Insure Think

As more and more consumers use comparison-shopping sites, a major question arises for carriers and agents: Are online comparison shoppers really good customers for your book of business?

AHIP's last-second change of heart exposes it to retribution.

We already know the self-service ethic is a winning approach for many insurers, so why not self-service IT?

The real issue buried behind the Justice Department's investigation of IBM is not the hardware monopoly, but the fact that many companies have mission-critical systems running on these mainframes; systems in which they have invested too much money to move.

Reports indicate that revenue support is not going to come from a hardening market.

What do we do when the technology environment changes too quickly for us to respond to it? Quantum physics may provide an answer or two.

Forrester polled 65 insurance IT decision-makers about their infrastructure priorities for 2010, and 48% said extending the life of their hardware was of critical importance.

The power of the list is its ability to bring focus, which is especially helpful for insurance and IT professionals who invariably have their plates full.

Insurers must encrypt or mask sensitive data that leaves production environments regardless of its destination.

Despite the gloomy economic picture, many insurers are still upgrading or replacing policy admin systems but, once done, place more responsibility in the hands of business users than IT.

In this information age, perhaps the biggest challenge for insurers and consumers alike is learning to filter through the media deluge for what's truly meaningful.

Given the rise of smartphone adoption among U.S. insurance customers, there is now a massive demand to engage insurers via the mobile Web.

Royal Bank of Scotland Insurance is reportedly moving its claims management system to India.

IT departments are now expected to play a feature role in driving the future growth of the business.

Insurers cutting maintenance levels is a bit like a pro athlete cutting back his workouts—the lack of “maintenance” will eventually show in his performance, or lack thereof.

Millennials dislike the world their forebears created, and have the current financial crisis, complete with negative opinions of banks and insurers, fueling their disdain.

Insurers should examine their current systems for untapped features and functionality.

Celent says two recent policy admin deals in the UK is a sign insurers are looking to get back on track with IT investments.

The arrival of BPM as a transformational initiative is creating new opportunities for carriers to think about new ways of doing business.

One of the best things about covering the technology industry is that one doesn’t usually have to sully oneself with the hogwash that passes for discourse and wisdom among our nation’s politicians.

Insurance IT Budgets: It’s a tricky time for those who must make plans for next year, but where should insurers draw the line between caution and boldness?

With the acquisition of Perot, the purveyor of servers signals an intention to focus on services.

Insurers should think less about functions and the data itself, and focus instead on processes.

With 40 years of reliability, there may still be a place for mainframes in insurance IT shops.