Chris McMahon

As direct sales, online comparative raters and insurance aggregators gain visibility in the U.S. market, independent agents continue to offer value to both consumers and insurers, says Bill Wilson, CPCU and associate VP of education and research for Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America. In the first part of this exclusive interview, Wilson discusses trends in insurance distribution, the differences in claims experiences and the fact that not all policies are created equally.

American Family Insurance has received approval from the Federal Aviation Administration to test drones to facilitate catastrophe response.

Beyond matchmaking and introductions, Evosure said the platform now enables agents to communicate and send files and attachments directly to their underwriters. The enhancements are now live for EvoSure’s members.

Atlas General Insurance Services has completed the implementation of the FirstBest Underwriting Management System for its commercial property, commercial general liability and commercial package businesses using UMS Express, FirstBest’s accelerated implementation methodology.

The insurer, which produces as many as 10,000 documents per day, deployed Xpertdoc’s CCM solution to streamline and update their billing processes, enabling control over document content and design, Xpertdoc said.

Insurance broking and risk management firm Marsh has agreed to acquire Dovetail Insurance, provider of insurance technology services for the U.S. small-commercial market. Terms were not disclosed.

Private equity investment firm Thoma Bravo LLC has acquired the provider of cloud-based straight-through processing technology for an undisclosed sum.

United Frontier now will offer agencies access to commercial business owners’ policy, direct bill commission statement, homeowners and dwelling fire download services.

Petersmark has nearly 35 years’ experience as an information technology professional and executive in the insurance industry.

The insurer will implement the Accenture Life Insurance & Annuity Platform and Actuarial Calculation Engine.

Insurer will implement Pixel, a competitive intelligence tool for P&C insurers, as well as Milliman's proprietary market baskets, Milliman said.

SSP, provider of insurance technology in the UK, and Capgemini, a consulting, technology and outsourcing services company, have partnered to help insurers replace legacy systems and accelerate their digital ambitions, the companies said.

To improve the customer experience, the multiline insurer will use PolicyCenter and Rating Management to integrate disparate underwriting and policy admin systems.

Combining the operations of two insurance giants likely would require months of research, as well as an increase in headcount and IT expenditures, at least in the short term.

New offering includes Majesco Billing, which supports P&C and life and annuity lines of business.

Previously head of U.S. claims, Nicole Goodwin will replace Gary Head.

The app uses a phone’s camera to capture and upload images of documents and authorization forms that are needed to evaluate claims, and enables users to monitor their claims’ status.

Higher benefit maximums and online payment option allow for easy, convenient quoting and administration of policies, the insurer says.

Mo Tooker will oversee underwriting across small commercial, middle market, large commercial and personal lines segments and will lead the development of the company’s underwriting approach for new markets and growth areas, The Hartford said.

The mobile app is intended to help driver- education instructors access, record, organize and monitor the progress of students during behind-the-wheel instruction.