The restoration industry is shifting, and fast. At this year’s Contractor Connection Conference, one trend was impossible to ignore: estimating workflows are becoming more complex, and new platforms are playing a central role in that evolution.

Chief among them is Claims Estimate by Cotality, a cloud-based estimating system that’s being introduced across an increasing number of managed repair programs. As conversations at the event revealed, the shift toward Cotality is creating both friction and opportunity for restoration contractors.

Photo Credit: WeScope

Cotality: A New Estimating Environment

Cotality is a web-based platform built to streamline and standardize the property claims estimating process, particularly within managed repair networks. It brings together estimating, documentation and file management into one interface designed for speed, accuracy and compliance. As an all-in-one system, Cotality aims to help contractors produce estimates that meet program requirements while improving communication and reducing cycle times.

But for many contractors, that promise is still out of reach.

Over the course of two packed expo days, we spoke with hundreds of contractors—many of whom expressed concern about how to meet carrier expectations inside Cotality. Common questions included how to document properly, which file formats to submit and how to maintain margins when shifting from Xactimate to a platform they’re unfamiliar with.

The knowledge gap is affecting operations. Some contractors are declining program work because they’re not comfortable with the software. Others are concerned about costly errors that might delay payment or require extensive revisions. Internally, district managers and coordinators are being asked to support Cotality-based claims, but aren’t always equipped with the processes to do so.

A Barrier or a Competitive Advantage?

There is no denying the learning curve. However, we see this as a pivotal moment in the industry. Contractors who invest in thorough training and well-defined processes can leverage platforms like Cotality as a significant differentiator. As more repair networks require digital-first estimating tools, proficiency in platforms like Cotality may become the key factor that sets one contractor apart from another.

Restoration businesses that develop adaptable and highly skilled estimating teams now will be well-positioned to take on high-volume program assignments in the future. With compliance standards becoming increasingly stringent, contractors recognized for their dependability and technology fluency will have a distinct advantage as trusted partners.

Photo Credit: WeScope

Meeting the Next Generation of Operators

Another major highlight from the conference was meeting restoration professionals who were newer to the industry. Some were launching their first ventures, while others were just beginning to take on program assignments. Many were surprised to learn about the support systems available; everything from estimating partners to workflow design consultants.

These contractors weren’t intimidated by the technology itself. What they wanted was clarity: How do we write program-compliant estimates without overwhelming our team or sacrificing profit? How do we build an estimating process that can grow with us?

This new generation is asking the right questions, and those questions underscore a bigger theme. The future of restoration won’t be defined just by the software we use, but by how well we prepare our people to use it.

Why These Conversations Matter

We also want to recognize the Contractor Connection Conference for its practical, contractor-focused programming this year. Sessions on AI, project management and operational efficiency created space for real learning—something the industry needs more of.

For Team WeScope, this event was a reminder of how much value there is in listening. Across every conversation, the message was clear: the demand for accurate, timely estimating is growing and so is the complexity behind it. But with the right tools and training, the restoration community is more than capable of meeting that challenge.

As platforms like Cotality become the new standard, it’s time to shift the conversation from confusion to confidence. Whether you're stepping into program work for the first time or evolving your internal workflows, preparation now will pay dividends later.

Let’s keep the conversation going.