IAA Expands Launch of Industry-First Mobile App to Accelerate Catastrophe Response in the Carolinas and Virginia

IAA Expands Launch of Industry-First Mobile App to Accelerate Catastrophe Response in the Carolinas and Virginia

Digital Logistics Solution Coordinating Fleet of Towing Providers

PR Newswire

WESTCHESTER, Ill., Sept. 27, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Insurance Auto Auctions, Inc. (IAA), a business unit of KAR Auction Services, Inc. (NYSE:KAR), announced the expanded launch of its IAA Tow App™. This enhanced technology utilizes complex data analytics and the latest mobile technology to streamline the dispatch and towing cycle of salvage vehicles. During natural disaster and catastrophic events, IAA recovers flood-damaged and total-loss vehicles on behalf of their insurance customers, clearing roadways for recovery vehicles and expediting the claims process for policy-holders. The second phase of IAA Tow App has been deployed to towing and hauling contractors transporting vehicles impacted by Hurricane Florence and the resulting flooding.

Insurance Auto Auctions, Inc. Logo (PRNewsfoto/Insurance Auto Auctions, Inc.)

"One of our primary commitments is to quickly and efficiently transport customer assets to our facilities. This is particularly important during catastrophic events when impacted vehicle volumes surge," said John Kett, president and CEO of IAA. "By digitizing and automating a historically cumbersome, paper-driven assignment process, our towing partners can better manage their assignments and loads. And by accelerating recoveries, we can inventory, process and auction salvage vehicles faster to help our customers and the communities we support get back on their feet."

The IAA Tow App utilizes inventory management software to automatically push tow assignments directly to IAA contracted towers with capacity on their tow trucks or haulers. When a tow truck driver accepts an assignment, the app opens the mobile device map function to provide driving instructions. Once assigned vehicles are located, drivers can check in and quickly complete the entire transport process via the app — from location, to pick-up, to drop-off at an auction facility or holding yard.

"We've leveraged the best mobile technology and fueled it with home-grown engineering and data from across the KAR platform to deliver a fast, simple and intuitive resource for our partners," said John Krupnik, senior vice president and chief technology officer at IAA. "The app also allows us to deliver real-time tracking and recovery information to our customers so they can monitor the location and status of their assets anytime, anywhere."

IAA has a Catastrophe Response Team prepared year-round to respond to natural disasters. In advance of Hurricane Florence and its subsequent flooding, IAA secured nearly 1,100 acres available to store recovered vehicles, obtained commitments from over 1,300 towers and has more than 400 IAA team members ready to respond. IAA has 16 branches in Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia with capacity for the anticipated vehicle volume as a result of Hurricane Florence and historic flooding. All IAA branches, including Wilmington, North Carolina, are open and fully operational.

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About KAR Auction Services
KAR Auction Services (NYSE: KAR) provides sellers and buyers across the global wholesale used vehicle industry with innovative, technology-driven remarketing solutions. KAR's unique end-to-end platform supports whole car, salvage, financing, logistics and other ancillary and related services, including the sale of more than 5.5 million units valued at over $40 billion through our auctions. Our integrated physical, online and mobile marketplaces reduce risk, improve transparency and streamline transactions for customers in 120 countries. Headquartered in Carmel, Ind., KAR has approximately 17,500 employees across the United States, Canada, Mexico and the United Kingdom. For more information go to www.karauctionservices.com. For the latest KAR news follow us on Twitter @KARSpeaks.

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SOURCE KAR Auction Services, Inc.

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