Advantage Parts Solutions provides a platform that enables original equipment manufacturer (OEM) parts dealers to sell more effectively by allowing repairers to order all of the parts needed for a job in one place. It is already linked to 1,100 dealers across the UK and 300 repairers working with insurance claim customers.
CAPS is used by more than 1,200 UK collision repair bodyshops as well as 65 work providers and suppliers.
Darren Clark, Advantage Parts Solutions commercial director, said: "Over the past 26 years our business in the UK was focused on helping parts suppliers sell more effectively. We began working with insurers about eight years ago when we saw an opportunity to increase efficiencies by providing more information to insurers about the supply of parts, as this can have a significant impact on repair times and customer satisfaction."
David Gaskell, insure programme director for Advantage said: "Our focus was on capturing data and streamlining communications. The challenge is that this is a sector where there are multiple data entry points and many different technology standards. Historically we've had to build lots of individual connections and APIs to integrate to bodyshop management systems, third party platforms and the technology used by work providers. We then realised CAPS is the solution. With one connection to CAPS, we can communicate with almost the whole UK insurance collision repair sector."
David Neave, chair of the CAPS Independent National Advisory Council, said: "An insurance claim is an information-rich process. Sharing data equally, quickly, transparently and safely with all of the stakeholders involved in the repair. This brings increasing benefits given the growing move towards digitisation. The independence and investment underlining CAPS means that it can become a genuinely open and accessible platform for the benefit of everyone involved in collision repair."
See more: ADPS & CAPS