When catastrophe (CAT) events strike—whether hurricanes, hailstorms, or tornadoes—insurance carriers face the task of responding quickly to thousands of property claims. The pressure and urgency to help policyholders is immense. To meet this demand, organizations rely on surge support: a mix of internal staff, independent adjusters, and third-party firms brought in to scale operations rapidly.
But speed comes at a potential cost.
One of the biggest challenges during CAT events is claims accuracy, particularly around building codes, permitting requirements, and local tax rates. These are not only essential for a precise estimate and regulatory compliance—they’re also the foundation of trust in the face of a crisis. And in the rush to deploy help and close files, accuracy often suffers.
That’s where OneClick Code comes in.
The Challenge: Inconsistency in the Wake of Disaster
During a CAT event, organizations often need to scale up quickly with outside support and supplemental staff—many of whom are unfamiliar with the local geographies or building code requirements in the impacted areas. With time of the essence, many estimates are created without access to correct data, which starts with the correct jurisdiction. Surprisingly, 45% of property addresses are in a jurisdiction that is different from the postal address, and there can be substantial differences between jurisdictions regarding building code, sales tax, and permit fees. The results?
- Building Codes: Without the correct jurisdiction, it can be time-consuming to identify or validate key building code requirements (Ice and Water Shield, Drip Edge), which can have a material impact on claims accuracy. OneClick analysis has demonstrated that these inaccuracies can impact claims payout an average $1000 to $2000 per roof replacement claim.
- Sales Tax: Sales tax variation—especially for large claims such as roof replacements —can result in hundreds or thousands of dollars in discrepancy per claim, due to jurisdiction-specific rates.
- Permit Fees: Without a centralized data source, it is time-consuming and challenging to ensure the correct payment for permit fees. Without clear visibility into how jurisdictions calculate permit fees, Carriers today may unintentionally pay for sales tax as a line item, as well as part of the permit fee.
Beyond direct impact on claims accuracy, there are significant operational challenges in accessing the correct information for estimation:
- Outdated or missing code requirements: Time is wasted researching codes—or they are skipped altogether—leading to inaccurate scopes.
- Rising supplements: Inaccurate estimates mean contractors file corrections, delaying settlements and increasing friction.
- Reputational risk: Inconsistent handling of claims during a crisis erodes policyholder trust when it matters most.
CAT events stress-test claims organizations requiring rapid expansion of the team and fast claims settlement. To ensure accuracy of claims, adjusters need access to instant and accurate jurisdictional data.
OneClick Code: Delivering Accuracy When It Matters Most
OneClick Code was purpose-built for this challenge. Our platform enables organizations to deliver consistent, defensible estimates—even when leveraging large, decentralized claims teams during CAT events.
Here’s how we help:
Accurate Jurisdiction Identification
Our patent-pending technology automatically determines the correct jurisdiction for every property, based on geospatial logic—not just the mailing address. This ensures that your teams apply the right building codes and tax rates, no matter who’s writing the estimate.
Verified Building Code Data with Documentation
OneClick provides up-to-date, enforceable code requirements along with jurisdiction-specific documentation. This enables desk reviewers and frontline specialists to include proper code upgrades, improving accuracy and minimizing contractor disputes.
Precise Sales Tax Application
We include local sales tax rates—both on materials and labor—so estimates reflect real-world costs and stay in compliance with local regulations.
No Training Required, Easily Scalable
Our platform is intuitive and accessible via web, app, or API—so independent specialists and surge teams can use it immediately without special training. That means accuracy doesn’t depend on who is writing the claim.
Accurate Codes, Accurate Claims
By equipping claims handlers with accurate data up front, OneClick helps organizations avoid the top driver of rework: code disputes. This leads to faster settlements, happier policyholders, and less administrative waste.
Why It Matters
When your claims team is overwhelmed, consistency is the key to control. With OneClick Code, you’re not relying on tribal knowledge, personal judgment, or time-consuming research to get estimates right—you’re standardizing accuracy across your organization, even in its most decentralized moments.
The result?
- Claims are handled faster
- Estimates are more defensible
- Policyholders get the right settlement the first time
- Your brand is protected when it matters most
Be Ready for the Next CAT Event
Whether you're preparing for storm season or responding to an active catastrophe, OneClick Code gives you the infrastructure to scale without sacrificing accuracy. Because getting it right matters more than ever in the midst of a CAT event.
Give your teams the tools to get it right the first time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How can a carrier maintain claims accuracy and consistency when scaling its teams during a CAT event?
A: During a CAT event, a carrier can maintain claims accuracy and consistency by providing its teams with a standardized source for precise building code and sales tax data. This prevents reliance on tribal knowledge and ensures all claims are processed with the correct information from the start.
Q: What is the main challenge with relying on a property's mailing address to determine building codes during a catastrophe?
A: The main challenge with using a mailing address for building codes during a catastrophe is that postal boundaries often don't align with jurisdictional lines. A single ZIP code can have multiple local authorities, each with different code compliance rules, leading to errors and inconsistent claims handling.
Q: How does faster access to accurate building code data help reduce supplements and shorten cycle times for property claims?
A: By providing instant access to accurate building code and permit data, claims professionals can create complete and defensible estimates from the start. This proactive approach reduces the need for costly supplements, minimizes contractor disputes, and ultimately shortens the overall claim cycle time.
Q: How can claims technology improve a carrier's overall CAT claims management and risk mitigation strategy?
A: Claims technology, like an automated building code platform, enhances a carrier's CAT claims management by allowing them to scale operations without sacrificing quality. This leads to more accurate indemnity payouts, better risk mitigation, and a more resilient claims infrastructure for future catastrophes.
