Policy adminstration

Potentially simpler interconnectivity and cheaper information dissemination processes could make insurers, and insureds' wallets, very happy.

FINEOS Corp., a provider of claims management software, is including the IBM Insurance Framework in its product. FINEOS says insurance solutions offered by IBM are built on the IBM Framework and aim to create more flexible, responsive insurance companies through the progressive transformation of operational processes. FINEOS, a partner of IBM, offers FINEOS Claims, a solution to manage claims for life and disability, P&C, London market and government insurance.

On the heels of reports coming out of Washington on the government’s scramble to protect the country’s power grid from cybercriminals, CSC reports the launch of an Insurance Cybersecurity Advisory Council for life insurance and annuity providers and property/casualty insurers. The goal of the council is to facilitate the development of best practices and technology strategies that effectively mitigate the risk of cyber attacks on the insurance industry.

More evidence of a hardening market has arrived via the most recent Commercial Lines Insurance Pricing Survey (CLIPS) from Towers Watson.

For the second straight year, MetLife leads life insurers in annuity considerations through the first three quarters, ended Sept. 30, 2011. Prudential Financial and Jackson National Life Group round out the top three in the rankings released by SNL.

National Western Life Insurance and Celent analysts discuss the intersection of business infrastructure and technology implementation, and how the path to speed and agility begins there.INN is pleased to present, with permission, occasional videos from Celent, a research and consulting firm and a member of the Oliver Wyman Group. These videos originally appeared on Celent's website as part of the firm's educational offerings.

Swiss Re CEO Stefan Lippe will retire sometime next year after approximately 30 years with the company, the reinsurer said today.

While the insurance industry was an early adopter of mobile technology for basic communication functions, it has lagged in developing and implementing internal and customer-facing applications.

Rising rates in some market segments is attributing to a newly bullish outlook on the financial prospects of insurers.

DST Systems Inc., a provider of information processing solutions and services to the asset management, insurance, retirement, brokerage and healthcare industries, has released DST Insurance Solutions’ InPayce payout solution.

Fledgling social network offers unique potential if search engine personalization comes to fruition.

Experts say thanks to a dearth of Federal support, it isn’t a stretch to imagine a power grid cyber attack that takes out the Internet, grinding communications and businesses to a halt in the process.

Columbus Life Insurance, a provider of retirement, estate planning and advanced business planning services, has selected iGO e-App to automate and streamline business processes for independent producers. iGO is a product of iPipeline, a creator of marketing, selling and processing solutions for insurance carriers, distributors and producers.

COUNTRY Financial, out of Bloomington, Ill., has licensed the PolicyWriter software suite from Adaptik Corp. to serve as the heart of its next generation personal lines policy administration platform, the companies report.

Warm weather offers favorable conditions for car thieves, while holidays and cold weather bode well for potential victims, according to a new report from the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB).

Despite pressure to upgrade and leave legacy systems behind, COBOL has remained not only relevant, but common among IT systems within the industry.

Despite high levels of unemployment, U.S. business leaders say one of the biggest risks they’re facing is a talent and skills shortage, according to the 2011 Lloyd’s Risk Index.

As an IT solution for complex integration, service-oriented architecture (SOA) has seen success in some insurers’ organizations. However, from a business and architecture perspective, it leaves more to be desired, according to a new report issued today by Boston-based research and consulting firm Celent.

In 2012, the U.S. life and annuity insurance industry will be challenged to find ways to manage both capital and risk in an economically and politically uncertain year, while continuing to lay the groundwork for future growth, according to Ernst & Young's new Global Insurance Center U.S. Outlook report.

Executives from Oregon Mutual Insurance and Western Life Insurance join Celent analysts to share their views on the nuances of creative disruption, and how insurers can benefit from its philosophies and practices.INN is pleased to present, with permission, occasional videos from Celent, a research and consulting firm and a member of the Oliver Wyman Group. These videos originally appeared on Celent's website as part of the firm's educational offerings.