Digital Platforms

Injured Workers’ Insurance Fund expects to increase underwriting profitability, drive more business and gain greater appeal with agents.

Life, annuity and pension firms are struggling to generate profits for shareholders, members and policyholders due to the global economic slowdown, increased competition and low interest rates. This confluence of factors is leading many insurers to reassess which products and markets are to be considered strategic, and how to best manage the discontinued, unprofitable and non-strategic portions of their business, according “Strategies and Options for Managing Closed Blocks: Life, Annuities, and Pensions Edition,” a new report from Celent.

In 2011, only two companies in the segment became impaired, the smallest number since 1962.

For the 7th consecutive year, INN recognizes female insurance executives who have made outstanding contributions to their businesses.

Wireless carrier boosts network, hardware, and offers driver analytics and scoring to carriers interested in evaluating its Integrated Insurance Solutions product.

Given the second-quarter decline in the equity markets and no let up in other pressures, Fitch anticipates more modest full-year 2012 results than first-quarter improvements indicate.

Doubts surrounding global rules meant to make investors’ and insurers’ lives easier are increasing as the wait continues.

Competition for the individual retirement market is heating up as the number of baby boomers heading into retirement increases, creating an opportunity for insurers to attract new customers and their assets, according to “The Big Payout: Growing Individual Retirement Income Opportunities 2012,” a report from Conning Research & Consulting.

Cover-All policy administration, commercial lines products selected in an attempt to improve operating efficiency and growth.

Individuals with major driving violations, such as alcohol-related infractions and excessive speeding, have mortality rates—even non-vehicle-related deaths—that are 70 percent higher than individuals who do not, according to motor vehicle record study.

Insurer to implement Innovation Group's entire suite, including policy, claims and analytics elements.

Billing Stream, Claims Stream to be implemented in a multi-phased approach.

Insurer turns to policy management solution to increase automation and streamline disaster recovery underwriters’ workflow.

Diversification and reinsurance likely to prevent large net losses in the wake of widespread drought.

A.M. Best and Deloitte reports find that diversified carriers and those closest to the insured will be best positioned to weather changes to market.

Insurer looks for increased efficiency, service as product is purchased to administer MTL’s life insurance, annuity business.

Ward Group analyzes the financial performance of nearly 800 life/health insurers in the United States annually and identifies top performers in each segment. The Ward’s 50 life/health group of insurance companies produced a 19.0 percent statutory return on average equity from 2007 to 2011 compared with 3.4 percent for the life/health industry overall.

GEICO, RLI and USAA make the list for the 22nd consecutive year.

After auto claims satisfaction dipped in the first quarter, decreased out-of-pocket spending and shorter repair processes contribute to much stronger results in the second quarter.

One offers consistency while the other offers complexity and a chance to engage advanced technologies.

Alfa2Go mobile application now enables customers with iPhone and Android smartphones to pay bills, file claims and access policy info.

Malpractice costs and tort environment are major considerations in decisions to locate and invest, finds Aon analysis.

Security emphasized in the National Institute of Standards and Technology's first set of mobility and management best practices.

With an eye on improved reliability, insurer turns to mobile security company Keynote DeviceAnywhere.

Q2 Confused.com/Towers Watson Car Insurance Price Index also finds personal injury claims jump 18 percent.

AIA Group also plans to enter a bid today before the deadline passes.

Latest version aims to enable quicker document creation and time-to-market for new products.

While the Federal Insurance Office (FIO) attempts to begin its work with the release of the office’s first report pending, Rep. Ed Royce (R-Calif.), a senior member of the House Financial Services Committee, sent a letter to FIO Director Michael McRaith seeking more defined jurisdictions for the FIO and the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC).

BillingCenter to handle both direct and agency billing for Penn National and will be deployed for all lines of business.

Software delivers rating and analytics information to product managers and actuaries.

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act is shaking up the Medicaid market as insurers look to scoop up the business that states are trying to shed.

Insurance is labeled an early adopter of social media in a new report from the International Data Corporation (IDC), titled “2012 U.S. Social Media Trends by Vertical.” The banking industry was cited as being a late adopter.

Big data may be getting all of the hype right now, but its data warehousing platforms and analytics tools and applications that are racking up double-digit market growth, according to a new quarterly industry assessment from IDC.

Although overall activity in the annuity market has been down over the past 13 months, inflows in May increased by slightly more than 1% to $7.5 billion from $7.4 billion in April, according to the Depository Trust & Clearing Corp.

While the adoption of mobile standards is rising fast, it is critical for strategy and development teams to discount the hype, take a comprehensive view of where mobile apps are currently and chart a direction that recognizes that fast changes in the mobile market are inevitable, according to the “Mobile Strategies: State of Mobile Apps 2012” survey, from MGI Research.

Despite increase, quarterly numbers show easing growth, according to index.

Talks could align Freddie's policies with reforms proposed by Fannie.

Novarica finds a lack of social media policies, which increases risk and limits opportunities.

2012 global IT spending projections increase slightly, but still lower than pre-recession levels.

On-Demand SAAS-based agency management system now used for P&C operations.

New briefing from Guy Carpenter offers analysis of global reinsurance market, update on P&C market and trends in life, accident, health and loss warranty markets.

A recent study tested the usability of coverage calculators and site-to-site comparisons, and in the end, found them lacking in almost all cases.

Gartner: By next year, one-third of all business intelligence functionality will be consumed through a mobile device.

The 2012 Mid-Year Salary Survey, just released by Janco Associates and eJobDescription.com, is not good news for IT professionals. The survey shows that hiring and salaries are soft for most IT positions and most North American metropolitan areas.

Huatai's purchase represents the first deployment of anti-fraud analytics in China's insurance industry.

Adults 26 and older see declines in coverage numbers; percentage of adults covered by government health insurance continues to climb.

$61,500 in scholarships awarded in effort to attract and retain up and coming talent.

Intending to address product development and customer service, insurer picks up Duck Creek's policy administration and billing solutions.

U.S. unit could be up for sale as insurer attempts to regain adequate capital levels.

Regulators in New York and California are looking into the extremely high profits yielded from, and competitive nature of, force-placed insurance.

New version designed to offer captive premium payment tracking for both locally, centrally invoiced insurance programs.

Deloitte survey also finds risks not continuously monitored at most firms despite available automation; most intend to revamp risk management within 12 months.