Automotive data intelligence provider Glass’s has announced that it will be withdrawing its GlassMatix bodyshop estimating system from the Irish market in the first quarter of 2017.

GlassMatix has become the main estimate calculation system used by repairers, assessors and insurers in recent years, but the company has decided to cease production and support for the product as of 31st March 2017.

James Heath of Glass’s Customer Support Team commented, “There will be no replacement for GlassMatix for our Irish customers. However, we are working with a leading 3rd party software provider to offer an alternative repair data solution and we hope to announce more details on this shortly. Each customer will be contacted directly to discuss this withdrawal in further detail.”

GlassMatix will continue to be fully supported and updated until March 31st 2017. The company advises that customers who have subscriptions which expire after March 2017 will be offered a refund for the remainder of the subscription period. Subscribers who have agreements which expire before March 2017 will be able to renew on a pro-rata basis.

The news of the withdraw and the relatively short timetable will put pressure on repairers and insurers to find workable alternatives in a short space of time. Much of the industry’s current repair administration is based around the system and implementing alternatives is also likely to imply an added investment cost at a time when most repairers are highly concerned about work volumes and low profit margins.