Information and systems providers can use the CIECA plan when migrating to the new message standards, which offer a considerable upgrade in the ability to monitor and secure the data.

 
"Implementing the BMS standards within the collision repair industry results in greater data security, as well as more efficiencies, cost savings, and vehicle owner satisfaction," said Fred Iantorno, CIECA's executive director.

"The BMS provides the ability to exchange only the needed data for a specific application (for example, repair status), rather than transmitting all of the estimate data," Iantorno said.  "Currently, many in the industry are complaining about this.  The BMS has a huge impact in today's environment." 

 
For a pictorial example of the increased security/privacy, visit: http://www.cieca.com/solutions-example-bms-ems.htm.

The new migration plan will provide a road map for changing/upgrading the application systems in use throughout the industry.  The new BMS includes messages for vehicle damage, glass, rental, salvage assignments, estimates, dispositions, attachments (images), parts and materials data exchange, repair status, authorizations, invoicing statements, rental locations, and subrogation.

"We are seeing accelerated traction for these new standards within the insurance and other segments; however, implementation within the repairer segment is lagging," Iantorno said.

"Our research has shown that the missing link in driving large scale adoption with repair shops is having the BMS feature enabled with the shops' estimating and management systems," he said. 

 
"Adoption of the BMS will afford the increase in security that shops demand and is absolutely critical to the collision repair industry. This migration plan will provide the industry with a needed tool to meet that challenge," he added.

CIECA's Implementation and Interoperability Committee has been working on a draft of the migration plan.  The next steps will include review of the plan with the information and systems providers.

CIECA publishes and provides two BMS releases annually.  New messages are added and existing messages are enhanced as a direct result of the changing needs of the industry.

CIECA also publishes and provides a road map of its BMS messages program, available on the CIECA Web site.