Cover StoryFighting Fraud
30
Carriers are waging an endless battle against fraud. But thedevelopment of technology that improves the speed and accuracy ofidentifying suspicious claims gives carriers a fighting chance to overcomewhat experts believe is a $100 billion problem.
Feature
Internet Risk
44
In the e-commerce economy, businesses face new risks that includetrademark infringement, attacks from killer computer virus and loss ofincome when servers are
offline. Insurance companies have responded by offering policies thatcover e-commerce risks.
Benchmarking IT
50
Benchmarking is an important tool that accountants use to gauge acompany's financial performance. Some insurers are now incorporating theirinvestments in technology to better understand their total return onequity.
Departments
Publisher's
Letter 4
Newsline 8
With its purchase of Pivot, First Union targets online insurance;Small-business market gains another online entrant; InsWeb's investorsawait positive results from its
ongoing restructuring.
Insurance IT Stock Chart 18
Executive
Focus 20
As senior vice president and CIO of Zurich Kemper, Russell Bostickunderstands the importance of
ensuring that technology is a key component of the company's
business strategy.
Electronic
Commerce 26
Allstate Insurance Co. is in the midst of a $1 billion, multichannel
initiative that's transforming how the company interacts with its
policyholders. The company plans to expand its Allstate Direct programto 16 states by the end of the year.
Technology
Focus 55
Artificial intelligence largely has been ignored by insurers. However,as the technology progresses, it's being incorporated into applicationsthat support underwriting, data mining and fraud detection.
Contracts
Update 62
Online Poll 64
