You've just hired an estimator who looks as if he will be a terrific addition to your office staff. He's bright and hard-working, great with people, and knows how to write accurate and complete estimates.

            There's only one problem: He has years of experience using one particular estimating system, and your shop uses a different one. What are your options to most efficiently help him get the training he needs?

            The good news is that the three major estimating-system providers offer a wide variety of training options: classroom, onsite, online, and computer-based. And the even better news is that many of those training options are included in the cost of your monthly subscription fee and no longer require the costs of travel and time away from the shop to attend.

            "I think the reason Mitchell offers so many varieties of training delivery methods is because people often think they don't have time for training," said Tracy Bracht, senior director of educational services for Mitchell International. "Our big thing has been to try to make it convenient for everyone. That's why we offer so many ways of getting training."

            Here's a look at the training offered by Mitchell and the other two major estimating-system providers, Audatex and CCC Information Services.

Audatex focuses on 'virtual classes'

            Tracy Peterson, director of education services for Audatex, said her company recognizes that different people learn in different ways. That's why her company tries to offer a number of types of training.

            The company's training Web site (www.training.audatex.us), for example, includes a schedule of Audatex Estimating instructor-led classroom training sessions in several locations in North America. The company also offers onsite training, although Peterson said there is generally a fee for such training based on the length of time the trainer is at the shop.

            But there are plenty of no-fee training options, Peterson said, and more than half of shops are now choosing to get their initial Audatex training and certification using the company's computer-based training system, which is available online or on disk.

            "This is simulation-based training where you're interacting with the computer program, and it basically covers the same content you would get in an instructor-led class," Peterson said.

            The company also offers five to 10 "virtual classes" online every week, live classes with an instructor, Peterson said, that Audatex users can "attend" via computer without leaving the shop.

            "We find we're getting a lot of repeat users who have a good experience with their first virtual class, and so every month take a class or two this way," she said.

            Many of those classes are recorded and available 24/7 on the Web site, she added.

            The company's new Web-based estimating system makes training even more readily available by including it on virtually every Web page during the estimating process, Peterson said.

            "We have just-in-time learning segments integrated into the product," she said. "When you're on a particular page in our estimating system, you click on a link that says, "Show Me" and you get a list of topics particular to that page. So you may click on "Creating a new estimate" and you'll get a 3-minute-or-less little video that shows you how to (do it). That's integrated right into the product."

            Not an Audatex user but want to know more about the Audatex estimates your shop receives? Peterson recommended downloading the database reference manual available at the training Web site; it explains formulas and labor calculations, how to read an Audatex estimate, a glossary of abbreviations and terms, etc. She said the company, on a case-by-case basis, also allows guest access to training to nonusers; such requests can be e-mailed to training@audatex.com.

            To find out about Audatex training or register for classes the "old-fashioned" way, call Audatex customer service, 800-546-5237.

CCC brings classes to CompUSA locations

            CCC Information Services has worked for several years to expand the availability of its classroom instructor-led estimating-system training by holding its daylong classes at the more than 150 CompUSA training centers around the country.

            Two courses are offered for Pathways estimating-system users; one is designed for new users, the other for those with three or more months of experience using Pathways. The basic course, for example, covers creating estimates and supplements, using parts and labor time databases, digital imaging, connecting to CCC's EZNet communication network, and CCC Pathways maintenance.

The "advanced user" course covers more estimating functions, understanding workfile and estimate statuses, parts tracking and reconciliation, EZNet communications, and correspondence and reporting.

            One additional bonus for attending CCC's estimating system training is that students are eligible to receive credits through the Automotive Management Institute (AMI). The one-day CCC courses can provide attendees with 10 percent of the AMI credits needed to receive the institute's "Accredited Automotive Manager" (AAM) designation.

            As with the other companies, CCC's Web site includes a schedule of CCC Pathways classes (click on the "Training" tab at www.cccis.com). Fees vary but are typically $299 a-person for each daylong class; training for new customers is generally included in the implementation and set-up fees, CCC's John Reeder said.

            The company also offers onsite training as well, and as with the other two companies, fees are based on the length of the training and necessary travel costs. For more information, call CCC at 800-523-8924.

Mitchell offers Webinar, electronic tip sheet

            Mitchell's Bracht said the company launched "Mitchell University" in 2000, and since that time more than 28,000 students have logged in. Once there, she said, Mitchell estimating-system users can see a schedule and register for classroom training, or find out about onsite training or training-by-telephone with a Mitchell instructor. While there are fees for these types of training, Bracht said a wide variety of training options is available to Mitchell customers at no additional fee.

            The first Wednesday of each month, for example, the company offers a "Webinar" designed as an introduction to the UltraMate Premier Suite for new users. Students attend from their shop via the Internet but are able to interact with the instructor.

            Webinars on other topics are held the third Wednesday of each month, Bracht said. This month, for example, the topic is how to use wireless technology to enhance office productivity. Each of the sessions is about 45 minutes in length, and she said that Mitchell even selects one participant at each session to win prizes that have included iPods, T-shirts and radio-controlled vehicles.

            Many of the Webinars have been recorded and can be viewed at the company's Web site 24/7 (without the interaction available during the live sessions, however).

            Bracht also encouraged Mitchell estimating-system users to sign up for the company's "ShopTalk" newsletter e-mailed monthly. It includes information about new training courses and information and tips often based on topics that come up frequently when shops are calling in for system support. Past newsletters are also all available online.

            For more information or access to Mitchell's training offerings, visit the company's Web site (www.mitchell.com) and click on the "ShopTalk" online training tools box. Or call the company's customer service department at 800-854-7030.

'Remote training' catching on

            Although all three companies continue to offer classroom and onsite training, there has been growth in the number of shops taking advantage of online training.

            "I think they are becoming more accepted because we all are more comfortable with technology and the Internet than we were three to five years ago," Bracht said. "So we're seeing people being more open to getting training without going to a classroom or having someone come physically onsite."

            Such training has the added bonus, she said, of not requiring costly travel or time away from the shop.

            However you get training for that new estimator or existing staff at your shop who are looking to maximize their estimating knowledge and productivity, all three companies said regular training is a worthwhile investment.

            "We find that the more training opportunities shops take advantage of, it actually saves them time because their people are more proficient and able to do their work better," Bracht said.

Training quick bits

            What kind of time-saving tips and other information are available through the various training options offered by the 'Big Three' estimating system providers? Here's a sampling:

            • Trying to locate a small part or some part included on an estimate you are rekeying into the Audatex estimating system? The "Find Parts" feature allows users to type all or just some of the part name to locate it in the database and add it to the estimate.    

            • Speaking of rekeying, CCC Information System trainers said too-few users have discovered CCC's "Auto Workfile Entry" function, which enables the user to bring a Pathways estimate prepared by an insurer into the shop's system without rekeying it. Call CCC at 800-523-8924 for details.

            • What are the benefits of "archiving" estimates in Mitchell International's Ultramate estimating system and how do you do it? Subscribers to the company's ShopTalk newsletter know. The October 2006 issue (available in the ShopTalk section of www.Mitchell.com) notes that archiving helps keep your estimating system free of clutter so you can better manage active claims, and it's just a five-step process (described in the newsletter) to complete the archiving or to retrieve archived estimates.