Mitchell releases Q4 industry trends report

Mitchell International, a leading provider of technology, connectivity and information solutions to the Property & Casualty (P&C) claims and collision repair industries, released its Industry Trends Report (ITR) for the fourth quarter of 2016. In this latest edition, experts discuss Mitchell’s annual P&C Conference, total loss trends and the state of the third party auto claims market.

Top 10 trends Both the Auto Physical Damage and Casualty editions of the ITR feature top trends from Mitchell’s P&C Conference, held October 17-19 in San Antonio, TX. This year’s conference provided executives the chance to discuss technology and social trends that are changing the way companies in the industry interact with one another and do business. Topics discussed include augmented reality and information security.

The auto physical damage edition
In the Auto Physical Damage Edition, Nate Raskin, Senior Manager of APD Analytics, highlights total loss trends. One key indicator of the upward trend in market values is the price of wholesale used vehicles. A combination of factors including high employment levels and job stability has been contributing to higher used car retail values. While market changes are out of insurance companies’ control, there are steps insurers can take to better manage total loss accuracy, particularly as it relates to revision activity.

The Casualty Edition
The cost of third party auto claims is quickly rising, leaving many insurance carriers struggling to keep up. The number of attorney-represented claims is growing, leaving adjusters with an increase in demand packages, which are often disorganized or incomplete, though they require a timely response. The resulting lost opportunities or inconsistencies can pose challenges for insurers.

Norman Tyrrell, Director of Product Management of Mitchell’s Casualty Solutions Group, highlights the need for the correct tools when dealing with third party auto claims. In today’s competitive market, insurance companies can’t afford to leave costly problems unaddressed.

First published in April 2001, Mitchell's ITR now reaches more than 33,000 collision and casualty industry professionals and provides meaningful visibility into data-driven trends in the P&C market. The complete report is available at www.mitchell.com/industry-trends-report.

For further collision repair and property casualty industry updates and perspectives, follow Mitchell on Twitter @Mitchell_Intl, @MitchellClaims @MitchellRepair and @MitchellPBM and LinkedIn.