What if you could figure out the total cost of parts and labor to repair a car involved in an accident simply by snapping a photo?
That’s just one of the next-generation technologies Reza Rooholamini’s teams at CCC are working on.
CCC develops technology solutions for automotive insurance companies, manufacturers, collision repair companies and part suppliers. According to Rooholamini, who is the company’s VP of architecture, new technologies, R&D and data science, culture plays a large role in keeping the company on the cutting edge.
“We promote and foster a strong and vibrant culture of innovation, and have an established framework for engineers to keep abreast of new technologies,” said Rooholamini. “Our engineers devote a portion of their time to reading about, researching and investigating new technologies.”
We recently spoke with Rooholamini to learn more about what his teams are currently working on.
You spent almost two decades at Dell before joining CCC. What made you want to take the leap?
I gained a great deal of knowledge and expertise in designing and building complex computer infrastructures at Dell. I joined CCC because of my strong belief that software as a service and cloud computing will be the two major paradigm shifts in computing. CCC has almost 30 years of experience and expertise, along with great brand recognition, in the insurance claim processing industry, and is a pioneer in bringing in new technologies to solve complex business problems.
The company’s success, executive leadership team, vision and the opportunity to develop next-generation solutions using cutting-edge technologies such as AI, IoT and cloud computing also attracted me to CCC.
How has your leadership style evolved over the course of your career?
My leadership style is based on trust and empowerment. My teams are empowered to solve challenging business problems, and I enable team members to explore solutions using their unique and creative mindsets. Technical competency is important, but so is teamwork, honesty, transparency, taking and promoting initiative, and leading by example. As I have advanced in my career, I have evolved from a functional-level manager to a trusted peer and mentor. I have, and will continue to, advise, mentor and help people discover their potential.
What is your approach to adopting new technologies, and how do you keep up with emerging trends?
We proactively evaluate new technologies and create proof-of-concept potential products based on them. These products and solutions are further customized, enhanced and enriched by working jointly with our clients.
I love people who are committed to investing in continuous learning, sharing and helping others.”
What is your team currently working on?
We have successfully developed a machine learning solution that’s able to predict if a damaged car is repairable or unrepairable with an accuracy of close to 95 percent from a single photo. If the car if repairable, the solution will generate the final dollar figure for the fix by generating a detailed list of parts needed along with the required labor.
We have also made tremendous strides in developing solutions that marry vehicle telematics technology and advanced techniques from mechanical engineering. We have made great progress in developing solutions that recreate car accidents and predict the potential bodily injuries involved. These solutions require processing vast amount of data and the creative application of technologies such as deep learning.
What do you think is most important to building a solid team culture?
Clear communication, listening and empowerment are essential elements for building a strong team. Every individual on my team is leading at least one effort, and we always look for opportunities to get people engaged in cross-functional efforts, both inside the office and in the Chicago tech community.
CCC has quite a few open tech roles in Chicago. What do you look for in a candidate?
The most fundamental quality is a strong technical skill set. Moreover, I also look for a passion for learning, the curiosity to explore, a strong desire to solve problems and an innate ability to respect and work with a team of people who have diverse technical and cultural backgrounds. I like for people to share and defend their ideas. However, I value even more the ability to accept, embrace and endorse a better idea or approach. Learning never ends, and I love people who are committed to investing in continuous learning, sharing and helping others.
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