NEWS RELEASE TRANSMITTED BY CCNMatthews
FOR: AUTOMATED BENEFITS CORP.
TSX VENTURE SYMBOL: AUT
APRIL 22, 2005 – 08:19 ET
Automated Benefits Corp. Announces Symbility Launch
with Disaster Kleenup International
WATERLOO, ONTARIO–(CCNMatthews – April 22, 2005) –
Not for dissemination in the United States of America
Automated Benefits Corp. (TSX VENTURE:AUT) is pleased to announce that its
wholly owned subsidiary, Symbility Solutions Inc., has launched a
software pilot program with Disaster Kleenup International (Canada) Ltd.
(“DKC”).
DKC is Canada’s leading network of restoration professionals, with
locations in every major centre from coast to coast. The pilot launch
will allow DKC professionals to use the Symbility mobile claims system
for property claims estimation using hand-held, pen-based computers
transmitting wirelessly over the Symbility.NET communication hub.
The purpose of the pilot program is to evaluate the effectiveness of the
Symbility software as an efficient tool for estimating property claims
and the overall value it provides DKC’s members and DKC as a national
organization. The term of this pilot is 60 days beginning on June 1,
2005.
Should the pilot be deemed successful, DKC intends to adopt Symbility’s
software as a nationally supported option for its insurance company
clients. DKC has agreed to work with Symbility to promote the adoption
of Symbility’s system among Canadian insurers.
“DKC has been a leader in leveraging technology to become more efficient
in managing claims. Upon review of the Symbility mobile claims system
and the feedback from our DKC Members involved in the Allstate,
Economical and Gore Mutual pilots, it was clear that Symbility was
worthy of a closer look. We therefore decided to launch our own pilot
across Canada”, states Matt Johnson, Chief Executive Officer, DKC. “By
removing paper from the process and allowing estimates to be completed
and transmitted on site, we feel that our membership will be able to
dramatically improve productivity for both our DKC Member contractors
and our insurance partners. The benefits of faster decision making as a
result of improved communication will mean savings to insurers and
greater service to insureds.”
“Disaster Kleenup Canada is the most recognized restoration contracting
network in Canada and their endorsement of the Symbility mobile claims
system through this pilot launch is tremendous for the growth of our
organization”, states James Swayze, Chief Executive Officer, Automated
Benefits Corp. “Considering that DKC works with every insurance company
in Canada, we believe that the adoption and implementation of our system
by our potential insurance company customers will be much easier
recognizing that the tools will already be used by the field.”
About Disaster Kleenup International (Canada)
Headquartered in Mississauga, Ontario, DKC is affiliated with the
Chicago based Disaster Kleenup International, a network of the leading,
independent property damage restoration contractors across North
America. DKC member companies provide full service property damage
restoration to their customers: emergency response, water damage
mitigation, complete reconstruction and much more 24 hours a day, 365
days a year remediating over 50,000 insurance related claims each year
in Canada alone. The DKC member companies’ goal is to return damaged
property to pre-loss condition fast and efficiently, delivering complete
satisfaction to their consumer, insurance, and corporate customers.
About Automated Benefits
Automated Benefits Corp. is a software company dedicated to applications
for the insurance industry with its head office in Toronto, Ontario. The
Corporation currently has two subsidiaries, Autoben and Symbility.
Symbility has developed the Symbility mobile claims system focusing
principally on residential and commercial property claims estimation for
use by insurance company adjusters and independent contractors. With
offices in Waterloo, Ontario and Montreal, Quebec, the Symbility mobile
claims system has begun pilot launches with Allstate Insurance Company
of Canada, Economical Insurance Group and Gore Mutual. Upon successful
completion of its Canadian pilots, Symbility intends to expand its sales
efforts of the Symbility mobile claims system in the United States and
Europe.
Autoben is focused on the employee benefit segment of the life insurance
industry. Located in Edmonton, Alberta, Autoben provides claims
management software for health and dental plans in addition to insurance
products for employer groups. The proprietary software of Autoben, ABI,
assists in reducing the cost of employee benefits programs by allowing
local adjudication and administration to approximately 20,000 employees
across Canada.