Orlando, Fla., and El Segundo, Calif. - Applied Systems Client Network (ASCnet) and Computer Sciences Corp. (CSC) each awarded customers at their respective conferences.Chambersburg, Pa.'s Strickler Agency Inc. received the inaugural "Interface Agency of the Year Award" presented by ASCnet, the user group for Altamonte Springs, Fla.-based Applied Systems agency technology. The award was presented at the 22nd Annual Technology, Education & Networking Conference.
The award recognizes outstanding use of download and real-time communications by an ASCnet member agency. To be considered for the honor, agencies and brokerages were required to demonstrate in an essay how it has met these criteria:
- Effective implementation of real-time and download transactions.
- Proactive training of staff on these agency-company workflows.
- Measurable results achieved through implementation.
- Improved agency profits as a result of adoption of the technology.
To enhance its customer service capabilities, says Patricia Brookens, the agency's information technology manager, the agency leverages IVANS Transformation Station for real-time functionality, providing relief from double entry. "Our top five personal lines carriers have invested in real-time rating, and our agency is taking full advantage of it," she notes. "We can now obtain a quote from multiple carriers in the same time frame it previously would have taken to get one quote.
"Technology such as Transformation Station and policy download enhances the workflow for our staff," Brookens says. "We must be proactive to work with our carriers and management system vendors to provide useable technology tools for our staff. That means being active in our local and national users group, participating in carrier technology councils, and beta testing new functions of our management system."
CSC announced that 17 insurers and self-insured organizations received awards for software innovation and leadership at its CSC Connect 2007 Conference. The winners were nominated and selected by CSC's client community.
Companies that received CSC's Innovation Community Award, which recognizes organizations whose software enhancement projects have benefited the entire user community, include:
- Chubb Group
- Safety Insurance
- Western National Insurance
- Lakeland Regional Medical Center
Companies that received CSC's Industry Leadership Award, which recognizes organizations for the innovative use of CSC's software products or services, include:
- OneBeacon Insurance Group
- State Auto Insurance
- North American Specialty Group
- Jack in the Box Inc.
Winners were also named for two new award categories this year: Project Management Leadership and Technical Excellence, which recognizes companies implementing best practices to achieve project deliverables in an innovative manner. Winners include:
- MetLife Auto & Home
- Frankenmuth Mutual Insurance
- Northern Neck Insurance
- Dominion Resources
Companies that received CSC's Technical Excellence Award for the best example of systems engineering and architecture, systems integration or technology management in connection with a CSC solution include:
- Great American Insurance
- The Hartford
- National Interstate Insurance
- Vulcan Materials
Sources: Applied Systems and Computer Sciences Corp.
