May 17, 2016—Openbay announced on Tuesday that it has partnered with Allstate, putting the Massachusetts-based online auto service marketplace squarely in front of the insurance giant’s 16 million customers through the Allstate website and mobile apps.
The partnership, according to a release, was made in an effort to help consumers to more quickly and efficiently have their vehicles serviced.
Openbay is an online marketplace for non-collision auto repair and maintenance, with the goal of helping consumers make the choice of where to bring their vehicles for service. It has appointment-booking tools, as well as a price-comparison component in which consumers receive bids from local shops (pre-screened and approved for the Openbay network) and can compare based on reviews, facility proximity, price and warranty offerings.
Openbay also maintains digital service records for future access and sends customers reminders of manufacturer-recommended service intervals.
“A massive and growing market of older vehicles continues to dominate U.S. roadways. Quality parts, quality service, and a willingness by the consumer to invest in repair and maintenance services are all playing a key role in this trend,” said founder and CEO of Openbay Rob Infantino. “Consumers realize that regular maintenance and timely repairs will extend the life of their vehicles. Allstate and Openbay are helping consumers along this path by connecting them with local automotive services centers.”
With the Allstate partnership, Openbay’s services will be available to the insurer’s customers on allstate.com, through the Allstate Mobile app’s “My Rides” section, and the Drivewise app.
Through the app, Allstate will be able to provide its customers with multiple quotes from local service centers, including dealerships, and tools to help the decision making process including reviews, pricing, and warranty.
“Well maintained vehicles make the road safer for everyone. Consumers consistently indicate that identifying a quality auto-repair facility is a major pain point, which may serve as a deterrent to regular maintenance and repairs. Integrating with Openbay enables Allstate to ease the burden of comparing and booking vehicle service,” Gary Hallgren, Allstate Connected Car president, said. “This is another example of services we’re delivering that go beyond what people might expect to receive from an insurance company. Through our mobile apps, customers can also access helpful resources such as information on vehicle recalls, where to find low gas prices in the area and parking reminders.”
