Hastings Direct, the south coast-based insurance intermediary, has become the first insurer to go live with AudaWorkstation Enterprise Edition, the latest generation body repair estimating system from Audatex.

The insurer has a network of 150 approved repairers, and some 600,000 insured drivers on its books.

The announcement follows the completion of a pilot project which has already resulted in productivity improvements for both Hastings Direct engineers and the company's approved repairers who have noted significant reductions in overall claims cycle times.

AudaWorkstation Enterprise Edition is a centralised estimating solution that provides unlimited multi-user access to assessment data held in a central ORACLE database. The new system employs the latest Microsoft.Net technologies to enable virtual instantaneous transmission of estimates and images.

The system's workflow driven front end allows insurers to view a single pool of jobs from any location and assign as appropriate to the available engineering resource, including remotely-based independent assessors. The system's compatibility with the established AudaWorkstation system means that Hastings Direct's 150 approved repairers have not been required to make any changes in their IT systems.

One repairer, Noel Galdies, General Manager of Bath Panel Beating commented: "We've seen a definite improvement in the speed in which Hastings Direct authorises our estimates - it is not unusual now to receive approval within the hour."