Mitchell International announced the commercial release ofMitchell Dispatch yesterday, which it claims is the first fullyWeb-based resource planning and optimization system for theinsurance claims industry.

According to the San Diego-based company, Mitchell Dispatchautomates the scheduling and dispatching process, making itpossible for insurance carrier dispatchers or supervisors toefficiently manage resource allocations and to handle only theexceptions.

Mitchell said it has chosen ViryaNet, Inc. as its technologypartner. ViryaNet's resource optimization engine has been used byorganizations in need of efficient field workforce management, suchas public utilities and supply chain services companies.

This technology partnership, the company added, allows Mitchellto offer this new solution to the insurance market “based on themature processes that have been honed in other service industriesfor over 10 years.”

Mitchell Dispatch allows simple integration with carriersystems, utilizing an architecture built on proven schedulingtechnology already in use by major public utilities companies andsupply-chain management operations, the company noted.

The firm said the product's rules engine can be customizedaccording to a carrier's internal policies and practices, andprovides powerful reporting features for strategic resourceplanning and trend analysis.

The product, according to Mitchell, gives carriers theflexibility to dispatch assignments via the web, e-mail,text-message, or PDA for additional efficiency and convenience.

“By using a completely Web-based system that incorporates themost sophisticated scheduling and routing technology available,insurers can finally achieve a highly efficient and effectiveassignment dispatch process,” said Tom Baird, Mitchell senior vicepresident of product management.

Mitchell Dispatch can schedule batch processing of assignmentsor have them “drip” into the system for dispatch in real-time.Rules-sets may be customized by individual, role, geographicregion, or other criteria to manage different scheduling needs,said Mitchell.

Mitchell Dispatch also manages vacation and sick days, lunchhours, and other variances, updating assignments and schedules asnecessary to adapt to changes in rules or circumstances input bydispatchers, the company said.