When I was a much younger man, I had a fascination with foreign languages. I imagined being able to converse fluently in Spanish or French within a matter of a few months. Of course, in order to do that, I would have to commit to learning and 
apply myself to a strict study regimen. Easy to do for a young man….. Let me demonstrate how far that got me. I can tell you Mi nombre es Allen y tengo un gato, and I can sing “Be Our Guest” with the same stereotypical French accent as Lumiere in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast. Other than that, I am quite fluent in southern English and pig Latin, and that’s it. To this day, I wish I had taken the time to learn Spanish. It would have served me very well over the last few years, but I just didn’t have the initiative.
While learning another language is admirable and highly recommended, my topic today actually deals with taking the time to learn a different 
kind of language: estimating software. As an independent adjuster, if you limit yourself to knowing only one software platform, then you’re limiting your value. For years, I wore my badge of Xactimate proficiency with great pride. After all, it’s the King of the Estimating Hill and the only platform I need to know…or so I thought. In recent years, I’ve realized the immense value of learning how to navigate other estimating platforms, like Symbility and Simsol. Does every firm require one of these other platforms? Certainly not. However, there are firms that do NOT accept Xactimate, so why should I turn away available work for the simple fact that I haven’t taken the time to learn the nuances of a different estimating software? Is it a pain in the butt? Without a doubt. But it’s a REASONABLE pain and one that is easily remedied, because – let’s be brutally honest here – learning a new software
is NOTHING compared to learning a foreign language. What adjuster in their right mind would purposely turn away a potential income stream for no other reason than not being willing to learn another estimating program?
Now, please, understand that I’m not admonishing all adjusters to learn multiple software programs. If you don’t want to learn more, then don’t. However, I AM saying that having multiple “familiarities” with estimating software is a bonus for you and makes you more appealing to IA firms looking to add talent to their rosters. And, remember, you don’t have to be proficient in every software…. just familiar. It may be months between Symbility estimates for me, but it only takes me about 10-20 minutes, at the most, to refresh my familiarity enough to turn in a thorough estimate.
I realize there’s no Rosetta Stone for rapidly learning new estimating software, but the minimal amount of effort it takes to learn a program compared to the added value it gives you as an independent adjuster is worth the trouble. All three of the platforms discussed today have Demo programs to, at least, wet your feet without having to commit to a monthly subscription. There are also tons of training modules available online, whether on the company web sites or places like YouTube. You’ve invested a lot of your time and money in equipment, tools, etc. Go ahead and invest some time in yourself and ramp up your value as an adjuster. There’s NEVER a negative side to adding more tools to your toolbox, and definitely no negatives to making yourself more marketable, which is exactly what you’ll be doing by becoming well-versed in multiple estimating software programs.