NEWS

－Approximate Repair Costs are Displayed in Around 30 Seconds Using AI Analysis of Smartphone Photographs－

OPT, Inc. (Head Office: Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo; President & CEO: Daisuke Kanazawa; hereinafter “OPT”), Sompo Japan Nipponkoa Insurance Inc. (Head Office: Shinjuku Ward, Tokyo; President: Keiji Nishizawa; hereinafter “Sompo Japan Nipponkoa”), and EDREAMER, Inc. (Head Office: Shibuya Ward, Tokyo; President & CEO: Ryo Yamashita; hereinafter “EDREAMER”) have jointly developed the “SOMPO AI Repair Quotation” service, which uses AI to provide real-time, automated estimates of quotations for repairs to damaged automobiles. 

The service uses artificial intelligence (AI) to analyze images of the damaged automobile taken by the customer, and estimates the approximate cost of the damage in real time. It can be accessed via the “Accident Response Service” provided on Sompo Japan Nipponkoa's official LINE account. This is the first time in the industry(*1) that an AI automated repair quotation service has been used to estimate automobile repair costs. The service is packaged for chat systems using “TSUNAGARU,” a LINE Messaging API(*2) delivery tool provided by OPT.

1. Background and Purpose of Introducing the Service
In the past, it was necessary to take damaged automobiles to a repair shop and undergo on-site inspections by the insurance company’s accident response staff, before a quote for repair costs could be determined. Estimated repair costs have a significant impact on customers’ decision on whether or not to claim insurance, and it is therefore necessary to provide prompt guidance on these costs. Previously however, there was a one- to two-week time lag from notification of the accident until such guidance could be given. This was also a cause of delay in the payment of insurance money.
Now, Sompo Japan Nipponkoa has utilized the image capture function in chat and AI image recognition technology to develop an automated repair quotation service for automobile accidents. Using this service, customers can photograph the damage, and receive an estimate of the repair costs about 30 seconds later. The time required for the insurance money payment procedure can also be shortened to just 30 minutes. In addition, customers can access this service via the popular “Insurance Claims Service utilizing LINE,” further enhancing convenience and accessibility.

2. Details of the Service
(1) How to use the service
Customers can report accidents by ‘friending’ Sompo Japan Nipponkoa’s official LINE account, and selecting “LINE Reception” in the talk room.
After Sompo Japan Nipponkoa has received notification of the accident, the “SOMPO AI Repair Quotation” service will respond automatically, depending on the circumstances of the accident.
* Accident response staff may respond under some circumstances.

(2) The “SOMPO AI Repair Quotation” service
The customer selects “Photo + AI repair quotation” and capture images of the vehicle damage. The captured images are analyzed using AI to calculate the approximate repair costs. The captured images and approximate repair costs are sent to accident response staff, who determine the insurance money payable, and inform the customer via chat.

3. Future Development
Sompo Japan Nipponkoa is considering expanding the scope of this service, providing customers with a service using AI to calculate insurance money payable for damage to houses covered by fire insurance. In addition, Sompo Japan Nipponkoa aims to develop an AI repair quotation service that will instantaneously complete all stages of the process, from receiving accident notifications to automatic calculation and payment of insurance money.

As a Certified Partner in the “LINE Biz-Solutions Partner Program,” OPT will continue to support the expansion of services by Sompo Japan Nipponkoa.

*1 According to a survey by Sompo Japan Nipponkoa

*2 The “TSUNAGARU” Messaging API delivery tool is 
provided by OPT through an ASP system to companies holding a official LINE account. It is a marketing tool that enables enhanced utilization of Messaging API delivery.
Featuring functions such as ID synchronization, message delivery, automated response through BOT, AI chat, bar-code display, questionnaire creation, click-through data gathering, LINE Beacon management, marketing automation (MA) and call-center support, it greatly reduces the burden of systems development for companies introducing or installing Messaging API delivery, and enables maximization of advertising effectiveness in the online domain, including on LINE.
Please see http://tsunagaru.linebc.jp/ for details.