Press and Media

11 September 2019

TÜV SÜD: Optimal development of the loss settlement and damage management market at the push of a button

For small- and medium-sized car dealerships and repair shops, finding the right way to enter the damage market is costly and time consuming. However, this market offers huge potential. According to the German Insurance Association (GDV), total third-party liability claims paid out by insurers amounted to 14.5 billion euros in 2017 – and this total has been rising for years. Given this, TÜV SÜD experts offer end-to-end damage management at the push of a button. In the blink of an eye, the Blue Button online platform establishes contact to a TÜV SÜD motor vehicle inspector and ensures fast and smooth processes for all kinds of damage. But Blue Button is just one of the topics addressed by TÜV SÜD at IAA 2019 in Frankfurt am Main between 22 and 24 September. Further topics presented at TÜV SÜD's Stand E09 in Hall 4.1 include HAD, GMA, Intermodal Mobility and PhotoFairy360°.

For years, car insurers have tightened the screws where loss settlement is concerned, such as reducing payments for invoices for expert opinions and repairs. In many cases, uncertainty prevails among damaged parties. “Many claimants simply accept reduced payments from the opposing party's insurance”, says Maximilian Küblbeck, TÜV SÜD. “However, the amounts reduced by insurers directly lessen the incomes of repair shops and car dealerships. It is therefore important for these businesses to take the issue into their own hands. With Blue Button, they keep full control over their costs and orders while building solid trust with damaged parties”, explains Küblbeck.

Repairing what can be repaired
To fully tap into the business opportunities offered, car dealers must keep their knowledge up to date in the fields of damage assessment and loss settlement – a challenge that is virtually impossible in day-to-day operations owing to time and cost constraints. This is where Blue Button comes into play. Via the online platform, TÜV SÜD motor vehicle inspectors support car dealerships and repair shops throughout all stages of the damage claim process and also assist with communication between customers, insurance companies, car dealerships, motor vehicle experts and lawyers. The online platform processes, collates and documents all steps of damage management and loss settlement. Küblbeck says, “By using the standardised processes provided by Blue Button, car dealerships can offer their customers professional in-house loss settlement services. After all, the TÜV SÜD Octagon mark is held in high esteem, including by insurance companies.”

TÜV SÜD's loss assessors operate independently from insurance companies. Via Blue Button, they support car dealerships and repair shops throughout Germany throughout all stages of repair management and loss settlement – from general consulting and independent damage assessment reports by our motor vehicle experts to recommendations of local lawyers if customers need direct legal assistance. Maximilian Küblbeck concludes, “The advantages are obvious – employee workload is reduced, any missing data can be provided, all documents can be made available to lawyers online. In addition, all parties involved can access all data online at any time and track the status of processing.” With Blue Button, car dealerships can carve out a position on the loss settlement market in the most effective manner. They can offer customers a full range of services and, above all, ensure legal compliance and optimise handling in the interests of their customers.

Further information on TÜV SÜD's IAA presence is available at www.tuev-sued.de/iaa-press.

Press-contact: Vincenzo Lucà