San Diego-based HNC Software Inc. is launching the Critical Action Technology Platform, which combines business decision-making with advanced science in an open architecture. Formerly known as HNC's Customer Insight platform, the Critical Action platform enables customers to make mission-critical business decisions in real-time using a combination of workflow, business rules and analytics, including neural networks and optimization algorithms.Hartford, Conn.-based Hartford Life Insurance Co. has introduced HartfordInvestor.com, a new online resource for financial professionals. The Web site was developed to help streamline access to client information, investment planning resources, and sales and marketing tools to support sales of Hartford Life products, including annuities, life insurance and mutual funds.
Custom Proposal, a Microsoft Excel-based software tool designed to assist brokers, is being offered through Dallas-based BenefitMall, an online marketplace for small-business insurance. Custom Proposal enables brokers to summarize multiple plans from multiple carriers and show clients side-by-side comparisons of rates and benefits. Brokers can create final presentations on their laptops.
Toronto-based Manulife Financial, a provider of qualified retirement plans and a host of other financial services products, has released i:enrollment, which enables employees to enroll in their company's retirement plan electronically around the clock. Participants enter their personal information, make investment selections, provide contribution and deferral instructions and learn more about their options available to them by logging on to www.manulife.com/usa and clicking Enroll Online. Once participants are satisfied with their selections, they can print a summary page for their records.
Valley Forge, Pa.-based The Vanguard Group Inc., a mutual-fund and retirement plan provider, has launched a low-cost, term life insurance program for existing Vanguard clients on its Web site, www.vanguard.com. The online program expands Vanguard's insurance services beyond its low-cost variable annuity offerings, which have been available since 1991. The Vanguard Term Insurance is sold directly to clients, not through agents. The program is being underwritten by Peoples Benefit Life Insurance Co., and is currently approved for sale in 37 states and the District of Columbia.
The Internet-based total loss settlement system from San Diego-based Mitchell International is available nationwide. Called iNTOTAL.COM, the system provides insurers valuations using 100 percent verified data for settling total loss vehicle claims. Automotive and claims managers receive detailed reports based on up-to-date comparable vehicle data-verified by Mitchell's staff of trained data analysts. The Internet-based design enables real-time access to all authorized people working on a claim, which eliminates time-consuming faxes, printing or physical transfer of reports.
Risk Management Solutions, a Newark, Calif.-based supplier of natural hazard risk modeling, has released an upgraded version of its U.S. and Canada Tornado/Hail models for use with its RiskLink-DLM and ALM catastrophe modeling platforms. Culminating a two-year development process by RMS scientists and engineers, the models contain a set of more than 48,000 tornado and hail events. Developed with specific focus on simulating intense events in metropolitan areas, the models analyze risk at a higher level of resolution in areas of greater risk and exposure concentration.
AscendantOne introduced a Web addressable tool set for property & casualty rate/quote application development-the newest addition to its component-based Front Office Suite. Called DesignerFocus, the tool set incorporates computer-automated design to describe insurers' exact system requirements, and stores them in AscendantOne's proprietary Domain Warehouse. It also incorporates computer-automated manufacturing, which uses Domain Warehouse specifications to generate carrier-specific rate/quote solutions. Domain Warehouse output provides reports that describe the base P&C system, the structure defined for each insurer, and the differences between the two, enabling initial product design and ongoing maintenance to be consistent.
Tower Technology Inc., Boston, launched www.towerwebcapture.com, a Web site to promote its WebCapture infrastructure software, which securely captures and plays back, in context, all Web session pages in an e-business transaction. Using WebCapture, companies can record exactly what their customers, suppliers, buyers, partners and employees experience during Web sessions.
Fort Worth, Texas-based INSpire Insurance Solutions Inc. is extending an offer, launched in June, for free implementation of its base INSideOUT outsourcing solution. The offer is available to carriers through November. The solution can only be applied to one line of insurance in one state. The base outsourcing software package includes policy/claims processing, rating and print output capabilities, underwriting, workflow/imaging and agency interface.
