InvoiceCheck

27.09.2017

InvoiceCheck, the unique way of checking bodywork repair invoices and their automated payment, has now been on the market for around three years. What has changed in the meantime? And what is the outlook for the future?

Repair invoices are a science in its own right. They are often anything but intransparent. No clear breakdown of items can be discerned behind the set prices, every manufacturer has their own guidelines in terms of working hours and included items, and the list goes on. According to Nick Pawlak, Head of InvoiceCheck at ControlExpert, checking a repair invoice requires a great deal of “painstaking detective work”.

The InvoiceCheck team is now made up of more than 60 employees, most of them vehicle experts with a background in bodywork building, spraying, or mechanics. They initially worked at companies associated with a particular brand. To ensure that good use is made of this hands-on experience, the vehicle experts at ControlExpert also work in corresponding brand teams when carrying out the checks. A former VW expert will therefore work on the VAG team at ControlExpert.

“There were just six of us when we started InvoiceCheck,” recalls Pawlak. “A great deal has changed since then. A growing number of insurers have recognized the potential of our invoice checking system and more than 30 customers now use the product. Our team currently checks up to 1,500 items daily.”

This is made possible by ever improving links to databases, which permit an automated comparison with manufacturers’ data. Things are also moving forward in the area of digitalization and automation. “Our new CE 2.0 puts an end to invoice confusion. It allows us to identify every single item from any kind of invoice format. CE 2.0 transforms everything into structured data.” Something that no amount of digitalization or automation can manage is the skilled art of talking to the repair shops over the phone. Only welltrained employees are capable of doing this. “We perform a technical check at the end of each case. In other words, we call the repair shop directly to discuss any corrections or clarify any inconsistencies. As such, they are also given the opportunity to provide feedback. And we lighten the load of the insurance companies, because we deal with any enquiries from the repair shop on a level playing field between two vehicle experts.” If there are no objections, the payment process can also be handled automatically using InvoiceCheck.

We are constantly optimizing our processes in order to make cooperation as easy and convenient as possible for our customers. As of recently, for example, every insurer has a named contact person so that every case handler has a direct line in the event of any queries. Furthermore, a growing number of insurance companies are recognizing the value of automated payment and are taking advantage of the opportunities presented by automated processing in order to save time and resources.