CREW webcast features telematics, connected car

14 May 2010

The Collision Repair Executieve Webcast (CREW) welcomes David Ferrick, vice president and general manager Insurance Market for Cross Country Automotive Services, a pioneer in creating technology enabled service solutions for the auto and insurance industries.

Ferrick will discuss how telematics and the connected vehicle landscape will continue to impact and influence consumers, insurers and the vehicle repair community. Very interesting is how onboard technology will connect insurers to vehicle accidents by way of early crash notification capabilities which will initiate the claim process, potentially reduce injury claims, eliminate unnecessary tows and even determine vehicle reparability at the accident scene.

Other cutting-edge includes Pay as You Drive (PAYD) models, which capture driving habits and behaviors and enable insurers to better assess risk, and the evolution of onboard technology from its initial safety and security focus to include "infotainment" and ulitmately, productivity enabling features.

CREW has to provide collision repair service providers, property and casualty insurance personnel and automobile physical damage industry suppliers, partners and constituents with high-level, current information about the rapidly changing industry.

Each webcast includes topical, high-level industry information and a special guest presenter. The delivery format is a web-based visual presentation of the content, a simultaneous audio conference call and the capability for participants to question the presenters. Erick Bickett of Fix Auto, Matthew Ohrnstein, of Symphony Advisors, and Vincent Romans, of the Romans Group, produce and present the semi-monthly, one-hour Webcast meeting.