Those who have been CAT adjusting for many years likely remember the olden days of the paper files, landlines, Polaroids and handwritten estimates. My, how far we've come!

To illustrate the advances technology has afforded adjusters, let's take a look at a typical day-in-the-life of a CAT adjuster from 15 years ago. Deployed to a storm site, driving anywhere from 24 to 48 hours upon arrival, he or she receives a large, heavy stack of paper files. Next the adjuster begins making contacts and setting appointments. If not lucky enough to have a cell phone, then the adjuster will spend hours in the hotel room making calls from a landline. Often the adjuster would need to leave a message; the policyholder would call back and leave a message at the hotel, leading to a maddening round of phone tag.

Mapping out each inspection location using his or her newly purchased Bible-sized local map book the adjuster ensures they've organized appointments in a logical fashion. Back then the adjuster scoped multiple losses over several days, writing estimates on “paperwork day.” Photos needed to be mounted, letters written, calculations completed, and so on. Invariably, the adjuster would have to revisit a loss or two to retrieve a missed measurement. Finally, the estimate would be given to the policyholder and payment issued. Simple hail claims would take several weeks to be settled. The issues with this system are easily identified. Today, however, technology, when used properly, allows the adjuster to decrease cycle times, provide better customer service, and maximize productivity.