The Growing Role of Technology in the Field

Form pricing and estimating to CAT inspections to floor and carpet cleaning, technology is playing a more prominent role for restoration contractors than ever.

Today, there is a wide assortment of apps and technology tools available. This can often make it difficult to know where to begin. Restoration contractors must take a strategic approach to technology, with careful consideration paid to the problems that need to be solved and which tool will help them accomplish their goals.

In terms of pricing and estimates, Xactimate is among the dominant software in the restoration industry, as its property insurance claims tools are used by the top U.S. and Canadian insurers. The software aims to provide real-world pricing by using data that is constantly updated by many channels, and adopting the software can put contractors on a level playing field with the adjuster in discussing the scope of property damage.

Newer solutions, such as Accurence, Encircle, and Spex, are simplifying and speeding up the scoping process by streamlining the estimating task or removing estimate writing responsibilities from field personnel altogether by transferring the data to back office locations and alternative resources.

Identifying and measuring damaged property materials can be made easier with the help of such measurement and 3D imaging tools as Bosch FloorPlan, Spike, Hover, and Matterport, and field data capture has become more efficient and standardized with the help of drones and digital platforms like LiveGenic and Spex.

When it comes to cleaning, the Internet of Things (IoT) involves the placement of sensors inside products to capture data, upload it to the Internet, and allow for real-time accessibility. This technology increasingly is being used in floor and carpet care equipment and chemical dispensers, among other things. IoT can help contractors locate missing machines, monitor run times, predict maintenance problems, create more accurate cleaning schedules, and more.

After assessing the work culture and how willing it is to adapt to new technology, a cost-benefit analysis will help pinpoint the technology that offers the most value, and once chosen, create and implement a plan for integrating that technology into the environment after successful beta-testing.