Digital Platforms

LONDON and PRINCETON--Aon Re International has today announced that it has licensed the Pivot Point insurance transaction system from CATEX Inc. Pivot Point is a web-based system handling the full reinsurance process from business production and quoting through to IBA ledger.

The Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association (BCBSA) announced today that the Web site of its Technology Evaluation Center has been awarded Health Web Site Accreditation from URAC, a Washington, DC-based healthcare accrediting organization that establishes quality standards for the healthcare industry. The accreditation applies to the Technology Evaluation Center Web site at bcbs.com/tec

ALBANY, N.Y. -- New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer sued insurance giants Marsh & McLennan, American International Group and several others Thursday, alleging policy brokers have been taking payoffs from insurance companies to steer corporate clients their way rather than get the best prices, as they are required.

PEARL RIVER, NY--ACORD, the global leader in standards for the insurance and financial services industries, is launching an advocacy campaign that features original print and web advertising that takes a humorous look at a world without standards.

BOSTON, Oct. 14--OneBeacon Insurance, a wholly owned subsidiary of White Mountains Insurance Group, Ltd., today announced that Matt Mueller has joined the company to lead its high-tech commercial insurance business.

DALLAS--Docucorp International, a leading provider of enterprise information solutions, announced today the introduction of QuickConnect, a process designed to upgrade the company's longtime Documerge customers to its rules-driven, real-time publishing solution.

SEATTLE--Safeco announced today that its aggregate pretax catastrophe losses for the third quarter are estimated at $195 million. The estimated effect on third-quarter net income is $127 million after tax, or $0.96 per diluted share. Safeco expects its total catastrophe losses to increase the company's third-quarter combined ratio by 13.9 percentage points and that, as a result, its third-quarter combined ratio will be 101.6 percent.

PEARL RIVER, NY--ACORD released a new Strategic Briefing, Impact of Technology and Data in Rating A Company's Financial Strength, that provides insight into the process used by one of the industry's leading ratings agencies when evaluating the technological capabilities of an insurer, reinsurer, or intermediary.

New Haven, CT--Metaserver, Inc., a leading provider of business process integration (BPI) solutions for the insurance industry, today announced the release of iConnect 2.0 for P&C, the latest version of its agency interface solution for Property and Casualty carriers.

Growing market share and reducing costs currently are the most important business objectives for life insurers, a new survey reveals. The study, conducted by SOLCORP, DSPA Software and Whitehill Technologies, reveals that 77% of executives polled believe that the best means to improve profitability and revenue are to increase their market shares while reducing overall expenses.

NEW YORK--MetLink, MetLife's state-of-the-art employer benefits administration portal, has received a Web Marketing Association 2004 Standard of Excellence Web Award. This annual award competition judges corporate Web sites against an overall standard of excellence related to design, innovation, content, technology, interactivity, navigation and ease of use.

AUSTIN, TX--Webify Solutions, a provider of On Demand Applications for the insurance industry, today announced that Fireman's Fund Insurance Company (FFIC), a leading provider of property and casualty insurance products, has selected and begun to implement Webify's service oriented business applications.

ALPHARETTA, Ga.-- ChoicePoint, a provider of identification and credential verification services, today announced its acquisition of InsurQuote, a leading provider of insurance rating solutions to the property and casualty carrier markets.

University Park, IL--Vista Equity Partners and James P. Kellner have acquired Applied Systems, Inc., the insurance software company born 20 years ago in suburban Chicago as a one-product, home-based business that grew to become the leading provider of automation solutions in the property and casualty insurance industry.

The saying goes: "If you want something done right, do it yourself." And, when it comes to sales and marketing analysis, risk management and financial reporting, insurance analysts, managers and executives are taking matters into their own hands-thanks to software that gives them immediate access to corporate data.Instead of waiting in line for an IT department to generate static (often paper) management reports, more and more insurance companies are employing business intelligence tools to interact directly with the data they need for planning and decision-making.

The Internet is the preferred vehicle of choice among auto insurance shoppers. But some big-name insurers' Web sites aren't designed to entice consumers on the information highway.That's the conclusion drawn by two separate reports, one benchmarking key features and offerings from 14 auto insurance providers, and the other measuring consumer satisfaction of 23 leading auto insurance providers' Web sites. The reports indicate that the leaders' are doing a good job of satisfying Web consumers' desire for quick, accurate quotes, online support for claims, and detailed product descriptions.

As insurers in September mobilized their claims efforts following three powerful hurricanes, many insurers came to the realization that risk assessment for hurricanes is under closer scrutiny. Some insurers that conduct business in Florida might be best served reassessing their strategies to reduce their exposure to risk.An actuarial executive for one Florida-based insurance company asserted that the industry needs to have a better grasp of the cyclical nature of hurricanes. The industry must also better understand hurricane frequency over a short period of time, such as the three hurricanes--Charley, Frances and Ivan--that walloped the U.S. mainland in just over one month's time.

As it relates to their online activities, insurance companies are jeopardizing their relationships with customers by failing to protect the privacy of their personal information.That's according to the Customer Respect Group, a Bellevue, Wash.-based research firm that studies how corporations treat customers online.

The Contracts Update section includes announcements of contracts insurance information technology companies have signed with customers in recent weeks. Contract news can be faxed to Insurance Networking magazine at (312) 913-1366 or by electronic mail to Stephen.Dwyer thomsonmedia.com CGI Group Inc.

Electronic submission of workers' compensation, commercial auto and general liability applications will soon become easier than ever for most Wausau Insurance producers, brokers and agents. Building on its current Applied System's interface, Wausau can now accept submissions from the AMS Sagitta Browser and AFW Online products.

WASHINGTON-- How much life insurance do I need? What does long-term care cost in my area? Should I buy disability insurance?

NEW YORK --Even before the full impact of the recent hurricane activity is known, the majority of the 150 senior insurance executives surveyed are less optimistic about premium growth and the industry's ability to increase margins, according to KPMG LLP.

REDWOOD CITY, Calif. -- Informatica Corporation, a leading provider of data integration software, today announced that CNA, a leading property and casualty insurer, has won DM Review's 2004 World Class Solutions Award for its successful implementation of Informatica's market-leading data integration software.

Newark, Calif.--Responding to increases in the frequency and severity of global terrorist activity in each of the past three years, Risk Management Solutions (RMS), the world's leading provider of products and services for the management of catastrophe risk, today announced the launch of a new suite of tools designed to help insurers and reinsurers manage terrorism risk outside the U.S. The tools include the industry's first Global Terrorism Risk Model, as well as a multi-country expansion of the RMS(R) Terrorism Scenario Model and accumulation management functionality in the company's RiskLink(R) catastrophe management software.

LOS ANGELES--RPost, The Registered e-Mail Company (www.rpost.com), announced today its revolutionary (R)egistered e-Mail(R) product has been endorsed by The Council of Insurance Agents & Brokers. The Council represents the top one-percent of all commercial property/casualty and employee benefits brokers in the United States, a group that places 80 percent of commercial insurance premiums.

PeopleSoft and IBM will jointly market and deliver integrated, cross-functional industry solutions targeted at solving some of the most difficult business process challenges facing companies today.

HALIFAX, Nova Scotia --Manulife Financial and CGI Group Inc. (CGI), today announced the signing of the contract to create a new information technology development centre in Halifax. The signing of the memorandum of understanding was previously announced on June 9, 2004.

ANDOVER, Mass.-- CGI Group Inc. (CGI) announced the release of INSideOUT Version 9. INSideOUT's Version 9 offers significant value to customers by improving productivity and lowering maintenance costs.

PORTLAND, Ore-- Standard Insurance Company, a subsidiary of StanCorp Financial Group, Inc., has launched The Standard Advisor Partner, a new service model created to develop business partnerships between The Standard and third party administrators and pension consultants.

NEW YORK, Sept. 20--Total data storage-related industry revenues are expected to increase approximately 5% for full-year 2004, says Standard & Poor's Equity Research in a new, semiannual study of the industry.

CARLSBAD, Calif. and QUINCY, Mass., --Arbella Insurance Group, a property & casualty insurer, has chosen Document Sciences Corporation's ReadyForms as their enterprise document automation solution. ReadyForms provides a library of pre-built electronic bureau forms, complete with pre-defined business rules for automated forms assembly, and delivery via Document Sciences' xPression content processing technology.

PEARL RIVER, NY--At a September 8 ceremony in London, ACORD as presented with The Review Worldwide Reinsurance Industry Initiative of the Year Award for 2004. ACORD President and CEO, Gregory A. Maciag, accepted the award on behalf of ACORD's more than 480 members worldwide.

BATON ROUGE, La. - While Louisiana's new insurance high-risk pool hasn't had enough time to build up a financial cushion to absorb the potential effects of Hurricane Ivan, other reforms in place should enable insurers to pay ensuing claims.

When Jacksonville, Fla.-based Allstate Workplace Division, a provider of disability income, hospital indemnity, term and universal life and supplemental insurance products, developed an electronic worksite application called AllApp, the company went out to the field to build a consensus about how the application should be designed.

ANCHORAGE, Alaska -The Credit Scoring Working Group of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) adopted its "best practices" document today in Anchorage, despite strong objections from insurers.

September 14, 2004 -MI-Assistant, a division of Fiserv FSC, Inc. announced today that independent insurance distributors in five Midwestern states are now writing auto insurance faster and more efficiently using a bridging system that connects MI Comparative rater, MI-Assistant's rating program with Safeco Insurance's Safeco Now online sales platform.

SANTA MONICA--Digital Evolution, a leading provider of Web Services Security and Management software, today announced the acquisition of Flamenco Networks, a leading provider of specialized network infrastructure to enterprises that are implementing secure, service oriented architectures. Only weeks after announcing a $15 million Series C Round of funding, the acquisition of Flamenco Networks propels Digital Evolution ahead of all other competitors in breadth and maturity of SOA product offerings and customer base.

SAN FRANCISCO--Esurance, a direct-to-consumer personal auto insurance company, announced the launch of its new service powered by eStara, Inc. eStara's Push to Talk is a fully-hosted, Voice over the Internet (VoIP) "click to call" service, the most widely-deployed service of its kind in the world. The click to call feature allows Esurance customers to click a button to speak with an Esurance insurance advisor directly from Esurance's Web site, from PC-to-phone or through phone-to-phone calls.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Humana Inc. is taking full advantage of processing efficiencies from technology investments and changing market dynamics by naming Availity LLC its primary gateway for the submission of claims and encounters. Under this national arrangement, Humana is asking all of its major clearinghouses to send submissions destined for Humana through Availity.

The Citizens and Hanover Insurance Companies have launched The Agency Place, a new, web-based agency portal that provides its network of independent agents with centralized access to all of the information and tools they need to conduct business in the most efficient and simplest manner possible. The Agency Place is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, making it easier for agents to conduct business on their own schedules.

BETHLEHEM, Pa.--A new Web site, InsuranceGripe.com has been created in an effort to help consumers complain to their respective insurance departments about insurance problems. The site was created specifically to walk consumers through the process of collecting the proper information, preparing a letter and sending the letter to the appropriate address. According to Rick Weidman, President and CEO, "this site has been long overdue for insurance customers and shoppers. If you have ever had an insurance problem and attempted to contact your insurance department to complain, it can be a daunting experience.

HARTFORD, Conn.--Life insurers suffered a steep decline in gross investment returns over the last five years, led by falling interest rates, corporate defaults, and rating agency downgrades, according to a new study by Conning Research & Consulting, Inc.

ST. LOUIS--With 120-mile-per-hour winds and devastating force, Hurricane Charley ripped into the Alligator Mobile Home Park in Punta Gorda, Florida earlier in the month. If the destruction wasn't enough, just two weeks later Hurricane Frances hit Florida 's East coast with 100 mile-per-hour winds. RVs were overturned, belongings strewn for hundreds of yards, and in its wake, hundreds of RVers were left homeless and stranded, their lives threatened to come to a screeching halt.

LONGMONT, Colo.--- First MainStreet, a northern Colorado financial services organization offering banking, insurance, trust, investment and mortgage products and services, announces that First MainStreet Insurance acquired Value Quote Insurance, a Longmont-based insurance agency guiding individuals and businesses through the health insurance purchase process, and providing administrative services for employee benefit programs. Details about the transaction are undisclosed.

When it comes to e-commerce, insurers have made a lot of progress over the past several years. They've equipped their employees with browser-based policy, claims, and customer service applications. They've developed self-service features for policyholders on their Web sites. And they've rolled out real-time transactions-such as quoting, policy issuance and inquiry-to their agents and brokers.But just as the insurance industry is embracing the Internet and increasingly harnessing its ability to improve productivity and operational efficiency, malicious attacks--which can bring down corporate networks and compromise confidential company and customer information--are growing exponentially.

Mutual of Omaha Insurance Co. decided that 2004 would be the year to significantly increase its e-mail sales and marketing efforts. The e-mail program would be part of a comprehensive Internet marketing strategy that would enable the insurer to generate sales for such products as life insurance, accidental death and dismemberment, hospital indemnity and medical supplement.In the big picture, the electronic marketing effort was just a fraction of the Omaha, Neb.-based insurance and financial services giant's ambitious multimedia marketing strategy, which includes television, telemarketing and direct mail.

When politicians earlier this year were taking pot shots at offshore outsourcing, some insurance industry experts suggested that the backlash could have a "chilling" effect on potential deals, at least in the near term.However, that notion was laid to rest with the announcement in July that Zurich Financial Services had agreed to a seven-year applications sourcing contract with Computer Sciences Corp.

With a legal challenge mounting from industry trade groups, several states that were planning to conduct a multi-state study of credit-based insurance scores have suspended that effort.Instead, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) will appoint a five-member panel to work with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Federal Reserve Board on their federally mandated research into the underwriting practice.

If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, then U.S. insurance companies are making their contribution to this well-worn axiom.North American insurers currently are pursuing global expansion at the brisk pace rivaling European insurers' foray into U.S. markets in the early 1990s, according to a recent report by Needham, Mass.-based research and advisory firm TowerGroup.

Despite all the progress that has been made in developing agent-carrier interfaces, insurance agents, particularly those who are independent, want more workflow support than they're currently receiving from the insurance companies with which they conduct business.In a survey conducted by Scituate, Mass.-based Deep Customer Connections (DCC), there's a gap between agents' expectations and carriers' performance-a gap that has widened since DCC's first survey last year. The Web-based poll was sent to more than 40,000 independent insurance agencies and brokerages nationwide.

The Contracts Update section includes announcements of contracts insurance information technology companies have signed with customers in recent weeks. Contract news can be faxed to Insurance Networking News magazine at (312) 913-1366 or by electronic mail to Stephen.Dwyer thomsonmedia.com AGO Insurance Software Inc.

Fiserv Inc. has acquired Results International Systems, Inc., a provider of outsourced solutions for the property-and-casualty insurance industry.