Octo Telematics’ OBD2 plugin, Surround, is changing the landscape of collision claims. By leveraging telematics data, Octo provides insurers and repair shops with critical insights into the severity and details of accidents, potentially streamlining the claims process and resolving disputes more efficiently. This technology offers a significant advancement over traditional methods of assessing collision damage, moving beyond visual estimations to data-driven analysis.
Data-Driven Accident Reconstruction with Octo OBD2
Octo’s Surround OBD2 plugin utilizes a six-axis accelerometer, GPS, and other sensors to capture detailed information about a collision. This data allows Octo to reconstruct the accident, determining the force of impact, direction of impact, and vehicle speed leading up to the crash. This detailed analysis goes beyond simple visual assessments of damage, providing a more objective understanding of the accident’s severity.
Octo’s system captures data for 60 seconds before and 30 seconds after a collision, providing a comprehensive picture of the event. This data includes granular, second-by-second information on vehicle behavior leading up to the impact and its immediate aftermath. GPS data pinpoints the vehicle’s location one minute before, during, and 30 seconds after the crash, adding further context to the incident.
Benefits of Octo OBD2 for Insurers and Repair Shops
For insurers, Octo Obd2 offers a “huge” benefit by eliminating the guesswork involved in assessing collision damage. The data provided by Octo can help insurers quickly and accurately determine the extent of damage, potentially accelerating the claims process and reducing the likelihood of disputes. This objective data can also help in identifying fraudulent claims.
Beyond accident reconstruction, the Octo OBD2 plugin can read diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs). This information can be used to determine if a vehicle is drivable after an accident, informing both the claim process and customer safety. Real-time DTC monitoring also allows Octo to proactively alert drivers to potential mechanical issues, improving vehicle maintenance and potentially preventing future accidents.
Octo’s Glimpse Plus, a “smart tag” alternative to the OBD2 plugin, offers collision detection capabilities but lacks the diagnostic functionality of the Surround OBD2 plugin. While Glimpse Plus can provide valuable data on the impact itself, it doesn’t offer the same depth of insight into the vehicle’s mechanical condition.
The Future of Collision Claims with Octo OBD2
Octo is continuously developing its technology. The company anticipates being able to predict the necessity of part repair or replacement, as well as associated costs, further enhancing the efficiency of the claims process. The detailed data provided by Octo OBD2 empowers insurers, repair shops, and customers with the information necessary to make informed decisions, ultimately streamlining the entire collision repair experience. While the crash report is primarily for the insurer, they often share this valuable data with the customer, fostering transparency and trust. Repair shops should proactively request this data to gain a comprehensive understanding of the vehicle’s condition and repair needs.
