Insure Think

The OS is something we're thinking less and less about, as we focus on higher parts of the stack.

Without talking to my "friends" directly, I have no way of knowing why they clicked on the Like button, rendering an analytical tool of questionable value even further devalued.

With a focus on growth rather than simple cost-cutting, insurance CIOs are trying to deeply change the mix of capabilities, knowledge and assets within their organizations.

If we collectively suffer from a bad rap, it's because our industry lacks a community of leaders that can act as an organized front—a cohesive voice that can rebrand insurance as a prominent and respected force in financial services.

Insurance is said to be leading a tepid revival in IT spending for 2011, but the overall picture is anything but encouraging.

USAA's corporate culture fostered on the inside is reflected out to the market.

Once master data management becomes a reality, companies that hope to truly leverage it will need a tool that marries different platforms, different architectures and different brands of MDM.

It pains me to have regular conversations with industry participants of all persuasions where we all agree that there is room for two big industry shows a year, but not within weeks of each other.

My blog on “Why Do So Many IT Projects Fail” touched a nerve with readers who offered more possible reasons.

The insurance industry needs to emphasize mobile initiatives and begin to guide consumer expectations rather than sit back and watch.

Insurers will be challenged to make work on legacy systems as interesting and fulfilling as any social networking startup may be.

By comparison, insurers must decide which initiative(s) to fund out of many worthwhile projects; developing an objective decision-making model can both help you choose the best projects and build corporate buy-in.

New research is advancing the notion of remote healthcare monitoring, an obvious plus for health insurers, but social factors may inhibit adoption.

Still sorting out how they can leverage it, almost one-third of French insurers are considering investment in social networks, a clear sign demonstrating that value can be generated from data gathering from and customer interactions through this medium.

Experts at the IASA Educational Conference and Business Show came up with lots of potential answers, but a solution continues to elude us.

When creating an “influence channel,” insurers and agents could really help each other: Insurers need social media fan recruitment, and agents need content.

Five Key Points That Should be Part of Every Social Media Policy

Without dirt-cheap storage, there would be no Big Data. And no cloud for that matter, either.

Scientists and the insurance industry are wise to ponder the potential impact of climate change.

Undergoing a PAS replacement affects nearly everyone in the organization, as well as agents and insureds. As a result, organizational change management is essential.

How does the strategically-focused insurance organization avoid the anomaly of Parkinson’s Law, especially given the current economic environment?

Another INN blogger had a different take on Al Gore’s speech at IASA, but in the end, Gore cannot escape the slick image he earned as a politician.

Former Vice President Al Gore touched on everything from Moore’s Law to Minnie Pearl while pondering the impact of technology on the insurance industry, during his keynote address at the 2011 Insurance and Accounting Systems Association conference in Nashville.

When I heard that former Vice President Al Gore was speaking at this year’s IASA Educational Conference and Business Show, I expected political posturing and bloviation mixed with carefully chosen fuzzy bits of science. I was not disappointed.

Organizations need to defend their data assets against internal threats, not only disaffected workers but also trusted administrators who hold the keys.

Core systems renewal and improving the customer experience help optimism hold the lead over pessimism.

Insurers contemplating integrating mobile platforms into their enterprises must take heed of this disturbing trend and make tough calls.

Insurers fail to pay timely benefits because life and annuities business units’ motives for discovery of insureds’ demises differ and their separate blocks are administered on siloed platforms.

Does this mean that our technology providers have emerged from the economic sweat lodge and are now gathered around the tribal fires chanting “Kumbaya” for your benefit? Probably not.

SOA has seen a resurgence, largely because most insurers are contemplating a move to cloud – public, private, or hybrid – and need the supporting infrastructure to make it viable.

At the ACORD Loma Insurance Systems Forum, speakers presented a compelling vision of how the mobility, the cloud and Big Data are set to reshape the industry.

“Innovate or die” is a phrase often bandied about these days, and for insurance companies, it’s advice to take to heart.

Japanese companies are selling “one-time” policies for risks that are interesting and surprising, thanks to wireless technology.

To compete for skilled IT pros in this reviving economy, insurers will to market themselves as great places to work, and offer open, flexible working arrangements, likely with compensation tied to performance.

The annual insurance technology conference saw shifting trends, but issues from the past remain a challenge.

Adopting social media for business purposes is all the rage among journalists and analysts, but on the ground, it has yet to achieve traction in insurance.

Cloud computing may help meet some the challenges that are arising from Big Data.

A data center industry survey sees operations migrating to the cloud as resources dwindle.

Niche brokers and insurers should view telematics as a market differentiator, and auto insurers should think of as a means to meet impending legislation.

A recent article identifies the types of individuals who are likely to cause internal data security problems, but many such problems are caused by folks who put themselves first.

Most everyone agrees they are needed, but the practicalities are the 800-pound gorilla in the room.

Shockingly, there is a stunning disconnect between consumers who are increasingly concerned about data breaches and the boards responsible for preventing them.

The recent storm surge affecting great swaths of the nation has placed the onus on carriers to demonstrate superior customer service with swift claims handling.

Remember this when creating your strategy: It’s not about how you want to sell, it’s about how your customer wants to buy.

For at least the past decade, some have been predicting the extinction of agents, but there are many reasons why they will continue to thrive.

Idea management systems are just one option for insurers looking to innovate and stay ahead of the competition.

A successful PAS refresh requires the collaboration of individuals representing the program management, business and IT functions.

Financial and political hurdles continue to dog policymakers and serve to create a stalemate that will affect the program’s fate.

A new study demonstrates that most users are unable to focus on a single media channel for very long, so how do we get customers to stop and look?

The emerging social aspect to MDM makes insurers’ strategies around collecting and retaining data gleaned from social media engagements all the more important.

Agents and advisers should be well versed in the facts and fallacies regarding disability income insurance.

There are scores of companies out there ready to sell you a policy admin upgrade or total replacement, but deciding when to move is like trying to pick the Kentucky Derby winner.