Atlanta, GA (Jul. 24, 2013) – Crawford & Company, the world’s largest independent provider of claims management solutions, along with its Canadian operation, has aggressively responded to the record rainfall and flooding in Canada, handling thousands of claims for dozens of clients over a period of only a few weeks. The rapid deployment of hundreds of highly experienced Canadian and U.S. claims adjusters was due in part to their heavy use of the company’s proprietary event resource management system, CAT Connection.
The self-service CAT Connection system links Crawford U.S. employees into a real-time virtual workforce that integrates directly to the Crawford Management System and helps expedite claims set-up. CAT Connection also connects to the company’s Human Resource system, allowing for faster activation and deployment of adjusters. Additionally, the system allows adjusters to accept specific event-related requests for standby and deployment.
“To date—over a period of roughly six weeks—we have taken in a total of approximately 7,000 assignments for about 60 clients while deploying approximately 350 Canadian and U.S. claims adjusters. Our Contractor Connection repair network in Canada and the U.S. has also responded to a record number of assignments,” said Pat Van Bakel, chief executive officer, Crawford & Company (Canada) Inc. “CAT Connection allowed us to quickly identify and deploy more adjusters so they could begin their efforts in cities and communities in Alberta, Quebec and Ontario, including helping us assemble a U.S.-Canadian team of more than 260 adjusters managing about 5500 assignments in Ontario.”
Van Bakel noted that the company both prepared for and responded quickly to the unprecedented weather events in the country. Last month many regions of Canada received up to 100mm (approximately four inches) of rain in less than two days. Multiple rivers across the area—including the Bow, Elbow, Highwood, Red Deer, Sheep, Little Bow, Hanging Stone and South Saskatchewan—breached their banks or came close to flooding. Ultimately 27 states of local emergency were declared and flood watches were in effect in Edmonton, Southern Alberta, British Columbia, and Saskatchewan.
CAT Connection allows Catastrophe adjusters all over the country to maintain contact even in difficult circumstances. The system will also become available for smartphones as a Crawford Mobile Application for iPhone®, BlackBerry® and Android® operating systems, allowing access to data, event updates and social functions when a computer is not available or viable in a field situation.
“When disaster struck last month, our clients in Canada required quick, efficient assistance, and our CAT Connection technology allowed effective synergy between our Canadian and U.S. operations,” said Kevin B. Frawley, executive vice president and chief executive officer, Property & Casualty – Americas. “Major Canadian and U.S. insurers needed adjusters on the ground right away, and we were able to provide experienced professionals to fully meet the demand.”
About Crawford
Crawford & Company (Canada) Inc. (www.crawfordandcompany.ca) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Crawford & Company. Based in Atlanta, Ga., Crawford & Company (NYSE: CRDA; CRDB) is the world’s largest independent provider of claims management solutions to the risk management and insurance industry as well as self-insured entities, with an expansive global network serving clients in more than 70 countries. The Crawford System of Claims Solutions® offers comprehensive, integrated claims services, business process outsourcing and consulting services for major product lines including property and casualty claims management, workers compensation claims and medical management, and legal settlement administration. The Company’s shares are traded on the NYSE under the symbols CRDA and CRDB.
Source: Crawford & Company
