Attendees of the Collision Industry Conference held in Philadelphia April 16-17
received a little more insight into the recent announcement that CCC
and Mitchell will merge thanks to Jim Dickens, CCC’s Senior Vice President of Product Management and Marketing.

Perhaps the most compelling information Dickens offered was that the intent of the merger is to go to a single platform.

"A single platform, however, may have multiple databases," Dickens said. "But we can put more R & D into a single platform and make improvements and changes faster."

Dickens also clarified that it is a merger, not an acquisition, but the merger has not officially taken place yet.

"Until we get approvals for the merger, we can’t do much more yet," Dickens said.

At least one attendee expressed concern about the merger creating a monopoly.

"Right now, with only three major data providers, you have limited data resources to begin with, and now you have a situation in which you have your two largest entities merging," she said. "These are things the department of justice looks at."

To read about the initial announcement of the planned merger, click here.