GUIDEWIRE LAUNCHES POPICYCENTERGuidewire Software Inc., a San Mateo, Calif.-based technology provider to property/casualty insurers, has released Guidewire PolicyCenter, a policy administration system for all lines of P&C insurance. PolicyCenter is Web-based and designed to make it easier for agents to do business with insurance carriers, enhance underwriting accuracy and efficiency, and adapt flexibly to changing product and business requirements. Features include: support for new business, endorsements, renewals, cancellations, and inquiries; an intuitive and highly configurable Web-based user interface; an agent portal with integration to leading agency management systems; electronic underwriting and policy file tailored to each line of business; rule-based "funneling" of applications through eligibility, prequalification and risk suitability criteria; point-in-time and "difference" views of policy versions. PolicyCenter joins the Guidewire's claims management system, Guidewire ClaimCenter.
Haley Introduces the Business Ontology exchange
Haley Systems Inc., a Pittsburgh-based provider of business rules management systems, has launched an online resource for business analysts, knowledge workers, consultants and service partners to share existing "ontologies." An ontology consists of a collection of concepts and the relationships between them. For example, in a property/casualty insurance underwriting application, the ontology must contain meaning and relationships for terms such as "claim," "applicant," "loss," "hazard" and "rating." Called the Business Ontology eXchange, or BOX, Haley's new offering contains industry-specific ontologies, such as insurance, as well as ontologies for regulatory compliance and Web site personalization. All of the ontologies available in the BOX will be able to be imported for use in HaleyAuthority Express or Enterprise, so that users can customize a BOX ontology with their domain-specific knowledge and begin writing business rules.
DOC SCIENCES RECEIVES MICROSOFT SQL CERTIFICATION
Document Sciences Corp., Carlsbad, Calif., has certified its flagship xPression technology on Microsoft SQL Server 2005 to enable its customers to take advantage of Microsoft's newest database platform. This is the latest step in Document Sciences' growing relationship with Microsoft. xPression's dynamic content publishing technology is designed to enable organizations to develop personalized customer communications. xPression uses a standards-based architecture that integrates with core systems, including databases such as SQL Server 2005, administrative systems, content management systems and Web-based portals. Several of xPression's new design and end-user components are being built on Office 2007 and .NET.
FISERV INTRODUCES NEW POLICY ADMIN, BILLING CAPABILITIES
Fiserv Insurance Solutions, a unit of Fiserv Inc., Brookfield, Wisc., has launched new functionalities in its Web-based billing and policy administration systems, Fiserv Advanced Billing and Policy STAR. Additional multi-term processing options, enhanced forms roll-on, blanketing, support for value reporting and the ability to copy company configurations for faster time to market have been added to Policy STAR 1.12 in response to industry needs. In addition, enhanced agency reconciliation, audit processing, membership processing and expanded Web services are now available in Fiserv Advanced Billing 2.6. Written in Java to the J2EE specification, the systems are designed to increase operational flexibility while driving down the cost of operations. Based on open service-oriented architecture principles, the systems are Web-based and platform independent.
FAST TRACK PLUG BOOSTS TREND MONITORING CAPABILITIES
Insurers can now get customized and timely auto and homeowners rating information in an easy-to-use Excel format on a state, regional or countrywide basis through a new product called Fast Track Plus. The product was created by Independent Statistical Service Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of the Property Casualty Insurers Association of American (PCI), Des Plaines, Ill. Fast Track Plus is designed to make monitoring emerging claim experience on a quarterly basis and one, two and three-year trends easier. The information that insurers need to make competitive underwriting decisions-earned premium, earned exposure, incurred loss, paid loss, claim frequency, claim severity, pure premium, loss ratio, etc. - is also more accessible. Fast Track Plus can be purchased on a state-by-state or regional basis.
Xerox Launches Two New Versions of DocuShare Content Management
Xerox Corp., Palo Alto, Calif., has unveiled DocuShare CPX and DocuShare 5.0, two new enterprise content management software products built on a single technology platform. Businesses can use one or both applications to handle their content and document management needs, such as financial record-keeping or disclosure-related government regulations. Targeted at large enterprises and public sector organizations, DocuShare CPX makes it easy for people to share content, collaborate, and automate critical work processes such as processing mortgage loan applications or routing resumes through a human resources department. In addition, DocuShare CPX supports Web conferencing and social computing features such as blogs and wikis that can be easily managed and stored as legally binding records for auditing later.
