Audatex Smart Phone App Empowers Android Users to Track and Monitor Car Repairs

SAN DIEGO, July 10, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Audatex North America, Inc., a leading provider of software and services to the U.S. automobile insurance claims processing and collision repair industries, today launched a new Android app for AutoWatch, its web-powered repair tracking solution. The complimentary app is available now and can be downloaded at http://www.autowatch.com/mobile-app/.

Audatex AutoWatch gives collision repair facilities a proven way to enhance customer service and improve customer communication by allowing vehicle owners to view the progress of their repairs online. Repairers use the solution daily to upload and post digital photos along with the latest vehicle repair status information, keeping customers up to date through completion of the job.

Now, with the new Android app, repair facilities can make these same updates via the convenience of their mobile phones – whether they're away from the office or working on the shop floor.

"With mobile access becoming increasingly important in today's connected world, the new app empowers collision repair shops with an easy way to update and access AutoWatch data from anywhere at any time, and supports our mission to connect and support repairers, vehicle owners and insurers through technology," said Patrick Schmidlin, Vice President of Product Management, Audatex North America. 

With AutoWatch, vehicle owners can choose to receive vehicle status updates on the web, via email or text message, and can even share updates with friends via Facebook. By providing shops with a communication channel to issue instant repair updates from their desktops and mobile phones, AutoWatch substantially reduces incoming customer phone calls, compresses cycle times and, ultimately, increases customer satisfaction. Through improved customer satisfaction, collision repair facilities can generate more referral business and strengthen their direct repair relationships. 

According to Gordon Henderson, Director of AutoWatch, Audatex North America, more than 70 shops are already using the Android app. "Interest in the app is strong and growing, which clearly demonstrates that shops are eager to use their mobile phones as a means to provide customers with instant online repair updates. With more than two million vehicles tracked to date on AutoWatch, we anticipate further growth ahead as vehicle owners increasingly rely upon their smart phones and the Internet to stay on top of the issues impacting their daily lives." 

Mark Veldhuizen, General Manager of Marv's Body Shop in Sioux Falls, S.D., is an AutoWatch customer that has already made use of the Android App.  "We like having the added flexibility to update AutoWatch from our mobile phones," said Veldhuizen. "Before we began using the app, we would issue repair updates only once daily, at the end of the work day. Now, with easier remote access to AutoWatch, we are adding photos and other updates at least twice a day, which means we're communicating with our customers more frequently, and that makes for better customer service."

For more information on Audatex AutoWatch, please visit http://audatex.us/product.asp?PageID=zTracking_Repair_Facility.

About Audatex
Audatex is the leading global claims solutions provider serving the automotive industry. Active today across six continents, Audatex provides world-class claims solutions that help customers automate their processes; managing millions of claims each year efficiently and effectively, and resolving billions of dollars in claims settlements. Beyond a leading presence in automotive claims, our growing footprint also extends into the automotive-related financial services and medical claims solutions markets. As part of the Solera group of companies, Audatex, AUTOonline, Explore, Market Scan, Sidexa, Informex, Inpart, ABZ, Hollander, HPI and IMS draw on unique global experience to develop and deliver the latest technologies, market intelligence and best practices on a local level. For more information about Audatex North America, please visit www.audatex.us.

SOURCE Audatex North America, Inc.