Speed counts - also when calculating a damage

Zurich wants to offer customers and partners intelligent solutions in claims management. In an innovative pilot project with T-Systems and the InsurTech company Spearhead, Zurich is testing new potential in order to accelerate processes after a motor vehicle loss.

Click on this link to take a look behind the scenes of this project.

Calculate damage amount in just one minute

Once not paid attention, there it happened: Rear-end collisions happen within a few seconds. But to check exactly what is broken in the car and how much the repair will cost, it used to take several days. To enable customers to know more quickly how much hull damage will be incurred and whether a repair is worthwhile, Zurich is testing a damage calculation using software. It only takes 60 seconds to know the amount of damage. The quick result is ensured by an adapter that can be docked to the car's on-board diagnostic interface (OBD-II). It contains a GPS sensor and an acceleration sensor that measure the forces acting on the car in the event of an accident. The data is then sent via an integrated SIM card to the data center, where the damage software can analyze the accident.

Big Data picks up speed

The data set contains detailed crash information recorded by the OBD-II adapter shortly before, during and after the accident. This data is automatically evaluated using Smart Analytics. For this analysis, the system can draw on the comparative data of more than one million real claims. The result is a damage report with detailed information on the accident. In addition to time and location, this report also contains a description of the damaged areas on the vehicle and a forecast of how high the repair costs will be and whether a repair is worth it at all. This information is displayed within a few seconds in the corresponding damage portal.

Zurich can then contact the customer immediately after the accident and, after consultation, organise a towing service and a replacement vehicle, if necessary, as well as appoint a suitable workshop to repair the vehicle.

With the intelligent damage management solution, the entire process - from accident notification and damage recording to the evaluation and creation of the damage report - is completely digital from a single source. This saves time and ensures faster settlement of the claim. The technology can be used in over 70 percent of accidents. With the help of the adapter, almost all car models - even those that are not yet equipped with a telematics system from the manufacturer - can be subsequently networked. The OBD-II interface for the adapter has been installed in every new car since 2004.

About the pilot project

For the pilot project, T-Systems is providing the hardware in the form of the OBD-II adapter and the infrastructure for transmitting the telematics data. The analysis itself is carried out by Spearhead's software. The portal for damage analysis and assessment is also provided by the swiss InsurTech company. The technology is currently being tested in selected projects, including in Berlin and the Stuttgart area.