An appraisal management company launched a new software system Monday that was developed on a platform as a service provided by customer relationship management technology provider Salesforce.com.
Rockville, Md.-based Coester Appraisal Group said its technology is the first appraisal management technology to be built off the Salesforce.com PaaS called Force.com. The Coester technology, called Cloud Control, provides lenders myriad customizable features for appraisal workflow processes.
Appraisal management technologies provided by vendors like a la mode, FNC, Global DMS and others are used by AMCs to manage incoming valuation orders and distribute them to appraisers. Lenders can use these platforms without an AMC to manage their appraisal ordering while still maintaining compliance with appraiser independence requirements.
In addition to its Force.com PaaS, Salesforce.com's Service Cloud is a technology that provides users with generic tools to create and track transactions across multiple channels. By using the Force.com application programming interface, or API, Coester Appraisal Group built
an application that's native to the Salesforce.com environment and configures Service Cloud to handle the specific demands of an appraisal management CRM system. The new technology comes a year after Coester Appraisal Group developed a mobile application for the appraisal industry.
Technology built off the Force.com API can be plugged into a Salesforce.com account, but to broaden its reach to include lenders who don't use Salesforce.com, Coester built a client and vendor interface for users to access the system without the need for a Salesforce.com account.
The system offers automated appraisal status notifications and escalation processes and can send automated custom emails to specified groups. The system can also provide lenders with automated valuation model estimates and assist lenders in managing their appraiser boards and completed valuation reports.
Coester said it's offering Cloud Control to lenders for free, even if they are not customers of its AMC business, adding that new users can get set up in about 20 minutes.
