Insure Think

The insurance industry has come to call for rapid adaptation, yet core modernization methods remain antiquated within many carriers.

Everybody seems to constantly be on the lookout for the next big business breakthrough, but what if that big breakthrough is already right in front of you?

A frozen screen is annoying, but when that screen is part of a mission-critical application, the consequences could be far-reaching; a new software tool offers hope.

With precise tools to monitor performance out of the office, home-based service representatives are proving themselves a worthwhile investment.

NASA says the overall sea level has declined over the past year, so what are insurers to think?

An IVANS survey reveals why agents are so reluctant to look to social media for communications and customer service.

A natural-language supercomputer holds unlimited potential in unraveling uncertainties surrounding claims and conditions.

Word-of-mouth has always been powerful; social media is simply supercharging the process.

Real-time, location-based intelligence is transforming the way auto insurers operate.

Proactive response is the key; government action is not the answer.

What's different about today's 'Big Data' when compared to 'Big Data' in 2000 or 1990?

Agile may not be a new methodology anymore, but just because it's been around for a while does not mean it's being used optimally.

How far is too far when it comes to gathering and sharing information about potential customers?

GIS and social media converge to provide a 360-degree view of what's happening on the ground after disasters.

Some surprises emerge as I rehash INN's Legacy Systems Study in light of attempting to update my auto insurance.

Researchers say that old and useless files are taking up valuable space in our systems, space that data-intensive insurance enterprises can’t afford to lose.

Recent discussions on modernizing legacy systems and evolving with cloud computing in the insurance industry reveals transitions are happening quicker and more frequently.

While insurers are dealing with the limitations of “legacy” systems, newer mainframes are making headway by solving legacy problems.

Hurricane Irene and the recent earthquake have made evident the importance of social media; the trick now is to maintain the connection to improve readiness.

Like walking a tight rope, with social media you cannot remain stagnant or ignore it, yet moving forward presents even more uncertainty as compliance enters the picture.

Social media, text messaging, customer assistance and catastrophes: How Irene and the recent earthquake have taught us to communicate.

Steve Jobs' visionary personality often lead him to create against the grain, making it that much easier for him to reshape our personal and professional lives in profound ways.

In a low-growth economy, technology consolidation enables insurers to increase the production of existing agents, expand into new channels and monitor performance of all sales activities.

There are seven sets of open-source applications that run everything from front offices to CRM.

It seems the demands of virtual and cloud technologies may be overheating older insurance hardware systems, but will we replace them?

Though the core systems technologies and services may have reached critical mass in terms of supporting creative disruption, there's always room to ask: What if...?

A new study says most IT operations have and use steering committees, but do these committees have any real say in what goes on?

Ghoulish? Sure, but how can the industry fight the real cause of insurance fraud?

Data centers range from huge industrial complexes to shipping containers to smartphones.

Rethinking marketing resource allocation and service-delivery functions to serve customers in light of a continuously shifting buyer's journey.

Computer modeling has successfully predicted the geographical spread of West Nile virus; can other diseases be far behind?

Using technology to stay ahead of the seemingly impossible compliance curve, and saving a few bucks in the process.

Most insurers accept Facebook as a platform integral to their online strategies; indeed, one insurer reports that 30 percent of its Web traffic originates from Facebook.

Will new problems with credit ratings and international economies short-circuit growth in IT spending? Quite possibly.

Although the insurance industry can be found cautiously lagging behind social media trends, savvy companies can be found making the simple dynamic and social CRM their endgame.

Data security isn’t the only risk associated with cloud computing; physical security is also a challenge.

Women's leadership has come a long way, but as long as women focus their energies on the problem, not the solution, they will continue to play a role in perpetuating a negative trend.

There are multiple examples of how social media data can impact operational results at insurance companies.

An experimental device is alleged to read a driver’s intention to brake, but its practicality and reliability is questionable.

Under-utilized and misunderstood, the agile methodology, if handled correctly, helps deliver software and systems with greater speed. In today's hyper-competitive economy, this is essential.

How will you ensure that the vendor you choose will stand the test of time and will truly become your strategic business partner versus just a technology provider?

A forecast increase in overall IT spending and in cloud computing funding will have to wait for insurer fears to subside.

The insurance industry is seen as a prime example of how to handle data-sharing the right way; namely, collecting data on policyholders' driving habits in order to offer discounts for safe driving behaviors.

Maybe Google Plus will do no more than shake up Facebook ... or will it fragment the audience, making each platform less valuable?

Converting to a new PAS is much like running a race. Preparation is critical, regardless of the distance.

An IBM study confirms consumer demand for technology, but hurdles remain.

Congress is patting itself on the back for its new bill, but the fix is far less than is needed.

What's required is an enterprise tool that can capture and process social media conversations for management and maintenance by the carrier, not the social network service.

Outsourcing may be down a bit, but there's a compelling value proposition in the idea of looking to cloud providers to acquire bite-size chunks of services when needed, paying only for what is used, when it is used.

Other factors, including a bottoming-out of the recession, likely have also played a role.

Deciding where to cut the budget is never easy, but insurers that focus on department metrics, communication with stakeholders, and a thorough review of work performed will be at an advantage.

The user experience is changing for the better, in both subtle and dramatic ways.