For the first time, one of the UK’s insurers is employing artificial intelligence (AI) to create end-to-end assessments and estimates of vehicle damage.

Ageas is using an AI solution, developed by Tractable, to support some of the complex tasks that a human assessor would normally carry out when evaluating vehicle damage. For example, the AI identifies which parts of the vehicle have been affected and to what extent, generating a full estimate, including recommended repair, paint and blend operations, as well as costs and labour hours.

The AI also accelerates how quickly those tasks are completed. By submitting photos as they report an accident via a smartphone, policyholders can receive decisions on the next steps from Ageas within minutes – even while they are on their initial call to the insurer.

After successful UK trials in 2019, Ageas and Tractable will now scale the use of the technology to resolve thousands of claims every month.

Robin Challand, claims director at Ageas, said: “We realised that Tractable’s cutting-edge technology could make a real difference to our customers in the aftermath of an accident and by using AI we have improved our claims experience by supporting customers when they report claims and assisting our repairers in the early assessment of what’s required.”

Adrien Cohen, co-founder at Tractable, said: “It’s the first time that a UK insurer is using AI to generate end-to-end estimates, and is a breakthrough in how computer vision - using computers to see and analyse images and pictures - is applied on a commercial basis at scale.”

Tractable uses deep learning for computer vision, along with machine learning techniques. The AI is trained on many millions of photos of car damage, and the algorithms learn from experience by analysing a large variety of different examples.

The AI allows insurers to evaluate the damage to a vehicle, based on photos provided by repairers, appraisers or policyholders. Via a platform, Tractable’s AI shares damage estimates and guides the claim process to ensure each claim is processed and settled as quickly as possible.

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