As a building company that works directly for an insurance company and its intermediaries, Bay Building Group (BBG) is responsible for the repair and restoration services of claimed insurance. Eighty percent of the insurance claims are low value, but the volume emphasizes to BBG the importance of technology, which enables them to ensure these claims are efficiently processed and that each step in the process adds value.
The BBGConnect development highlights BBG’s initiative to distinguish the unique business process that differentiates BBG from other, more traditional building companies. BBG started out as a local builder, which in time grew into a recognized national service provider. As the project volume considerably increased, their business model saw a significant shift.
As BBG’s Group Operations Manager Matthew Dusting explained, “National insurance building is quite unique. It’s a new industry and not like traditional building that deals with a lower number of higher value projects, so a traditional off-shelf building software solution was not suitable.” This inspired the development of BBGConnect, a fully integrated job management system that enables staff to handle the process from beginning to the end, from registration to the invoicing and payment. BBG takes pride in their ability to deliver fast and well-versed services, using the latest advancement in technologies.
“Our site-based staff use iPads with custom applications to record information, create reports, submit quotations and also run the repairs. Meanwhile, our office-based staff need a system that is intuitive, adds value and has robust controls in place to ensure quality outcomes for our clients,” said Matthew. BBGConnect will enhance the existing technology-based process.
As an extension of the BBGConnect, an iOS mobile app called QuickScope was built. “It interfaces directly with BBGConnect’s Core Job Management system so we have real time links and updates between the two apps (QuickScope and the Supervisor apps) and the project management system,” said Matthew.
The in-house staff use BBGConnect’s Core Application, e.g. staff dealing with claims, scheduler, etc., to register and manage the project information. Supervisors use the Supervisor Application to manage their assigned projects. Finally, the Trade Portal Application is used by the contractors to manage the work order.
The mobile QuickScope App allows the estimators to create and submit budget, scope and job reports from the field, without having to access their desktops.
“By utilising both BBGConnect and QuickScope, we should be able to improve the speed, quality and consistency of our services,” Matthew said, outlining the advantages of the new apps. “We have reduced the need for manual data entry and automated much of the system so our staff can put more emphasis on adding value to their clients’ services.”
The project was a tough one, but with the cooperation from both sides, no challenges were too big to overcome, leading to successful project completion. “To be honest, both sides made mistakes but we worked collaboratively and honestly to ensure we got the project completed. When there were issues, Mitrais, to their credit, took responsibility to fix the problems and really stood by their product through some tough times.”
For the next six months, BBG is looking to improve the software further, by bedding it down in the business and improving their business process. “We will continuously improve the application; we must to keep the competitive advantage. We will be looking at client portals and business to business integration with our key clients,” Matthew emphasized.
