Record the loss types, jurisdictions, inspection channels, required outputs, retained carrier tasks and volume assumptions before requesting proposals.
Public product descriptions demonstrate why scope normalisation matters. SeekNow separately describes a completed estimate-writing service and a draft-producing tool that the carrier’s adjuster finishes. These are supplier descriptions, not proof of acceptance performance.
Verisk’s documentation describes XactAnalysis assignment, status, document and estimate exchanges. Cotality describes Validate as configurable estimate-review software. Those capabilities should be evaluated as workflow or QA components—not automatically as substitutes for an accountable file-production team. (developerportal.verisk.com)
| Option being evaluated | What the comparison must include | Work not to assume is included |
|---|---|---|
| Managed file production | Intake checks, estimate, supporting documents, QA, revisions and hand-off | Carrier acceptance, coverage decisions and settlement authority |
| Outsourced estimate writing | Estimate preparation plus the cost of assembling the remaining file | Narrative, evidence indexing, integration and final QA |
| Software or document automation | Software, operators, integration, monitoring and exception handling | Human production capacity or accountability for completed files |
| Internal or centralised estimating | Production labour, supervision, tools, QA, training and capacity constraints | Free review labour, unlimited surge capacity or costless maintenance |
For a bundled inspection-to-estimate offer, request separate inspection and production charges where available. If they cannot be separated reliably, compare the bundled route as a whole and disclose that it is not a pure production-price comparison.
Required scope statement: “This score covers [file types] from [input event] to [carrier acceptance event], including [tasks], excluding [tasks], at [volume and mix], under acceptance standard [version].”
Sources cited on this page
- developerportal.verisk.comdeveloperportal.verisk.com