Click-Ins’ damage-identification technology is now patented.

The provider of artificial intelligence-powered vehicle inspection systems announced the United States Patent and Trademark Office has granted U.S. Patent No. 12374135B2 to its DamagePrint technology, which Click-Ins called “a novel method of creating a unique digital signature of damage from a single image.”

The company said the newly patented technology, rooted in computer vision, visual intelligence and criminology, is the product of nearly a decade of research and development. The system is designed to create a “digital fingerprint” of each damage for precision in matching and comparison across images.

In a news release, Click-Ins said DamagePrint is applicable in multiple automotive segments, as well as other industries.

The company said it’s the only patented technology capable of qualitatively comparing damages between pick-up and drop-off of rental and lease vehicles, and said it can streamline inspections, lower costs and create transparency in fleets and dealer networks in automotive and logistics.

Click-Ins also noted its ability to match damage signatures can be a tool for fraud prevention and claims accuracy in the insurance business, adding the same approach can extend to homeland security, smart cities, forensics and vehicle re-identification, in which DamagePrint could digitize and match other unique physical features.

“This patent is much more than legal protection,” CEO Josh Parsons said. “It validates the strength of our scientific and algorithmic foundation, which is not easily replicated or replaced by the latest wave of generative AI. Just as fingerprints uniquely identify humans in criminology, DamagePrint uniquely identifies damage. That uniqueness is what makes this technology transformative.”

The company said the patent covers any camera or image-capturing device, from smartphones to stationary and automated systems, ensuring broad applicability across industries.