Mitchell International signed a reseller agreement with APU Solutions to augment its estimating, shop management and workflow solutions by providing APU Solutions PartsNetwork to streamline recycled and aftermarket parts selection and sourcing.

Both carriers and collision repair facilities can benefit from the capabilities of APU Solutions PartsNetwork, an online software solution that provides real-time inventory searches and procurement for alternative parts. Enabling PartsNetwork to be used in conjunction with the Mitchell estimating solution provides collision repairers and carriers increased access to accurate parts pricing and availability. By ensuring availability of parts specified on estimates, the new solution reduces supplements and cycle times, Mitchell said. Additionally, the new solution provides carriers with enhanced reporting capabilities on alternative parts selection and trends.

"Efficiency is key at a time when the economy is challenging the way collision repair industry participants operate," says Jesse Herrera, Mitchell’s senior vice president of product management and marketing. "By working with APU Solutions to expand our partnership, we're able to help both collision repairers and insurers reduce cycle time and in turn increase efficiency and ultimately customer satisfaction with the claims experience."

Charles Lukens, APU Solutions’ chief executive officer and board member, says, "We are excited about expanding our existing partnership with Mitchell to further streamline workflows and provide even greater efficiency gains for all collision repair partners involved the auto claims process. As always, we remain committed to serving the industry by helping to reduce the friction caused by phantom parts, which this enhanced access can help eliminate by ensuring that parts specified on estimates are in fact available."