Suncorp will close a number of RepairLink vehicle assessment centres under a major restructure of its car insurance business.

The insurer aims to streamline processes, with assessments carried out remotely.

It announced a deal earlier this month with software services provider Solera, and will roll out the Audatex cloud-based claims platform from October.

“We don’t want three or four visits to different locations,” a Suncorp spokesman told insuranceNEWS.com.au. “Assessors will be able to do a thorough assessment from an iPad.”

Fairfax Media has reported the number of RepairLink centres will be cut from 26 to 16, but the spokesman insists there has been no confirmation of numbers.

“We are looking at how we can streamline the assessment and repair process, and the current structure of this network is going to change,” he said.

“We will always require some centres, but how many we have and where they will be has not been announced.”

The spokesman also declined to comment further on possible redundancies.

As previously reported by insuranceNEWS.com.au, the Finance Sector Union believes 30-40 jobs may be at risk, and has criticised Suncorp for tight consultation deadlines given to staff.

See earlier story.