Real-Time Inquiry Lags

Carriers are implementing real-time access for agents, but agents appear slow to take advantage of it. That's a conclusion of recent AUGIE and ACT meetings. Suspecting that many agencies do not comprehend the benefits of real-time access, Pearl River, N.Y.-based ACORD is joining with carriers to aggressively promote direct bill inquiry to its affiliated agents. Travelers, Progressive, Chubb, Encompass, The St. Paul Cos., and Zurich Small Business are among those carriers that have rolled out the ability for their agents to find out the direct bill status of their clients in real-time.