Core systems

Core systems, front office and data mastery top the list of IT initiatives for 2008.

A new study from Gartner and ACORD finds that while insurers continue to adopt XML initiatives, they're not following the best practices in XML governance, funding and oversight.

Lexington, Mass. – A recent survey finds that carriers are seeking underwriting automation and to ease their interactions with agents.

Boston - AIR Worldwide Corp. (AIR), a provider of risk management data and services, announced results of the latest research by its team of scientists into the link between the formation of hurricanes in the Atlantic basin and landfall activity. The latest findings provide a context for better understanding the 2004-2007 hurricane seasons and demonstrate that using Atlantic basin activity as a proxy for landfall activity can lead to erroneous estimates of both landfall risk and potential insured losses, says the company.

New York – Deloitte Consulting LLP has unveiled the results of its 12th annual life and annuity back-office operations benchmarking studies, LIONS 2007 and ACES 2007, which provide comparative analysis to benchmark expenses for operations and information technology among insurance companies. The analysis covers a variety of topics including efficiency, effectiveness, key trends, use of technology and business performance.

In the latest in a series of research and advisory personnel moves, Matt Josefowicz, former managing director of the insurance practice at Celent, will head up a new research and advisory services company called Novarica.

Tallahassee, Fla. - The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation (FLOIR) has approved an overall rate reduction of 18.4%, effective Jan. 1, 2008, marking the fifth consecutive year of workers' compensation rate decreases. The newest rate reductions will give Florida businesses a cumulative decrease of 51.4% since legislative reforms were enacted in 2003.

Chicago – With the extension of TRIA at the close of 2007, one legislative issue that had divided the insurance industry was put to rest. Yet, another equally divisive legislative issue remains unsettled and may well come to the fore this year. While the National Insurance Act of 2007 was, like its predecessor in 2006, unable to make it out of committee, the issue of an optional federal charter for insurers appears to be as alive as ever.

Despite taking much longer than initially expected, e-signature adoption is picking up steam, but is it worth it?

A MetLife survey reveals that incoming Baby Boomers are an affluent, conservative bunch that still feel young, and acknowledge being a bit lax when it comes to obtaining adequate coverage for their own long-term care needs.

WOLTERS KLUWER INTRODUCES NILS INCOMPASS

HARLEYSVILLE ROLLS OUT POLICY ADMIN PLATFORM

AIG AWARDS SPECIALTY PROGRAM UNDERWRITER

Chicago - While winter storms do not attract the attention of mega-catastrophes such as hurricanes and earthquakes, these smaller events can add up to impact insurers' bottom lines say experts. However, insurers can now avail themselves of such risks by using new technology to better assess the risks from winter storms and fires, risk modeling experts report.

Sircon Corp. an Okemos, Mich., provider of comprehensive producer lifecycle services for the insurance industry, announced a partnership with the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors - Pennsylvania (NAIFA-PA), a statewide trade association representing approximately 2,300 licensed professionals who provide life, health and multiline insurance and related financial services in Pennsylvania.

Washington – President Bush gave his imprimatur to the Terrorism Risk Insurance Program Reauthorization and Extension Act of 2007.

St. Paul, Minn. - IT executives overwhelmingly identify user interface as a key criteria when considering an upgrade or replacement purchase, according to a survey conducted on behalf of St. Paul, Minn.-based Lawson Software.

Insurance companies—including actuaries and IT executives—will be under growing pressure to enhance their financial management system capabilities as they face changing financial reporting requirements, and more extensive risk management challenges in 2008.

Frisco, Texas - Mark Depker, president of Hall Financial Group's management division, announced Skywire Software signed a new 49,500-square-foot lease for its new worldwide corporate headquarters at 3000 Internet Blvd. in the Hall Office Park development in Frisco, Texas.

Portland, Ore. - Kryptiq Corp., a provider of healthcare connectivity solutions, was recently acknowledged at the annual Portland Business Journal banquet honoring the most-admired companies in Oregon. The company received recognition as the fifth most-admired technology company, as determined by a survey of more than 2,000 Oregon CEOs.