Advancing the Commercial Restoration Game with 3D Technology

3/29/2021 (Permalink)

3D scanning technology can reduce their downtime, restore their properties, and settle claims faster.

In the commercial cleanup and restoration game, performance is everything.

It’s critical for business owners and property managers to recover quickly from water, storm, or fire damage. Now, thanks to 3D scanning technology, commercial clients can reduce their downtime, restore their properties, settle claims and get back to business more efficiently than ever before. 

Matterport’s 3D reality capture technology has been around for a while, primarily used in the real estate industry to help sell homes. Instead of relying on 2D photographs, the technology takes comprehensive 3D scans in real-time that capture every detail.

Once the technology expanded into the cleanup and restoration world, SERVPRO of NW Charlotte, Lincoln County, Southern and NE Gaston County  was an early adopter among the 1,700 SERVPRO franchises across the country. When Mitigation Estimating Manager (and Matterport ambassador) Jason Sadler told franchise owners Penny Benkeser and Danny Cox about the camera technology, they were immediately ready to “jump on board” as the first franchise to implement Matterport in the greater Charlotte area.

Not only does the investment streamline the property restoration process, it instills peace of mind for business owners, property managers and adjusters.

Loss documentation process goes from arduous to efficient

There are many moving parts and pieces during any restoration project, especially with more extensive and complex business losses from storm damage or fire and water damage. Once SERVPRO’s disaster recovery team arrives on a scene, they must determine where and how the damage occurred and thoroughly document the scene for an insurance claim. 

Using 3D technology shifts the loss documentation process from arduous to efficient, Sadler said. Project managers no longer need to spend a tremendous amount of time walking and measuring properties and buildings while simultaneously sketching and scanning drawings or taking, labeling and documenting 2D photos.

“The Matterport technology scans the property and creates a 3D model and floor plan that the restoration team, client and insurance adjuster can securely access online from anywhere,” Sadler said. “We’re not doing the documentation process and the adjuster isn’t doing it; the camera is doing it for us with 99-percent accuracy, which takes human error out of the picture and holds everyone accountable.”

Using snapshots in time to save time … and ensure accuracy

The technology is a tremendous time-saver for disaster cleanup and restoration - whether it’s a fire, water or storm emergency, Sadler said. Precise measurements of a commercial building or property mean more accurate loss and repair estimates and fewer discrepancies on damage claims.

Adjusters can review property scans the same way as project managers. They can zoom in and out of a 3D model on their computer screen and measure remotely, which means less time spent on the job site. This helps expedite the claims process because adjusters know they can trust the camera’s accuracy and ability to capture every detail.

“The ability to have a snapshot in time before major disruption and restoration of the job site is paramount. Everyone - project managers, clients and adjusters - can see exactly what a business looked like at that precise moment when the property was scanned,” Sadler said.

He added, “That’s powerful because things happen in between that time and when you take additional pictures for the restoration and repair process. You don’t want to miss out on certain details of the claim, certain line items or certain objects because every little detail is required to help our commercial customers get back to business quickly and efficiently.”

24-hour emergency commercial building restoration services

We’re locally owned and operated and part of the Mecklenburg, Lincoln and Gaston communities. Our commercial restoration and cleaning technicians are employees, not contractors. They can respond to commercial property emergencies with the most advanced cleaning equipment, products and 3D technology to get you back to business. To learn more, call us anytime at (704) 393-7890 or request help online.