Core systems

SAS reports release of in-memory engine designed specifically for business visualization of big data on nonproprietary hardware.

The fastest growth will be seen in Latin America, where IT spending will increase by 22 percent in 2012; IT spending in North America is expected to climb to $58 billion by 2014, according to new study.

Majority of U.S. employers expect benefits technology to surge as improvements in cost management, functionality and efficiency become a priority.

Placing its individual annuity business into runoff, The Hartford is pursuing the sale or "other strategic alternative" of its individual life, Woodbury Financial Services and retirement plans businesses.

Defaults on insured bonds are putting pressure on insurers that never fully recovered from the last decade's financial crisis.

Progressive companies say benefits help retain employees, increase employee productivity, and help attract talent, according to survey results.

Insurance IT budget decision makers believe technology is critical to serve, support customers: Forrester.

Three new products attempt to leverage the vendor’s acquisitions into a large market share of analytics innovation.

Responding to business requests for focus on growth and profitability, insurance CIOs are prioritizing core and back-office systems initiatives, including new business/underwriting, according to Celent report.

According to a new survey, cost containment leads employer concerns in 2012; safety also a worry.

If 2012 CAT losses continue to increase, the required payouts could deplete the capital base of insurers forcing them to merge or be acquired, according to report.

Seven state insurance commissioners among 15-member Federal Advisory Committee on Insurance; meeting agenda not set.

Its Replicated Stratified Sampling financial modeling tools and techniques are designed to work with an insurers' existing models and actuarial software.

USAA, The Hartford and Kaiser Permanente score highest on net promoter score study; Aetna and Anthem the lowest.

Deloitte study reveals 18- to 34-year-olds more likely than those 51 and older to change insurance carriers, access high-tech options for customer service.

Application designed to let insurers analyze social media, among other sources, for customer sentiment, claims and fraud issues.

A full 92 percent of survey respondents say they'll expand data storage capabilities.

State's insurance commissioner claims excessive premiums were collected, calls for review of coverage.

Focusing on cat modeling, Praedicat will be based on long-term research and development projects started at the parent companies.

Growth of both variable and fixed annuity sales were challenged in Q4; overall, VA saw 13-percent growth, while fixed slipped one percent.