text, 40)
< Phone1 >(123) 456-7898< /Phone1 > phone 1 number (text, 25)
< Phone1Type >Office< /Phone1Type > phone 1 type (text, 15)
< Phone2 >(123) 456-7777< /Phone2 > phone 2 number (text, 25)
< Phone2Type >Home< /Phone2Type > phone 2 type (text, 15)
< PostalCode >12345< /PostalCode > postal code (text, 10)
< Prefix / > name prefix (text, 4)
< StateProvince >KY< /StateProvince > state or province (text, 20)
< Suffix / > name suffix (text, 10)
< TaxID >taxID 12345< /TaxID > tax id (text, 50)
< Title / > name title (text, 40)
< UniqueName / >
< /Contact >
< /Contacts >
< CaptionedReports / >
< NFIPForms / >
< PILRForm / >
< TWIAForm / >
< /Claim > end of this claim
< /Claims > end of the xml