Multiple-platform estimating and automatic quoting for network-based parts resale with transferable reports

An estimating platform for preparing an estimate for a claim to repair an automobile, the estimating platform comprising:

• a computing device having a processor;
• an estimating software platform executing on the processor,
• wherein the estimating software platform presents an input screen to receive and initial estimate from a user to repair an automobile, wherein the initial estimate includes a list of parts needed to repair the automobile,
• wherein the estimation software platform provides the initial estimate to a part location system via a communication network
• wherein the estimating platform receives one or more electronic quotations from the part location device in response to an RFQ automatically generated by the part location device based on the initial estimate and sent from the part location device to one or more supplier computers via the communication network,
• wherein the estimating platform automatically incorporates one or more of the quotations received from the parts location device into the initial estimate to form a final estimate.